In the three weeks since our last update on Israel/Palestine, the conditions on the ground in Gaza have not improved in the slightest. With no end to the conflict in sight, will we see a change in the status quo? Or are the wishes of Israel’s far right government officials doomed to come true? Let’s take a look at some of the key events that have occurred since we last took a look.
15 Palestinian medics are killed by Israeli troops near the Tal al-Sultan neighborhood of Rafah, in southern Gaza. The dead included eight Red Crescent workers (think Red Cross), six members of Gaza’s Civil Defense emergency unit and a staffer from UNRWA, the U.N.’s agency for Palestinians. According to the UN, Israel then buried the bodies and ambulances in an impromptu mass grave and restricted access to the burial site for five days. Initially, Israel’s assessment stated that its troops had opened fire on several vehicles “advancing suspiciously toward IDF troops without headlights or emergency signals” and that they had killed 9 militants, including Hamas operative Amin Shobaki. That narrative began to fall apart after no one matching that name was among the bodies, and completely shattered when video showing the deadly encounter was released. With lights on and logos visible, it was apparent the ambulance’s behavior was completely normal. Israel’s promises to continue investigating fell on deaf ears, as the country's troubles with both keeping aid workers safe and their own stories straight continue to stain Israel’s international reputation. As a final note, the Palestinian Red Crescent Authority claims that one medic is still missing, and as far as I can tell, Israel hasn’t acknowledged these claims as of yet.
Members of the PRCS and other emergency services pray by the bodies of
fellow rescuers killed by Israeli forces, during a funeral procession in
Khan Yunis on March 31, 2025 [Eyad Baba/AFP]
Protests broke out all around the Gaza Strip as Palestinians voiced their criticisms of the militant group in a rare public showing of dissent. The protests began a day after Islamic Jihad gunmen launched rockets into Israel, which was then met with an Israeli order to evacuate the city of Beit Lahia. This sparked anger in the area, and thousands took to the streets. Most were calling for an end to the war which has claimed over 50,000 lives since October 7th, 2023.
A major escalation came when Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz formally announced a military occupation of Gaza, citing the need to neutralize Hamas infrastructure. Netanyahu also announced that Israel is establishing a new security corridor, named the Morag Corridor, after a jewish settlement that used to be near Rafah. Katz urged Gazans to eliminate Hamas and stated the return of Israeli hostages is the only way to end the war, as this offensive is a continuation of Israel’s increased pressure on the militant group. However, Katz's statement did not make clear how much land Israel intends to seize or whether the move represented a permanent annexation of territory, muddying an already unclear future for Palestinians. As of the time of this writing, 59 hostages remain in Gaza, and it’s expected that 35 of those hostages are dead.
Israeli forces launched a full-scale offensive in Shuja’iyya, a densely populated neighborhood in Gaza City. This marked the third ground incursion of the year, as troops pushed further into Gaza in an attempt to “expand the security zone”. Israel ordered for the evacuation of the area and initially reported success, taking out a Hamas command center and several terrorists. However, days later on April 9th, Israel would take out a residential building, killing roughly 30 civilians and injuring 70 more. Israel claimed it took out Haitham Razek abd al-Karim Sheikh Khalil, a commander in Hamas's Shejaiya battalion and participant in the attacks on October 7th. While Israel has provided the information of the Hamas operatives, these claims are yet to be verified by Hamas themselves.
Israeli forces sealed off Rafah, closing the Morag Axis and completing the encirclement of the southern city. “Activity will expand rapidly to additional locations throughout most of Gaza and you will have to evacuate the fighting zones,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement, without saying where Palestinians were meant to go. This is a developing story, with Israel launching airstrikes Sunday morning, hitting one of the last fully functional hospitals in Gaza. While the future is uncertain, Israel has made their intentions clear; they are not slowing down.