Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza Kill 25 Amid Supreme Court Review of Shin Bet Dismissal; Ceasefire Collapse Worsens Humanitarian Crisis

Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip killed at least 25 Palestinians, including eight children and five women, on April 8, 2025, amid a humanitarian crisis following the collapse of a ceasefire with Hamas. Israel's Supreme Court is reviewing Prime Minister Netanyahu's dismissal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, causing political turmoil. As the conflict enters its 18th month, Israel has halted humanitarian aid to Gaza and issued evacuation orders, displacing hundreds of thousands. The war began after Hamas attacked southern Israel in October 2023, leading to ongoing military operations and a blockade.

Israeli Strikes Kill Civilians, Including Children

The latest wave of Israeli airstrikes targeted multiple locations across the Gaza Strip. In Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, a strike on a residential home killed 11 people, including five children under the age of two, according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. A separate strike in the same town killed four more individuals in another residential building.

In the northern town of Beit Lahiya, a strike flattened a home, killing a family of seven, the Gaza Health Ministry reported. Another airstrike northwest of Gaza City killed four people gathered in an open area, including a man who was reportedly planning to marry next week.

These attacks are part of a broader Israeli military campaign that resumed in full force after the ceasefire with Hamas collapsed on March 18. Since then, over 1,300 Palestinians have been killed and more than 3,200 injured, according to the International Middle East Media Center.

Ceasefire Collapse and Humanitarian Blockade

The March 18 airstrikes marked the end of a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli government has since intensified its military operations, citing the need to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive. The war, which began after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, has now entered its 18th month.

Following the collapse of the ceasefire, Israel imposed a total blockade on Gaza, halting the entry of food, fuel, and humanitarian aid. Rights groups have condemned the blockade as a potential war crime, warning of famine and the collapse of essential services. According to Al-Haq, the blockade has been in place since March 2, 2025, and has severely impacted hospitals, civil defense teams, and aid workers.

The United Nations estimates that 280,000 Palestinians have been newly displaced since the ceasefire ended, adding to the already staggering number of internally displaced persons in Gaza. The New York Times reports that 80% of Gaza’s population has been forced from their homes.

Supreme Court Reviews Shin Bet Dismissal

As the military campaign escalates, Israel’s Supreme Court is hearing eight petitions challenging Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to dismiss Ronen Bar, the head of the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency. The court issued a temporary injunction last month to halt the dismissal and is expected to rule later this week.

The dismissal has sparked widespread controversy. Critics argue that Netanyahu’s move is tainted by a conflict of interest, as Shin Bet is currently investigating alleged illegal ties between Netanyahu’s office and Qatar. Bar’s supporters claim the prime minister demanded political loyalty from the head of an agency that is supposed to remain apolitical.

Netanyahu has defended his decision, citing a “crisis of confidence” in Bar’s leadership following the October 7 attacks. The Associated Press notes that the court’s ruling could deepen the rift between Israel’s judiciary and its elected government.

Evacuation Orders and Expanding Military Operations

In tandem with the airstrikes, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have issued new evacuation orders across Gaza, particularly in the southern city of Rafah and central areas like Khan Younis. The New York Post reports that the IDF now controls approximately 50% of Gaza and has expanded its buffer zone, dividing the territory into three parts.

The military has marked certain areas as “kill zones,” warning that anyone within 500 meters of the new borders may be fired upon. Human rights groups and Israeli soldiers have reported that entire neighborhoods, farmland, and infrastructure have been razed, rendering large swaths of land uninhabitable.

Civilian Infrastructure and Aid Workers Targeted

The ongoing conflict has seen repeated strikes on civilian infrastructure. On March 20, Israeli forces destroyed the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, Gaza’s only cancer treatment facility. Four days later, the surgical wing of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis was bombed, killing two and injuring several others.

Aid workers have also been targeted. On April 7, the president of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society confirmed that Israeli forces executed emergency responders at close range, despite their vehicles being clearly marked and their emergency lights activated. Since October 2023, at least 409 aid workers, including 291 UN staff, have been killed in Gaza, according to Al-Haq.

Hostage Negotiations and International Pressure

Despite the intensifying conflict, Prime Minister Netanyahu has stated that Israel is working on a new deal for the release of hostages and a potential ceasefire. Speaking after a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s commitment to eliminating Hamas and securing the release of all captives. Trump expressed optimism that the war would end “in the not-too-distant future,” according to NewsOnAir.

However, Netanyahu also signaled support for a controversial plan to relocate displaced Palestinians from Gaza, a proposal that has been widely condemned by human rights organizations as a form of ethnic cleansing.

References

• Dozens Killed In Ongoing Israeli Bombing Of Gaza
• Field Focus: Impunity Unbound – Israel’s Attack on Humanitarian and Medical Workers
• The Israel Hamas War
• Middle East latest: Israeli strikes kill 25 people in Gaza as Supreme Court hears Shin Bet cases
• Israel now controls 50% of Gaza after expanding buffer zone since cease-fire ended
• Israel working on hostage release, ceasefire deal in Gaza: Israel PM Netanyahu -
• Israel's top court reviews controversial dismissal of spy chief