March 20, 2025 - October 7 War, Day 531 - 59 Hostages remain in captivity  

• On Monday night, in a move that took some by surprise, the IDF renewed fighting in the Gaza Strip. The military activity, which began with wide-scale air attacks on Hamas leadership and terror infrastructure, came almost three weeks after the end of Phase One of the ceasefire. Negotiations towards a Phase Two deal (or an extension of Phase One) were not bearing fruit, and Hamas rejected each of the proposals suggested by the United States, including those that entailed freeing additional hostages in exchange for extending the ceasefire and releasing scores of Palestinian terrorists being held in Israeli jails.
• Israel rejected the Hamas claim that Israel had “broken the ceasefire,” saying that no ceasefire was in effect since the previous phase expired at the end of February and Hamas has released no further hostages.
• Several senior Hamas leaders were killed in the Israeli strikes, including Essam al-Da'alis, a member of Hamas' political bureau and head of the terrorist group's government in Gaza, as well as Islamic Jihad spokesperson Abu Hamza.
• Hamas says that at least 400 people were killed in the Israeli attacks.
• Yesterday, a limited number of ground attacks also took place, mainly along the Netzarim Corridor that divides Gaza between north and south. IDF tanks took up positions along the road, effectively dividing Gaza into two sectors. See video footage here.
• Israel has called on Gazan residents to temporarily evacuate areas of fighting, particularly those in the eastern part of the Strip, closest to the border with Israel.
• While senior Israeli military, intelligence, and political figures (including the main opposition leaders in the Knesset) have expressed their approval of the decision to renew fighting, thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets to condemn the move. They are concerned for the fate of the two dozen or so hostages who are still in captivity.
• Meanwhile senior Israeli military and political officials have said that the attacks on Hamas will greatly increase if a deal is not reached immediately. Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said that upcoming IDF attacks will be “massive and aggressive.” Similarly, commentators point out that the new IDF Chief of the General Staff is believed to be in favor of harsher military strikes and also that the US Administration will likely support such an escalation by Israeli forces. See these images of the new IDF Chief briefing troops before fighting began.
• In response to renewed fighting, Egypt convened an emergency meeting with Hamas leaders in Cairo at which they reportedly presented them with a proposal for an immediate ceasefire in exchange for the release of an undisclosed number of hostages.
• The latest US offer that Hamas refused, as proposed by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, called for the immediate freeing of three to five live hostages, along with several bodies of those who have been killed, in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire, plus a large prisoner release.
• While Hamas had earlier announced that it had agreed to US demands to release the last remaining American hostage who is alive, Idan Alexander, (plus four Americans who are no longer believed to be alive), it remains unclear if, when, or how this will happen.
• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio seemingly clarified America’s position earlier in the week, saying that “Hamas’ demands are nuts,” and that “We are dealing with savages.”