Ceasefire Collapses: Israel-Palestine Conflict Escalates Anew

 We start tonight with the current on the Israel-Palestine conflict, where a tenuous ceasefire has broken down and the region is once again engulfed in violence. Here's the latest as of April 5, 2025.

In Gaza, Israel resumed large-scale military operations in mid-March, bringing to an end a two-month ceasefire facilitated by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar. More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by airstrike since, including catastrophic attacks in the last 48 hours that killed more than 600 people—among them, at least 200 children. Israel claims the strikes are against Hamas infrastructure, yet Palestinian officials say there were heavy civilian casualties, including among schools used as shelter. Ground troops have retaken some of Gaza, and all aid shipments have been suspended, exacerbating an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis. The UN reports that hunger is endemic, with water and food supplies at critically low levels. 

Israeli actions in the West Bank have displaced more than 40,000 since January, hundreds killed in raids and settler attacks increasing. A new law permitting land purchases has also stoked fears of increased annexation. Regional tensions meanwhile are rising—Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire in Lebanon, in adding to the body count.

Globally, the arrest warrants of Israeli and Hamas leaders by the International Criminal Court hang in the balance, as demands for peace become louder but are confronted with daunting challenges. With more than 50,000 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis killed since October 2023, the road to resolution appears increasingly out of reach.