Renewed Israeli Strikes Kill Hundreds in Gaza

Summary

WSJ What’s News: Renewed Israeli Strikes Kill Hundreds in Gaza
Release Date: March 18, 2025
Host: Kate Bullivant

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1. Renewed Israeli Strikes in Gaza

Overview: The episode opens with a grim update on the intensified conflict between Israel and Hamas. Israel has launched a series of extensive attacks against Hamas targets across the Gaza Strip, resulting in significant casualties and escalating tensions in the region.

Key Points:

• Casualties and Scale: The renewed strikes have killed at least 300 people, as reported by Gaza health authorities. These attacks are described as the most extensive since the ceasefire was implemented in January.

  Anat Peled:
  "These strikes come at a critical moment for a fragile ceasefire that was reached in January between Israel and Hamas."
  [01:42]

• Ceasefire Breakdown: Negotiations mediated through Doha and Cairo aimed at extending the ceasefire to facilitate the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners have stalled. The failure to meet the deadline imposed by Israel led to the resumption of military actions.

  Anat Peled:
  "Negotiators have been trying through mediation rounds in Doha and in Cairo to reach a continuation of the ceasefire to continue releasing Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners and preserve the calm in the Gaza Strip."
  [01:42]

• Israeli Strategy: Israeli officials have indicated plans to escalate military pressure further, potentially leading to a full-scale invasion if Hamas does not comply with demands.

  Anat Peled:
  "We know from Israeli officials that there is a plan to up the military pressure up until the level of a full scale invasion if Hamas does not cooperate."
  [01:42]

2. US-Russia Relations and Ukraine Ceasefire Call

Overview: The episode also delves into the geopolitical tensions surrounding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, highlighting the strained relations between the US and Russia ahead of a scheduled phone call between Presidents Trump and Putin.

Key Points:

• Kremlin's Stance: Russia remains steadfast in its demands for a ceasefire that aligns with its long-standing goals, showing no sign of altering its position to facilitate peace.

  Kate Bullivant:
  "The Kremlin pours cold water on hopes for a Ukrainian ceasefire ahead of today's call between Presidents Trump and Putin."
  [00:33]

• Potential Diplomatic Outcome: With Russia unwilling to modify its demands, the phone call is expected to conclude with diplomatic niceties rather than substantive progress.

  James Marson:
  "With Russia not showing any indication that it's ready to change, then this phone call will probably end with some diplomatic niceties and promises for more talks."
  [00:47]

• Russian Demands: Vladimir Putin's conditions for a ceasefire include Ukraine's neutrality, the prevention of NATO membership, retention of certain Ukrainian provinces, and increased Russian political influence in Ukraine.

  James Marson:
  "Moscow wants Ukraine to be neutral, not a member of NATO with a weakened army that isn't supplied by the West... It wants to retain certain provinces in the east and south of Ukraine, which it's claimed as its own territory, and it wants to be able to exert political influence over the rest of the country."
  [03:58]

• Ukraine and Allies' Response: Ukraine and its European allies find Russia's demands unacceptable, viewing them as insincere and unworkable for a genuine peace deal.

  James Marson:
  "These kind of demands are unacceptable, certainly to Ukraine and to European allies who've been saying that a peace deal should only be struck in a way that's acceptable to Ukraine."
  [04:53]

• Likely Outcome of the Call: Experts predict that the call will not yield a ceasefire, as Russia continues its military advancements and shows no inclination to concede to Ukraine's and the West’s terms.

  James Marson:
  "This single phone call certainly will not bring peace, because peace will only come when the Russians stop fighting."
  [05:30]

3. Business and Market News

Overview: In addition to international conflicts, the podcast covers significant developments in the business and technology sectors, providing listeners with insights into market-moving events.

Key Topics:

• Alphabet's Bid for Wiz:

  • Google’s parent company, Alphabet, is reportedly attempting to acquire cybersecurity startup Wiz for approximately $30 billion, marking Google's largest acquisition to date.

    Kate Bullivant:
    "Google parent Alphabet is once again trying to acquire cybersecurity startup Wiz, this time for around $30 billion."
    [07:30]

• BYD's New Fast Charging Technology:

  • Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has introduced a groundbreaking fast-charging technology that can deliver 400km of range in just five minutes. This innovation has propelled BYD’s shares to record highs.

