In Gaza, Israeli forces unilaterally restart the war on Gaza, killing more than 404 Palestinians, including at least 174 children, and injuring at least 562 others in airstrikes on Nuseirat refugee camp, al-Mawasi, Khan Yunis, Gaza City, al-Bureij refugee camp, and Jabalia refugee camp, including a shelter in Gaza City and a tent camp in al-Mawasi. Israeli forces also shell Abasan. Israel’s military also issues evacuation orders for Beit Hanun, Khirbet Khuza’a, Abasan al-Kabira, and Abasan al-Jadida, ordering Palestinians to relocate to the western part of Gaza City or Khan Yunis. Private security contractors deployed at the Netzarim Corridor withdraw from their posts. Israel claims it assassinated Gaza’s head of government public works Issam al-Dalis, Justice Ministry undersecretary Ahmed al-Hatta, Interior Ministry undersecretary Mahmoud Abu Watfa, and internal security service director general Bahjat Abu Sultan. Islamic Jihad says its spokesperson Naji Abu Saif is also assassinated. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers bring their sheep and cattle to graze on Palestinian fruit trees and saplings in Khirbet al-Mafqara in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces continue raids in Jenin and Jenin refugee camp for the 57th day in a row. Israeli forces also continue raids in Tulkarm, Tulkarm refugee camp, and Nur Shams refugee camp for the 51st day in a row, demolishing homes in Nur Shams. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian man and injure 3 others during a raid in Qalqilya. Israeli forces also raid ‘Askar refugee camp and Balata refugee camp, assaulting and injuring 3 Palestinians and arresting 17. Meanwhile, Israeli forces demolish 2 agricultural structures and solar panels in Arab al-Milehat. In Umm al-Fahm, Israeli authorities demolish a Palestinian home in al-Arayesh area. In Syria, Israeli forces bomb a former military outpost in Homs. In Yemen, Houthi forces launch 2 missiles at Israel, claiming to hit the Nevatim Airbase with a hypersonic ballistic missile. U.S. forces bomb Saada. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AP, AP, AP, AX, BBC, CNN, F24, GDN, HA, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WP 3/18; AJ, AP, AP, HA, NYT 3/19; UNOCHA 3/20; AP 3/21; UNOCHA 3/25; UNOCHA 3/27)
More than 48,981 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 17,881 children and 12,749 women, and around 112,600 have been injured since 10/7/2023. In addition, 14,222 Palestinians who have been missing are presumed dead. 934 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 186 children. More than 6,500 people have been injured. Israel reports that 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured in Israel since 10/7/2023, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 408 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 2,579 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27/2023. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7/2023. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12/2023 due to the Israeli blockade. 92% of all housing units in Gaza have been destroyed or severely damaged since 10/7/2023. Al-Shifa Hospital director Muhammad Abu Salmiya says wounded Palestinians are dying due to a lack of medical equipment that would save their lives. The Gaza Health Ministry calls on the public to donate blood. (AJ, AP, UNOCHA, WAFA 3/18)
The PA strongly condemns Israel’s decision to restart the war, calling on the world to intervene. The PA also requests the Arab League convene for an extraordinary session. Hamas says that “Netanyahu and his extremist government are making a decision to overturn the ceasefire agreement, exposing prisoners in Gaza to an unknown fate,” calling on ceasefire mediators, the Arab League, and the OIC to support Palestine, and for the UN Security Council to urgently convene. Islamic Jihad says the “blood-thirsty [Israeli] Nazi government” is sabotaging the ceasefire and will not succeed in its objectives. Egypt requests Hamas send mediators to Cairo immediately. (AJ, AJ, AJ, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/18)
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says, “Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” saying today’s attacks are “just the beginning.” Defense Minister Israel Katz orders the Rafah crossing be closed for medical evacuations. A group representing families of Israelis held captive in Gaza says the Israeli government is “choosing to give up the lives of the hostages.” The prosecution in Netanyahu’s corruption trial agrees to postpone his testimony due to the “security developments.” Former National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announces that he will rejoin the government. His reinstatement is approved by the government despite objections from Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes says “Hamas could have released hostages to extend the ceasefire, but instead chose refusal and war,” omitting the fact that Hamas had complied with the ceasefire agreement and had explicitly stated that it was waiting for Israel to move to phase 2 of the deal rather than renegotiating the already agreed to ceasefire deal. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, HA, HA, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU 3/18; AJ, AJ, HA, HA, REU, WAFA 3/19)
The Houthi movement issues a statement saying it will “escalate confrontation steps.” UN humanitarian coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory Muhannad Hadi calls Israel’s attacks “unconscionable” and calls for an immediate reinstation of the ceasefire. The UAE, Hezbollah, the Arab League, Spain, Bolivia, Chile, Ireland, Belgium, France, Malta, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, and Iran condemn the Israeli attacks. EU high commissioner of foreign affairs Kaja Kallas says the EU “deplores the breakdown of the ceasefire in Gaza … Israel must end its military operations and resume entry of humanitarian aid and electricity to Gaza.” German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock says “the end of the ceasefire in Gaza due to heavy Israeli attacks is cause for great concern. The images of burning tents in refugee camps are shocking. Fleeing children and internally displaced persons must never be used as leverage in negotiations.” Dutch foreign minister Casper Veldkamp says, “all hostilities must end permanently.” UK foreign secretary David Lammy says the “civilian casualties from the Israeli strikes overnight are appalling.” Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Israel “will be held accountable for every drop of blood they shed.” (AJ, AJ, HA, HA, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/18; WAFA, WAFA 3/19; WAFA 3/20)
At the UN Security Council, UN emergency relief coordinator Tom Fletcher says, “the return to hostilities overnight must cease and with urgency” and stresses the urgent need for aid to start entering Gaza again. (AJ, UNOCHA 3/18; UNOCHA 3/19)
Palestinian student Mahmoud Khalil, who is held at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Louisiana, releases a statement describing himself as a political prisoner, saying he has been targeted by the Trump administration “as part of a broader strategy to suppress dissent.” (HA 3/18; AJ, HA, REU 3/19)