Israel’s resumption of the genocide in the Gaza Strip has, within two hours, led to the killing of 343 martyrs and the injury of more than 1,000 people

Reference Number: 28/2025
Date: March 18, 2025

Urgent Statement and Appeal

Israel’s resumption of the genocide in the Gaza Strip has, within two hours, led to the killing of 343 martyrs and the injury of more than 1,000 people

The International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights (ICSPR) condemns the resumption of Israel’s genocidal war and aggression against the Gaza Strip, which is taking place with declared American support. At dawn on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, more than 120 warplanes launched a series of continuous and brutal airstrikes on various areas of the Strip. These attacks targeted tents, homes of civilians, and schools being used as shelters for forcibly displaced persons who lost their homes. The bombardment was accompanied by artillery shelling along the border areas, resulting in horrific massacres against Palestinian families, seven of which were completely wiped off the civil registry.

In an initial toll, the Israeli attacks have killed 342 people and injured more than 1,000 others, with medical sources reporting that most of the injuries are critical, including severe lacerations and limb amputations. The remaining partially functioning hospitals are unable to accommodate or provide medical care for the wounded due to the destruction of the healthcare sector by Israeli forces. The majority of the victims are children, women, and the elderly, recalling scenes from previous genocidal wars that have, to date, claimed the lives of approximately 65,000 martyrs and missing persons, and injured more than 112,000 people—70% of whom are children and women.

ICSPR: Israeli Crimes and Statements Reflect Utter Disregard for Palestinian Lives

The crimes committed by the Israeli occupation, along with statements by Israeli and American officials, demonstrate utter contempt for the rights of Palestinians to life. These actions amount to heinous international crimes that blatantly violate all principles of international humanitarian law, the laws of war—especially the Geneva Conventions and The Hague Conventions—and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. These laws stress the necessity of distinction, military necessity, proportionality, and humanity in the use of force, and they impose an absolute obligation to protect civilians and prohibit attacks on civilian populations and infrastructure.

Additionally, Israel’s actions flagrantly violate international human rights law, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Refugee Convention, and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

ICSPR: Israel Deliberately Violates the Ceasefire Agreement

All available evidence indicates that Israel deliberately breached the ceasefire agreement brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, which took effect on January 17, 2025. Israel refused to adhere to its commitments under the agreement, as documented by ICSPR, which recorded repeated violations that resulted in the killing of 164 martyrs and the injury of 640 others. Israel has also obstructed the entry of humanitarian aid, medical equipment, heavy machinery, and temporary shelters while completely closing Gaza’s border crossings since the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.

This has turned life in Gaza into a humanitarian nightmare, severely hindering international efforts to scale up humanitarian response and recovery. Israel claims its actions are meant to pressure Palestinian resistance factions into releasing detainees, but all evidence points to Israel’s blatant refusal to honor its obligations under the ceasefire agreement. The Israeli government seeks to continue its war and aggression to maintain Netanyahu’s political survival, sustain the cohesion of the ruling far-right coalition, advance its goals of liquidating the Palestinian cause and forcibly displacing Gaza’s population, and divert attention from its internal crises.

ICSPR: Urgent Warning Against Continued International Inaction

ICSPR reiterates its condemnation of Israel’s brutal aggression and the massacres against civilians, including targeted attacks on displaced persons’ tents and homes, and extrajudicial executions of humanitarian workers and political figures. These premeditated crimes aim to create chaos and deepen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

While holding Israel and the United States accountable for violating the ceasefire and committing grave international crimes in Gaza, ICSPR warns that continued international silence and inaction will only embolden the occupation to escalate its military offensive, commit further massacres, and prolong the suffering of civilians.

ICSPR: Israel’s Justifications for War Are False and Immoral

ICSPR affirms that Israel’s claims justifying the resumption of its genocidal war are false, unlawful, and immoral, aimed solely at legitimizing the killing of civilians, particularly children and women, and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. The ongoing brutal attacks on Gaza pose an imminent humanitarian catastrophe with disastrous consequences, especially given the already crippled healthcare system, which is operating at minimal capacity.

In addition, the 16-day blockade on humanitarian aid, fuel, and medical supplies has forced most bakeries and free food distribution centers to shut down, leading to severe food shortages and a near-total collapse of humanitarian services. The blockade has also cut off electricity and water, causing widespread disease, famine, and thirst due to the lack of potable water, and making it nearly impossible to provide treatment for the sick and injured. If these conditions persist, the death toll among civilians is expected to rise dramatically.

ICSPR: Immediate International Action Needed to Stop Genocide

ICSPR calls on the international community, the United Nations, international and regional organizations, third-party states, and all free people of the world to take urgent action to halt Israel’s genocide and aggression against Gaza before it is too late. Immediate steps must include:

• Activating all available international protection mechanisms, including deploying a UN peacekeeping mission to protect civilians from genocide.
• Mobilizing global solidarity with Palestinians—especially the people of Gaza—who are victims of ongoing genocide.
• Initiating urgent political, diplomatic, legal, and grassroots efforts to impose sanctions on Israel and accelerate its accountability before international courts.
• Halting arms exports and military support to Israel to uphold international humanitarian law, protect Palestinian lives, and mitigate their suffering under Israel’s starvation policy.
• Ensuring the immediate opening of humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of the wounded and the urgent entry of medical supplies, humanitarian aid, and fuel to keep hospitals, ambulances, and civil defense operations running.