Israel launches ground offensive to dismantle Hamas in Rafah

In a significant escalation of military actions, Israel resumed its ground operations in the Gaza Strip, particularly targeting the Hamas stronghold of Rafah. This began shortly after a ceasefire agreement, which had been in place since January 19, was broken by renewed hostilities on March 19, 2025. Israeli forces focused their efforts on central and southern Gaza, aiming to establish a buffer zone separating the northern and southern regions of the enclave. The situation escalated as the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) aimed to dismantle Hamas’s military infrastructure, which they claim posed a direct threat. Over the span of days since the ceasefire was shattered, reports indicated that almost 600 Palestinians had been killed due to indiscriminate airstrikes and ground operations. Israeli officials justified the offensive by stating that Hamas was refusing to release hostages taken during previous conflict escalations, exacerbating tensions further. IDF's operations involved targeted strikes aimed at key terrorist leaders and infrastructure critical to Hamas’s operational capabilities. The assaults included the elimination of several high-ranking Hamas officials, signifying Israel’s determination to cripple the organization and re-establish control over the regions they vacated earlier. Civilians have been urged to evacuate combat zones, reflecting the seriousness of the military operations underway, despite widespread reports of casualties among non-combatants. The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, faced protests at home for the renewal of conflict as he navigated political pressures alongside military goals. Critics accuse him of mismanaging peace negotiations and failing to adequately secure the release of hostages in exchange for maintaining a ceasefire. Amid the chaos, concerns about humanitarian conditions in Gaza have escalated, with calls for international intervention growing louder as food, fuel, and medical supplies become increasingly scarce for a population already suffering amidst conflict.