At least 70 Palestinians have been killed, and dozens more wounded in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza on March 20, marking the latest escalation in the ongoing conflict. Medics reported that the latest attacks targeted several homes in northern and southern Gaza.
On March 19, the Israeli military announced the resumption of ground operations in central and southern Gaza, following the collapse of a ceasefire that had been largely respected since January. This resumption came after one of the deadliest episodes of the conflict, in which over 400 Palestinians lost their lives during airstrikes on March 18.
Since March 18, Gaza’s health officials have confirmed that 510 Palestinians have been killed in the airstrikes, with more than half of the victims being women and children.
The Israeli military described the renewed operations as a focused maneuver aimed at expanding Israel’s control over the Netzarim Corridor, a strategically important area that divides Gaza. This action is intended to create a partial buffer zone between the northern and southern parts of the enclave.
Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, condemned the incursion into the Netzarim Corridor, calling it a “new and dangerous violation” of the ceasefire agreement that had been in place for two months. In a statement, Hamas reaffirmed its commitment to the deal and urged mediators to intensify their efforts to resolve the situation.
Despite the escalation, Hamas has not made any clear threats of retaliation. According to a Hamas official, mediators have increased their involvement with both sides, but no significant breakthroughs have been made yet.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas militants launched attacks on Israeli communities, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages. Since then, more than 49,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s health authorities, as the region has been devastated by continuous airstrikes and ground operations.
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