During the March 2025 Eid al-Fitr celebrations, Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip got worse, killing a lot of people and forcing a lot of Palestinians to leave their homes.
Casualties and Humanitarian Impact
Israeli bombs killed at least 35 people on the first day of Eid al-Fitr. Many of the victims were families and children. The strikes happened in southern Gaza, near Khan Younis and Rafah. At least nine more Palestinians, including several children, were killed in more strikes the next day. A week after Israeli troops attacked their convoy, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said that the bodies of 15 rescue workers had been found near Rafah.
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The ongoing war has had a significant effect on Gaza’s infrastructure and health care system. Since the fighting started, more than 50,000 people have died and more than 114,000 have been hurt, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Because of Israel’s closure, there are now severe shortages of food and medical supplies, making the emergency even worse. Families had a hard time getting food during Eid al-Fitr. Some parents said it was “mission impossible” to feed their kids.
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1/6 First responders should never be a target. Yet today @UNOCHA supported @PalestineRCS and Civil Defense to retrieve colleagues from a mass grave in #Rafah #Gaza that was marked with the emergency light from one of their crushed ambulances. pic.twitter.com/xFYFXWp2c6
— Jonathan Whittall (@_jwhittall) March 30, 2025
Evacuation Orders in Rafah
During the Eid holidays, the Israeli forces told many people in Rafah to leave and move to Al-Mawasi, an area on the coast that was already full of displaced people living in terrible conditions. Concerns have been made around the world about this directive. Groups like the United Nations question whether these kinds of forced relocations are allowed under international law.
3/6 One survivor said Israeli forces had killed both of the crew in his ambulance. For days, OCHA coordinated to reach the site but our access was only granted 5days later. pic.twitter.com/y9iCG3EN1q
— Jonathan Whittall (@_jwhittall) March 30, 2025
Ceasefire Negotiations and Political Developments
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken a strong stand, saying that for a ceasefire to happen, Hamas must disarm, send its leaders into exile, and give Israel security control of Gaza. Netanyahu also said he wanted to start a “voluntary emigration plan” for Gaza, which has been criticized and resisted by many countries around the world. Hamas has said no to these demands.
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A top Hamas official, Sami Abu Zuhri, said that Netanyahu’s requests would lead to “endless escalation” in the area. Even though Egypt and Qatar are mediating the talks, the chances of a lasting peace are still low because both sides are sticking to their views.
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Conclusion
The fact that Eid al-Fitr falls at the same time as more intense military activities has cast a shadow over what is usually a time for Muslims around the world to celebrate and come together. The fact that the war is getting worse shows how important it is to start negotiating again right away to find a long-term answer and ease the terrible suffering in Gaza.