Israel shatters the ceasefire with Hamas

Summary

Post Reports: Israel Shatters the Ceasefire with Hamas – Detailed Summary

Episode Release Date: March 18, 2025
Hosts: Martine Powers and Elahe Izadi
Published by: The Washington Post

---

Introduction

In the March 18, 2025 episode of Post Reports, hosted by Colby Ekowitz from The Washington Post newsroom, the hosts delve deep into the recent and alarming escalation in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The episode, titled “Israel Shatters the Ceasefire with Hamas,” provides an extensive analysis of the breakdown of a fragile ceasefire, the resulting humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and the complex geopolitical repercussions involving key international players.

Personal Testimony from Gaza

The episode opens with a harrowing firsthand account from Diana Shums, a 26-year-old resident of Gaza City, who shares her terrifying experience during the latest round of bombings:

Diana Shums [00:02]: “Last night at 2am I was asleep and woke up in a scene of horror and fear... We had a sleepless night, a terrified and full of horror and fear.”

Diana describes the sudden onset of airstrikes, the immediate steps she took to protect her family, and the relentless fear that has plagued her and many others in Gaza for over 15 months. Her narrative underscores the human cost of the ongoing conflict and the fragile hope for a renewed ceasefire.

Breaking Down the Ceasefire Agreement

Colby Ekowitz transitions to an expert analysis with Miriam Berger, a seasoned reporter actively covering the war on the ground. Miriam provides a comprehensive overview of the initial ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas:

Miriam Berger [04:54]: “This was a three-phased agreement that was supposed to stop, put a temporary halt to the fighting that began first on October 7, 2023, after a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel.”

The ceasefire was intended to progress through stages including the influx of humanitarian aid, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and the return of Israeli hostages. However, the second phase, addressing the post-war governance of Gaza, failed to materialize, leading to the current deadlock.

Current Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

Miriam elaborates on the dire situation in Gaza resulting from the broken ceasefire:

Miriam Berger [02:28]: “People are terrified and they're so, so tired... Prices have skyrocketed. People have no money and can't afford food. It's Ramadan... extremely difficult.”

She highlights the severe shortages of food, fuel, and medical supplies due to Israel's full siege, exacerbating the suffering of civilians, especially during Ramadan. The bombardments have reignited fear and insecurity among Gazans, with many like Mirvat Mahmoud desperately seeking ways to escape the relentless violence.

Reasons Behind the Ceasefire Breakdown

When asked why Israel decided to break the ceasefire, Miriam provides insights into the strategic and political motivations:

Miriam Berger [06:36]: “Israel's spokesperson for the prime minister's office today said that the prime minister launched this attack as a preemptive one... a negotiating tactic about applying military pressure on Hamas.”

Factors contributing to this decision include internal political pressures on Prime Minister Netanyahu, particularly after his attempt to dismiss the domestic intelligence chief, which was met with public protests demanding the prioritization of hostage returns over ongoing military actions.

Hamas’s Stance and Hostage Situation

The episode delves into Hamas's refusal to release hostages taken during the October 7th attack:

Miriam Berger [07:39]: “They're the bargaining chip for Hamas and they know that's their strongest one... Hamas... has refused to disarm, which is one of the Israeli non-negotiables.”

Hamas maintains that hostages will only be released if Israel meets its demands, including ceasing military operations, withdrawing from Gaza, and releasing Palestinian prisoners. As of the episode's release, Hamas has not initiated any counteroffensives following Israel’s renewed attacks.

International Response and US Involvement

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the United States' role and President Donald Trump's stance:

Carolyn Levitt [09:52]: “The Trump administration and the White House were consulted by the Israelis on their attacks in Gaza tonight... All hell will break loose.”

Donald Trump [11:23]: “We have an opportunity to do something that could be phenomenal... the Riviera of the Middle East, this could be something that could be so bad, this could be so... Magnificent.”

Miriam highlights the complex dynamics of US support for Israel, noting that while the US has condemned groups like Hamas and Iran, President Trump's comments suggest a controversial vision for post-war Gaza that involves significant changes to its governance and infrastructure. This perspective has been met with widespread rejection from Palestinians, Arab nations, and European countries, fostering resentment among Gazans who see the US as complicit in their suffering.

Israeli Public Reaction to the Ceasefire Collapse

The episode also sheds light on the polarized reactions within Israel:

Miriam Berger [13:11]: “There's been a lot of anger and frustration... There have been protests in the street. On the other hand, this move has been widely praised by Israel's far right, who Netanyahu depends on in his coalition.”

