Israel launches waves of strikes on Gaza
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What are the key events in the Gaza conflict?
This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Alex Ritson, and at 14 hours GMT on Tuesday 18th March, these are our main stories. More than 400 people are dead, according to Palestinian officials, as Israeli warplanes bring an explosive end to the Gaza ceasefire. Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are holding a much-anticipated phone call about a possible ceasefire in Ukraine. Also in this podcast, two American astronauts stranded in space for nine months are on their way back to Earth and... Being with the musicians, not knowing how it's going to be night after night, the challenge.
I love it.
How is Israel's military responding to the ceasefire collapse?
Herbie Hancock takes one of the biggest prizes in global music. The Israeli military says it's continuing to strike targets belonging to Hamas and Islamic Jihad across the Gaza Strip. The statement from the security agency and the Israel Defence Force said that in the past hours they'd hit what were described as terrorist cells, weapons stockpiles and additional military infrastructure. The airstrikes across Gaza have killed more than 400 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. It said many of those who died were children. More than 600 people are reported to have been injured. It's the largest wave of airstrikes since the start of the ceasefire, which began on the 19th of January.
Israel's foreign ministry spokesman Oren Marmerstein blamed Hamas, accusing it of repeatedly refusing to extend the ceasefire and release the hostages.
From this point forward, Israel will act against Hamas with increasing military intensity. I want to talk about the suffering of the Israeli hostages. 529 days Israeli hostages are being chained, starved, abused and held in Hamas tunnels. 59 hostages are still being held.
What is the humanitarian impact of the Gaza strikes?
The Red Crescent says hospitals are overwhelmed by the number of casualties. And Rosalia Bolan from the children's charity UNICEF, who's in Almawasi in southern Gaza, says people are turning to her for help and advice.
What do you think we should do? We're here in Al-Mawasi. Do you think we should go back to our homes? Lots of our neighbors have, but we haven't because it seems so fragile. It seems so precarious. We are not ready to move, to package up whatever belongings we have left, go back to what remains of our house. and then being forced to flee again. And this is going to be the reality for many families here in Gaza who have gone back to their homes in the north, because evacuation orders were just issued a couple of hours ago for parts of northern Gaza. So families will again be faced with that choice of renewed displacement or possible death.
Hamas has responded furiously, accusing Israel of treachery for overturning the ceasefire agreement. It also says Israel is exposing the remaining Israeli hostages to what it called an unknown fate. So, why has Israel launched this new wave of strikes now? I asked our Middle East regional editor, Mike Thompson.
Well, ostensibly because Hamas, it says, has refused to extend the ceasefire to mid-April, which is what Israel wanted. And that's part of an American proposal, which also involved releasing five living hostages. But of course, Hamas is saying, look, we want to go straight to phase two. That had already been agreed. But there are other reasons, too.
Why did Israel resume airstrikes in Gaza?
If Prime Minister Netanyahu was to agree to a permanent ceasefire, which would be all part of a phase two discussion, he risked then getting members, far right members of his cabinet. leaving, resignations from them which could unseat his government. He's also facing corruption charges himself. These would then come more to a head.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What are the key events in the Gaza conflict?
0:38–1:26
2
How is Israel's military responding to the ceasefire collapse?
1:26–2:52
3
What is the humanitarian impact of the Gaza strikes?
2:52–4:28
4
Why did Israel resume airstrikes in Gaza?
4:28–7:24
5
What discussions are taking place between Trump and Putin on Ukraine?
7:24–11:39
6
How are astronauts adjusting after returning from space?
11:39–13:14
7
What challenges do astronauts face after long missions?
13:14–28:52
Speakers
17 identifiedMore from Global News Podcast
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