• A Palestinian man holds the body of his 11-month-old nephew Mohammad Shaban, killed in Israeli army airstrikes, at the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP)

After a fragile ceasefire that lasted roughly two months, "Israel" has resumed its aggression on Gaza with intense airstrikes, resulting in an initial toll of 326 martyrs, the enclave's Health Ministry said on Tuesday, declaring a state of emergency.  

Simultaneously,  the global community responded urgently, demanding an immediate cessation of the aggression. 

China has urged measures to prevent a "humanitarian disaster" in Gaza after "Israel" launched its heaviest airstrikes on the strip.

"China is highly concerned about the current situation between Israel and Palestine," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, calling for actions to "avoid any escalation" and prevent a larger humanitarian crisis.

Russia

Moscow, on its part, expressed concern over the escalation of the situation in the Gaza Strip amid incoming reports of mass civilian casualties, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

"Of course, an escalation, another escalation of the situation, an exit into a spiral again, into a spiral of escalating tensions. This is what causes our concern, especially, of course, the incoming information about large casualties among the civilian population," Peskov told reporters.

Moscow is monitoring the situation in Gaza after Israeli strikes and expects it to return to a peaceful course, the official added.

Iran 

Iran strongly condemned the latest wave of Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip. In a statement on Tuesday, Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei condemned the attacks, which have resulted in the massacre of hundreds of Palestinian civilians, including women and children. 

Baghaei stated that these brutal assaults, coupled with the blockade preventing food and medicine from entering Gaza, were carried out with the backing of the United States.

He described the new strikes as part of "Israel's" ongoing genocidal actions and ethnic cleansing in the occupied Palestinian territories, emphasizing the direct responsibility of the US government for these Zionist atrocities.

The Iranian spokesperson called on all governments and the United Nations to fulfill their responsibility to halt the genocide and crimes against humanity occurring in Gaza. 

He warned that failure to act against "Israel's" blatant violations of international law, in complicity with the US, the UK, and other Western governments, would undermine the global legal framework established by the UN Charter.

Baghaei also cautioned about the dire consequences of such inaction for global peace and security.

He urged the Islamic world to take special responsibility in preventing the massacre of Palestinians and called on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to act decisively in supporting Palestine, expedite the prosecution of Israeli leaders at the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice, and cease the delivery of arms and financial support to the Zionist regime.

France

France condemned "Israel's" renewed strikes on Gaza and urged an "immediate" end to the hostilities it says are endangering efforts to release the Israeli captives in the enclave and the lives of Palestinian civilians.

"France condemns the Israeli strikes carried out since yesterday on the Gaza Strip, which have caused numerous civilian casualties," the French Foreign Ministry said.

Ireland

On his part, Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin condemned the Israeli aggression against Gaza, stating, “I call on all parties to respect the ceasefire and hostage release deal, and to return to talks aimed at implementing the second phase of the deal.”

“For the sake of the civilians in Gaza, who have already endured unimaginable hardships, there must be an urgent end to all hostilities,” he stressed.

Colombia

The government of Colombia also expressed its regret and condemned "Israel’s unilateral" actions, specifically the indiscriminate bombing that violates the ceasefire and continues to result in the killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, as well as the military operations in the occupied West Bank.

In a statement, Colombia urged adherence to the ceasefire and a return to the fundamental principle of the agreement.

Bogota reaffirmed that the only framework for achieving lasting peace in the Middle East lies in a negotiated "two-state solution" with full sovereignty for both sides.

The Colombian government said that it will continue to support actions in international forums aimed at ensuring justice for those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity, in accordance with international law and the values of the United Nations system.

Australia

In a similar vein, Australia also voiced concerns, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stressing the importance of maintaining the ceasefire after "Israel's" renewed airstrikes.

"There’s already been enormous suffering there, which is why we’re calling upon all parties to respect the ceasefire and hostage deal that was put in place," he stated. "Australia will continue to stand up for peace and security in the region."

Turkiye

Turkiye also denounced "Israel's" renewed aggression on Gaza, calling it "a new phase" in its "genocide policy".

It accused the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of defying humanity through its breach of international law.

"The massacre of hundreds of Palestinians in Israel's attacks on Gaza... demonstrates that the Netanyahu government's genocide policy has entered a new phase," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Turkiye, which has often slammed "Israel" over its genocide in Gaza, urged the international community to "take a decisive stance" against Netanyahu's government.

"At a time when efforts to achieve global peace and stability are intensifying, the aggression displayed by the Israeli government threatens the future of the region," the ministry said.

"It is unacceptable that Israel is causing a new spiral of violence," it added, saying "Israel" "defies humanity.. in the gravest way."

Egypt

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry condemned "Israel's" deadly overnight airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, calling them a "flagrant violation" of the ceasefire that took effect on January 19.

The strikes constitute a "dangerous escalation which threatens to have brought serious consequences for the stability of the region," said the statement from Egypt, which brokered the Gaza ceasefire alongside Qatar and the United States.

UN

UN chief

UN chief Antonio Guterres is "shocked" by "Israel's" renewed airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and urged that a ceasefire be respected, a United Nations spokesman said Tuesday.

"The secretary-general is shocked by the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza... he strongly appeals for the ceasefire to be respected, for unimpeded humanitarian assistance to be re-established, and for the remaining hostages to be released unconditionally," UN spokesman Rolando Gomez told a media briefing.

UN rights chief

The United Nations rights chief voiced horror at the most intense Israeli airstrikes in Gaza since a fragile ceasefire took effect in January, killing hundreds.

"I am horrified by last night's Israeli airstrikes and shelling in Gaza, which killed hundreds, according to the Ministry of Health in the strip," Volker Turk said in a statement, adding, "This will add tragedy onto tragedy."

Humanitarian coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory

On his part, Muhannad Hadi, the Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, emphasized the urgency of reinstating the ceasefire.

"This is unconscionable. A ceasefire must be reinstated immediately," he asserted.

Hadi highlighted the suffering endured by people in Gaza, stressing that "an end to hostilities, sustained humanitarian assistance, release of the hostages, and the restoration of basic services and people’s livelihoods, are the only way forward."

'Israel' resumes war on Gaza

According to Al Mayadeen’s correspondent, "Israel" has launched a new wave of airstrikes targeting various cities in Gaza, including a particularly intense strike on eastern Gaza.

Israeli warplanes have bombed homes in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, and northeast of the Nuseirat refugee camp. Meanwhile, Israeli artillery has shelled the town of al-Fukhari, east of Khan Younis in the south.

BREAKING: MANY VIDEOS COMING OUT OF THE RESTART OF THE GAZA GENOCIDEhttps://t.co/xADoJTsCGe

— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) March 18, 2025

Our correspondent further noted that Gaza’s streets remain deserted as residents are gripped with fear, with Israeli warplanes filling the sky.

Palestinian media reported that Major General Mahmoud Abu Watfa, Deputy Minister of Interior in Gaza, was killed in an Israeli strike on Gaza City.

The Israeli occupation military also issued evacuation orders for a number of neighborhoods in Gaza.

The Media Office said the Israeli occupation is violating the ceasefire agreement and continuing its genocide against civilians, in blatant disregard for all international and humanitarian conventions.

Read more: Arab, Palestinian parties condemn Israeli aggression on Gaza