Families of hostages and civilians affected by the conflict have expressed outrage and called for an end to the renewed violence, while far-right factions within Israel have lauded the government's decision to intensify military actions against Hamas.

Future Prospects and Ongoing Displacement

As the ceasefire holds no more, the outlook remains grim for both Israelis and Palestinians. Miriam discusses the imminent and severe displacements within Gaza:

Miriam Berger [14:44]: “There isn't nowhere considered safe. Nowhere can guarantee them safety... Israel said that those trying to leave for medical care are being stopped.”

With no safe havens left in Gaza and strict border controls preventing evacuation, the civilian population faces an uncertain and perilous future. The lack of access to medical care, adequate shelter, and basic necessities continues to escalate the humanitarian crisis.

Conclusion

The episode concludes with a somber reflection on the intertwined fates of Israelis and Palestinians amid the resumed conflict. With the ceasefire shattered, both communities brace for further violence, mass displacement, and a deepening humanitarian disaster. The geopolitical complexities, especially the role of international powers like the United States, add layers of uncertainty to any potential resolution.

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Diana Shums [00:02]: “We had a sleepless night, a terrified and full of horror and fear.”

• Miriam Berger [04:54]: “This was a three-phased agreement that was supposed to stop...”

• Carolyn Levitt [09:52]: “All hell will break loose.”

• Donald Trump [11:23]: “This could be something that could be so bad, this could be so... Magnificent.”

• Miriam Berger [13:11]: “There's been a lot of anger and frustration...”

---

Production Credits:

Today's episode was produced by Rennie Svirnoski and Bishop Sand, mixed by Sam Behr, edited by Lucy Perkins, with assistance from Rena Flores. Special thanks to Erin Cunningham, Maham Javed, and Kate Brown for their contributions.

---

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the critical discussions, personal narratives, and expert analyses presented in the episode, offering listeners a thorough understanding of the resurgence of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, the ensuing humanitarian crisis, and the broader international ramifications.

Transcript

[Diana Shums]

Hello, my name is Diana. I currently live in Gaza City when the massive bombings have started. Last night at 2am I was asleep and woke up in a scene of horror and fear.

[Colby Ekowitz]

Diana Shums is 26 and lives with her two young children. What she was hearing was Israel's military launching large scale airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.

[Diana Shums]

Rushed up to look over my kids and took them to sleep in the same room that we are staying in. I rushed up to take the phone, to check on the news, on the social media, to look where was the bombing and if it's near us or in our neighborhood because the sound was really terrifying. I went and backed up my clothes, my kids clothes and any important stuff for us to be ready to evacuate in any moment. We had a sleepless night, a terrified and full of horror and fear. So we are praying right now that the ceasefire will come into effect again and this struggles will not repeat again and we will not live horror and fear as we lived for 15 months.

[Colby Ekowitz]

The attack broke Israel's fragile ceasefire with Hamas and killed as of late Tuesday morning, more than 400 people. From the newsroom of the Washington Post, this this is Post Reports. I'm Colby ekowitz. It's Tuesday, March 18th. Today I talk with Miriam Berger who has been reporting on the ground since the start of the war. I ask her about the devastation in Gaza and whether a new ceasefire can be reached. Miriam, hi. Thanks for joining us today.

[Miriam Berger]

Thank you for having me.

[Colby Ekowitz]

Miriam, you're in Israel right now and you've been speaking with people in Gaza. What are they telling you? What is it like there right now?

[Miriam Berger]

Right now people are terrified and they're so, so tired. They're so tired from the war. These last few weeks have been extremely difficult because Israel has had a full siege on the Gaza Strip. So no food, fuel, any aid has really been able to get in. And so prices have skyrocketed. People have no money and can't afford food. It's Ramadan, a time typically of fasting and community meals and celebrating and it's been extremely difficult. And then this morning, around the time people were waking up for their pre fast meal, the bombardments began and people ran, they stayed in place, they huddled with their family. They just did what they, in that moment, they thought they had to do to survive. I talked with one local journalist who, his heart broke as he sort of sprang into action and went and covered the bombing of a school that he said was housing displaced people. And once again he filmed, he showed civil defense using their Hands and a phone's flashlight to dig out a dead body part. Dead bodies all around. He's covered this again and again and he just said he could not believe that this war is back again. I talked to Mirvat Mahmoud and you know, she is just desperate to get her and her children out of Gaza because she's so afraid. You know, she said she raised her children and doesn't want to see them die. You know, right now the borders are closed. She has a brother who's severely injured as well and who needs medical care abroad and he's been unable to access care. And they're just desperate. You know, they say they're civilians, they haven't done anything, anything to deserve what's happening to them. And no one knows where to go, no one knows what to do, no one knows how long this is going to last. No one knows how they're going to survive this. Having already survived the first 15 months of the war. It's really a terrifying thought for people right now that they're going back to this horror that they had really hoped.

