Israel did not breach the ceasefire when it resumed hostilities in Gaza on March 18, 2025, because the first phase of the ceasefire had officially expired more than two weeks earlier, on March 1.

In January, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire framework divided into three phases.[1] The first phase—a 42-day temporary ceasefire beginning January 19—saw Hamas release 33 Israeli hostages (25 living and eight deceased) in exchange for roughly 1,900 Palestinian prisoners. Five Thai nationals were also freed. However, under the terms of the deal, the “procedures of the first stage” would continue only as long as negotiations on phase two—the permanent ceasefire stage—remained “ongoing.”[2] Once those negotiations stalled, the temporary ceasefire had no binding force.

Despite this, Israel upheld the ceasefire for more than two additional weeks beyond its formal expiration—a strong indication of its willingness to avoid escalation and act in good faith. In contrast, Hamas exploited the ceasefire to regroup. For example, Hamas reportedly appointed new commanders and began repairing its underground tunnel network.[3] One released Israeli hostage testified that “Hamas never stopped digging tunnels. Not for a single day.”[4] Likewise, while Israel flooded Gaza with over 450,000 tons of humanitarian aid during the ceasefire,[5] Hamas appropriated a significant portion of that aid for its own military purposes, including to pay its fighters. [6]

In addition, there were violations of the ceasefire by Hamas. On February 13, a rocket was launched from Gaza toward Israel, prompting an Israeli airstrike on the launcher.[7] Hamas also committed several violations during the hostage releases, including releasing female soldiers before the last living female civilian was released,[8] humiliating hostages during their release,[9] and sending the body of a Gaza woman in place of Shiri Bibas,[10] prompting responses from Israel.

On March 18, Israel resumed military operations after Hamas rejected multiple proposals to extend the ceasefire in exchange for further hostage releases—proposals designed to create time for negotiating the next phase.[11] The United States squarely placed the blame on Hamas. U.S. Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea told the Security Council on March 18 that “blame for the resumption of hostilities lies solely with Hamas” as the terror group had “steadfastly refused every proposal and deadline they’ve been presented over the past few weeks, including a ‘bridge’ proposal to extend the ceasefire beyond Ramadan and Passover to allow time to negotiate a framework for a permanent ceasefire.”[12]

Israel cannot be expected to indefinitely uphold a lapsed ceasefire while Hamas refuses to negotiate, continues to hold hostages, and prepares for renewed conflict. Hamas is the party that violently launched the war on October 7, 2023, by invading Israel, massacring civilians, and abducting 251 people. Two of Israel’s central war objectives—returning the hostages and dismantling Hamas’s military capacity—remain unmet (as of March 2025). Until they are, Israel has both the right and the obligation to continue pursuing military action.