Israel bombs Gaza with US backing to shore up Netanyahu’s political coalition.

By Elijah J Magnier

Under fire, Israel has returned to negotiations with the Palestinian resistance, a strategy it has pursued for 15 months and killed 23 Israeli hostages and has repeatedly failed to achieve its objectives. The renewed escalation in Gaza, triggered by Israel’s unilateral war, has plunged the besieged enclave deeper into devastation and raised further questions about the real motives behind this latest offensive.

In the early hours of 18 March 2025, as Palestinians in Gaza slept under the assumption that the fragile ceasefire was holding, Israeli warplanes launched one of the most intense bombardments since the war began. More than 100 Israeli jets took part in the surprise attack, hitting civilian areas indiscriminately. The death toll quickly rose to at least 420, including women, children and the elderly, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Medical officials warn that hospitals are collapsing under the weight of the wounded, with doctors operating without anaesthetics due to extreme shortages of medical supplies. This sudden wave of bombing has shattered the fragile calm that has prevailed since the January ceasefire, leaving many to question Israel’s motives for resuming full-scale war and committing further war crimes and crimes against humanity.

While Israeli officials – who have meticulously mapped out a vast bank of targets and remain poised for a possible limited ground invasion, with the flexibility to escalate further if deemed necessary – justify the relentless air strikes, artillery barrages and tank shelling as essential security measures. The timing and scale of these attacks are undoubtedly closely linked to Israel’s domestic political landscape. In addition, 80% of reservists have been recalled and three divisions remain stationed around Gaza, signalling a readiness for prolonged military engagement.