[Colby Ekowitz]

Had ended because Israel and Gaza have been under this ceasefire agreement since late January. Can you kind of remind us what the parameters of that agreement were?

[Miriam Berger]

Yes. So this was a three phased agreement that was supposed to stop, put a temporary halt to the fighting that began first on October 7, 2023, after a Hamas led attack on southern Israel. And Israel in response launched this punishing war. So the three phased agreement, in the first phase, Israel was going to allow a surge in HU humanitarian aid and release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Hamas returning some of the Israeli hostages that it had taken during the October 7 attack. Now this phase was supposed to conclude on March 1 and then the second phase, during which the thorniest of issues, which is the post war governance of Gaza, was supposed to be hashed out. And this phase never materialized.

[Colby Ekowitz]

I mean, I have to imagine, Miriam, that there is no scenario in which Israel would be okay with Hamas continuing governance of Gaza.

[Miriam Berger]

There is none. And we're really at this deadlock right now. Israel has vowed to eliminate Hamas and it hasn't. As it showed during the ceasefire, Hamas's retained government capabilities and Israel said that it also was regrouping militarily. Hamas has said that it would give up governance in Gaza under certain conditions, but it has refused to disarm, which is one of the Israeli non negotiables. And other options, such as the return of the Palestinian Authority, which rules in the occupied West Bank, Israel has also ruled out.

[Colby Ekowitz]

So we're A couple weeks removed now from when the first phase of the ceasefire expired. What do you think it was about today that made Israel break the ceasefire and leverage this attack on Gaza?

[Miriam Berger]

So Israel's spokesperson for the prime minister's office today said that the prime minister launched this attack as a preemptive one, saying that they had information that Hamas was organizing some sort of attack on Israel. They didn't provide any further details about this, but Israeli officials told the Washington Post, some of my colleagues, that this was actually really about a negotiating tactic about applying military pressure on Hamas in order to, you know, restart the negotiations in Israel's favor. Domestically, Prime Minister Netanyahu is also facing pressure after he planned to dismiss the country's domestic intelligence chief, Ronan Barr, who had called for prioritizing the return of all Israeli hostages over continuing the war. And protests were called for today over that. So there's a lot of different moving parts and arguments and interests right now that, you know, the various sides are trying to contend with.

[Colby Ekowitz]

Maryam, why hasn't Hamas released the remaining hostages that were taken on October 7th?

[Miriam Berger]

They're the bargaining chip for Hamas and they know that's their strongest one. They say that they'll release them when Israel complies with its demands, such as halting the fighting, withdrawing from Gazan territory, allowing a surge of humanitarian aid, ending the war, and also the release of Palestinian prisoners as well, many of whom were detained from Gaza.

[Colby Ekowitz]

And so this attack happens this morning. Has Hamas said or done anything in response as of yet?

[Miriam Berger]

So far, it's blamed Israel and blamed it for the renewal of the bombardments. There has not been any sort of counter offensive launch. There's been no rocket attacks on Israel or anything like that.

[Colby Ekowitz]

And for Israel's part, is there a sense that today is just the beginning of more attacks? Is the war back on?

[Miriam Berger]

You know, we don't know. Everyone inside Gaza really hopes that it's not. But right now, based off of the Israeli statements, they've said that more is to come. And so, you know, the bombardments are ongoing going, and we're not quite sure what's going to come next.

[Colby Ekowitz]

After the break, I ask Miriam about the likelihood of another ceasefire and about the Trump administration's prior knowledge of the attacks. We'll be right back. So, Miriam, the temporary ceasefire was already so tenuous. What do you think negotiators are going to do now in the wake of this attack?

[Miriam Berger]

Right now they're really trying to push for a halt in Israeli attacks and for, you know, some sort of at Least interim solution. You have Egypt and you have Qatar, Saudi Arabia. These are some of the countries that have been most involved. The United States has said that it was informed ahead of time of Israel's plan to attack. White House press Secretary Carolyn Levitt was on Fox News Hannity show last night as the strikes began to unfold and was asked about them and said that Israel was consulted the United States ahead of the bombardments.

