Gaza: Israel Escalates Operations, Protesters Demand End to War

Jerusalem/Gaza, March 19, 2025, 1:00 PM PDT – Israel announced on Wednesday an intensification of its military operations in the Gaza Strip, issuing a “final warning” to Palestinians to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages, raising fears of a full-scale resumption of the war. As families flee deadly Israeli bombardments in northern Gaza, displaced multiple times since the conflict began, global and local protests call for peace, while negotiations remain stalled, as reported by Reuters and shared on X by @IDF and @HamasInfo.

Escalation of Israeli Operations

Israel’s military, via @IDF on X, stated it launched “targeted ground operations” in central and southern Gaza, following Tuesday’s airstrikes—the deadliest since the January 19, 2025, ceasefire—that killed at least 413 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, controlled by Hamas. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, in a video on X, warned Gazans, “If all Israeli hostages aren’t released and Hamas isn’t completely removed from Gaza, Israel will take measures of unprecedented scope,” per The Times of Israel.

Wednesday’s airstrikes killed at least 13 more, the ministry reported, while the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) confirmed the death of one staff member in Deir al-Balah, killed by an explosive device “dropped or fired” on a UN facility. Israel denied striking the UN complex, but UN Secretary-General António Guterres demanded a “full investigation,” as noted on @UN_News. Videos on X, like @GazaUpdates’, show families fleeing southward on foot or in donkey-drawn carts, carrying mattresses and plastic basins amid rubble.

Hamas accused Israel of “sabotaging” the January truce, triggered by its October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,218 Israelis, mostly civilians, per AFP data. Israel, backed by the U.S., insists the escalation is “essential” to free the 58 hostages still held in Gaza—34 of whom the Israeli military says are dead—following the initial attack, as reported by BBC News.

Stalled Negotiations and Demands

The January ceasefire, mediated by Qatar, the U.S., and Egypt, expired on March 1, 2025, after returning 33 hostages (eight deceased) to Israel and releasing about 1,800 Palestinian detainees. Hamas seeks to advance to the second phase, demanding a permanent ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, reopened humanitarian crossings, and the release of remaining hostages, per a statement on X by @HamasInfo. Israel, however, proposes extending the first phase until mid-April and insists on Gaza’s “demilitarization” and Hamas’s removal, as stated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on X.

Since the truce’s end, Israel has blocked humanitarian aid and cut electricity to Gaza, home to 2.4 million Palestinians, worsening a crisis marked by severe shortages, per UNICEF’s March 2025 update on X. Hamas remains open to indirect talks but reiterates its demands, rejected by Israel, per Al Jazeera.

Protests in Israel

On Tuesday, thousands protested in Jerusalem, accusing Netanyahu of prolonging the war at the expense of hostages. Chanting “We’ve all been taken hostage by a bloodthirsty government” and demanding his resignation, demonstrators like 65-year-old Yossi Epstein told Reuters, “Only through negotiations and an agreement can we free the hostages. We have no choice.” Videos on X, such as @IsraelProtests’, show large crowds waving Israeli and hostage banners, reflecting domestic pressure amid the escalation.

Humanitarian and Regional Impact

The Gaza Health Ministry reported Monday’s toll at 48,570 deaths—mostly civilians—before this week’s strikes, with Tuesday’s 413 deaths pushing the figure higher, per X posts by @GazaHealthMin. The UN and aid groups, like @UNRWA, warn of a worsening humanitarian catastrophe, with families displaced multiple times since October 2023, living in tents or ruins, as seen in footage on X by @OCHA.

Egypt, Turkey, and Russia have condemned Israel’s actions, with Egypt warning of “severe regional consequences,” per Anadolu Agency. Morocco saw protests Tuesday night against the strikes, as reported separately, reflecting Arab solidarity, per Middle East Monitor. The U.S., Israel’s key ally, has urged restraint but reaffirmed support for its defense, per The Washington Post.

Looking Ahead

As of 1:00 PM PDT, no ceasefire progress is reported, with Israel vowing to continue operations and Hamas holding firm on its demands. The escalation risks derailing mediation efforts, with the UN calling for urgent de-escalation, per @UN_Spokesperson. Domestic and international pressure mounts, but a resolution remains elusive.