Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a televised address delivered in Tel Aviv on March 19, 2025, warned that the recent wave of air strikes in Gaza—responsible for over 404 Palestinian deaths—is only the beginning of an intensified military campaign against Hamas. He asserted that Israeli forces would escalate their strikes and that any future ceasefire negotiations would occur “under fire.”
The address was delivered in Tel Aviv, while the air strikes targeted multiple areas across Gaza, including Khan Younis, Rafah, Gaza City, and central regions such as Deir el-Balah. The incident took place on March 19, 2025, following a ceasefire that had been in effect since January 19.
Israeli forces executed a series of coordinated air strikes across broad swaths of Gaza, hitting densely populated areas and causing severe casualties. The operation marked a significant escalation in the conflict, as it came on the heels of a shattered ceasefire with Hamas.
The renewed military action has disrupted ongoing talks aimed at securing the release of hostages and negotiating prisoner exchanges. Proposals, including a “bridge” plan to extend the ceasefire beyond Ramadan and Passover, were rebuffed by Hamas. Netanyahu attributed the failure of these negotiations to Hamas's refusal to engage, asserting that the organization bears responsibility for unintended civilian casualties.
Israeli forces launched a series of continuous strikes overnight on Gaza, with reports describing the attacks as “nonstop.” Earlier raids on southern Gaza’s Khan Younis and Rafah cities resulted in at least 14 fatalities, setting the stage for an unrelenting night of violence across the region.
[ SOURCE: AL JAZEERA]
