Israeli Airstrikes on Gaza Escalate, Deepening Humanitarian Crisis

Renewed bombings have overwhelmed Gaza's hospitals, with civilian casualties mounting as Israel seeks to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages.

Israeli airstrikes resumed on March 18, breaking a two-month ceasefire and marking one of the deadliest days in the 17-month conflict with Hamas.
Over 700 people have been killed in the strikes, with more than 40% of the fatalities being children, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health.
Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, already under-resourced due to Israeli restrictions, has been inundated with over 300 casualties, many of them children, and lacks critical medical supplies.
The strikes have caused widespread destruction, including damage to civilian homes and shelters for displaced people, further worsening Gaza's humanitarian crisis.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has justified the military actions as necessary to secure the release of hostages and renegotiate ceasefire terms, as international concern over civilian suffering grows.