On April 18, 2025, Israeli airstrikes targeted approximately 40 locations across the Gaza Strip, resulting in at least 25 Palestinian fatalities, including children and families. Significant casualties were reported in areas such as Khan Younis and Jabaliya. These operations are part of Israel's ongoing campaign to pressure Hamas into disarming and releasing hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Currently, Hamas holds 59 hostages, with 24 believed to be alive. Ceasefire negotiations have stalled, and the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate due to an Israeli blockade preventing the entry of food and aid, severely affecting malnutrition levels, particularly among children.

In a related development, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee made his ceremonial debut in Jerusalem at the Western Wall, emphasizing efforts to bring home hostages and calling for peace. He acknowledged his personal support for Israeli annexation policy but stated it was not his official responsibility.

Additionally, a wave of protest letters from former and reservist Israeli soldiers, including nearly 1,000 Air Force veterans, has exposed deep divisions within Israel over its ongoing war in Gaza. These letters accuse the government of prolonging the conflict for political motives, particularly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resumed military operations on March 18, 2025, which critics say jeopardizes the remaining hostages held by Hamas. Despite official threats of dismissal for active reservists who signed the letters, thousands more from various sectors—academics, doctors, and former diplomats—have expressed solidarity and demanded an end to the war.

This escalation follows Hamas' rejection of a ceasefire offer, stating the proposal did not meet their demand for a complete end to the conflict. Since Israel resumed its offensive in March by ending a two-month truce, it has gained control of about a third of Gaza, aiming to force Hamas to release hostages and disarm. At least 30 Palestinians were killed on April 18, contributing to a death toll exceeding 1,500 since March. Israeli forces are actively engaged in operations in both southern and northern Gaza. Mediation efforts by Egypt have struggled to revive a previous ceasefire agreement from January. Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya offered to exchange all 59 remaining Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners in return for a war-ending settlement and Gaza’s reconstruction. However, he rejected Israel’s demand for Hamas to disarm, calling it an "impossible condition." Israel maintains that Hamas must be fully disarmed and excluded from any future governance of Gaza. Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that Israeli troops would remain in the buffer zone within Gaza even after any potential agreement.

The conflict, which began when Hamas-led militants killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel and abducted 251, has since resulted in over 51,000 Palestinian deaths and displacement of 90% of Gaza’s population. Amid the devastation, Gaza’s Christian community observed Good Friday at St. Porphyrios Church, symbolic of the region's enduring cultural and religious traditions despite ongoing violence.

The recent Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, coupled with stalled ceasefire negotiations and internal dissent within Israel, underscore the complexity and volatility of the ongoing conflict. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deepen, raising urgent questions about the efficacy of current strategies and the prospects for a sustainable resolution.