[Carolyn Levitt]

The Trump administration and the White House were consulted by the Israelis on their attacks in Gaza tonight. And as President Trump has made it clear, Hamas, the Houthis, Iran, all those who seek to terrorize, not just Israel, but also the United States of America will see a price to pay. All hell will break loose.

[Miriam Berger]

And so, you know, in the eyes of Palestinians, that also really taints the US Role in this all.

[Colby Ekowitz]

The Post also reported this morning quoted an Israeli official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak to journalists. But they said that the US Israeli alliance was stronger than ever and specifically thanked Donald Trump and the White House for their, quote, uncompromising support. So I wonder what that says or what you could say about the relationship between President Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu and kind of what remind us a little bit of the things that Trump has been saying about Gaza and the war since he took office.

[Miriam Berger]

So Trump has both pushed to end the war, but also has been extremely supportive of Israel and Israel's priorities. And so in terms of sort of his vision for how this ends, he's advocated for what would amount to the forced displacement of Palestinians out of Gaza. He says that it would then be rebuilt into sort of a Riviera on the Mediterranean.

[Donald Trump]

We have an opportunity to do something that could be phenomenal. And I don't want to be cute, I don't want to be a wise guy, but the Riviera of the Middle east, this could be something that could be so bad, this could be so.

[Miriam Berger]

Magnificent, which is an idea that's been roundly rejected by Palestinians, by Arab neighbors, by European countries. It is unclear to what extent he really means that plan in action, but it's been applauded by the Israeli side who sees that Trump is really, you know, working in their favor. I spoke to a man named Ahmed Qamar who's in the Jabalia refugee camp, and he said that there was a lot of resentment among Gazans right now about the current American administration. You know, especially in light of the statement saying that America was informed about these bombardments ahead of time. You know, he said that they're facing the specter of famine right now, that the markets are empty and whatever's in there is so expensive, you know, he said no one knows what is happening or why it's happening or what to do or how to fix this. There's just widespread fear right now that anyone could be targeted and could be next.

[Colby Ekowitz]

So, Miriam, you're in Israel. How have Israelis reacted to the breaking of the ceasefire?

[Miriam Berger]

There's been sort of two ends of the response. On the one hand, there's been a lot of anger and frustration. The forum for the families of hostages and missing people has criticized the return to fighting as they see that negates the return of more of the Israeli hostages. There's been protests in the street. On the other hand, this move has been widely praised by Israel's far right, Who Netanyahu depends on in his coalition.

[Colby Ekowitz]

Samir, we got at this a little bit, but what happens now? The ceasefire has been broken. What's next for Israelis and Palestinians?

[Miriam Berger]

You know, we really don't know. In Gaza, there's already been one evacuation order issued. I talked to one man, Said Kalani, who lives in the north in Beit Lahiya, and this morning, after the strikes began, he fled. He fled for Gaza City because he doesn't have a house. He lives in a tent in Beitlahia because so much of that area has been destroyed. He lived there during a really intense siege that happened in the fall, and he didn't want to live that same experience again. So he went to go stay with a friend's house in Gaza City, hoping that he would be safer. You know, I talked to someone else who lives in the Jabalia refugee camp, and he's living in a tent, and they're terrified because they know these tents don't provide any protection from shrapnel, you know, yet alone from bombardments. And, you know, he said that now that they're afraid of fragments falling on them while they're sleeping again.

[Colby Ekowitz]

Right. I mean, there was already these mass displacements that happened during the war. Is there anywhere left in Gaza for Palestinians to go?

[Miriam Berger]

There isn't. Nowhere is considered safe. Nowhere can guarantee them safety. And, you know, it's also important to remember that Gazans can't leave. They don't have access also to leaving. There were some Gazans who were getting out during the ceasefire for medical care. There's so many who need medical care abroad since the health system has collapsed in Gaza. But Israel said that those two are being stopped.

[Colby Ekowitz]

Miriam, thank you for being with us.

[Miriam Berger]

Thank you for having me.

[Colby Ekowitz]

Miriam Berger covers the Middle east for the Post. That's it for Post Reports. Thanks for listening. Today's show was produced by Rennie Svirnoski and Bishop Sand. It was mixed by Sam Behr and edited by Lucy Perkins, with help from Rena Flores. Thanks also to Erin Cunningham, Maham Javed and Kate Brown. I'm Colby Ekowitz. We'll be back tomorrow with more stories from the Washington Post.