At least 70 Palestinians were killed and dozens injured on March 20 as Israeli air strikes targeted homes in northern and southern Gaza, marking a deadly escalation in the ongoing conflict. This comes after the collapse of a ceasefire that had held since January, with Israeli forces resuming ground operations in central and southern Gaza on March 19.
The renewed operations follow one of the deadliest days since the conflict began in October 2023, with over 400 Palestinians killed in air strikes on March 18. Health officials in Gaza report that air strikes since March 18 have claimed 510 lives, more than half of whom were women and children.
The Israeli military stated that its operations aim to extend control over the Netzarim Corridor, creating a partial buffer zone between northern and southern Gaza. Meanwhile, the Palestinian militant group Hamas condemned the actions as a “new and dangerous violation” of the ceasefire agreement and urged mediators to intervene.
The conflict, which began after a Hamas attack on Israeli communities in October 2023, has resulted in over 49,000 Palestinian deaths and widespread destruction in Gaza. Mediation efforts continue, but no resolution has been reached.