    Kate Bullivant:
    "BYD's shares hit a record high today after the Chinese electric vehicle company unveiled a new fast charging technology."
    [07:30]

• Nvidia's AI Chip Developments:

  • The "Woodstock of AI" conference in Santa Fe features Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s keynote, where the latest advancements in AI chips are anticipated. Investors are keenly awaiting announcements on next-generation AI chips, which are crucial for maintaining Nvidia’s market dominance.

    Alex Frangos:
    "With so much riding on Nvidia and their massive business selling AI chips, people are paying very close attention to the latest rounds of chips."
    [08:51]

4. Space Exploration Update

Overview: The podcast concludes with uplifting news about space exploration, highlighting the safe return of two astronauts after an extended mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Key Points:

• Astronauts' Safe Return: Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams, known as Butt and Sunny, are set to splash down near Florida after a nine-month mission on the ISS. Their return marks the end of a delayed mission initially planned to test Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.

  Kate Bullivant:
  "Astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams are finally on their way home from the International Space Station, more than nine months later than originally planned."
  [09:32]

• Commander Nick Hague’s Role: Astronaut Nick Hague leads the SpaceX Crew Dragon mission that is bringing Butt and Sunny back to Earth, ensuring a successful landing.

  Kate Bullivant:
  "Astronaut Nick Hague joined Butch and Sonny's crew in September on the ISS and is today's Commander of the SpaceX Crew Dragon craft carrying them home."
  [09:32]

• Message to Returning Crew: NASA expresses confidence in the new crew taking over the ISS and excitement for the achievements Butt and Sunny contributed during their mission.

  Anat Peled:
  "We know the station's in great hands."
  [10:04]
  Alex Frangos:
  "We're excited to see what you guys are going to accomplish and we'll be waiting for you."
  [10:06]

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Conclusion

The episode of WSJ What’s News provides a comprehensive overview of critical global events, from the devastating Israeli strikes in Gaza and the precarious state of the Ukraine ceasefire negotiations, to significant developments in the business and technology sectors, and a heartening update on space exploration. Through expert analysis and firsthand reports, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of the complex interplay between international conflicts and market dynamics, all while celebrating human achievements in space.

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Notable Exclusions: The summary intentionally omits sponsor messages, advertising segments, and non-content sections to focus solely on the substantive news discussions and analyses presented in the episode.

Transcript

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[Kate Bullivant]

Israel relaunches attacks in Gaza overnight, killing hundreds of people plus the Kremlin pours cold water on hopes for a Ukrainian ceasefire ahead of today's call between Presidents Trump and Putin.

[James Marson]

With Russia not showing any indication that it's ready to change, then this phone call will probably end with some diplomatic niceties and promises for more talks and.

[Kate Bullivant]

Two astronauts stuck in space for nine months finally coming home. It's Tuesday, March 18th. I'm Kate Bullivant for the Wall Street Journal, filling in for Luke Vargas, and here is the AM edition of what's News, the top headlines and business stories moving your world today. Israel has launched a series of attacks against Hamas targets across the Gaza Strip overnight and into the morning. The strikes have killed at least 300 people, according to the Gaza health authorities, a breakdown in talks to release the remaining hostages. The Journal's Anat Peled says the strikes are the most extensive since the ceasefire took effect in January.

[Anat Peled]

These strikes come at a critical moment for a fragile ceasefire that was reached in January between Israel and Hamas. Negotiators have been trying through mediation rounds in Doha and in Cairo to reach a continuation of the ceasefire to continue releasing Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners and preserve the calm in the Gaza Strip. That hasn't happened so far and issued deadline by Israel passed, which is what led it to resume the strikes. We know from Israeli officials that there is a plan to up the military pressure up until the level of a full scale invasion if Hamas does not cooperate.

[Kate Bullivant]

According to an Israeli official, President Trump gave Israel the green light to restart attacks on Hamas after the group failed to give up any of the 59 hostages that remain in Gaza. In a statement shared on telegram, Hamas blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government for endangering the lives of remaining hostages by overturning the ceasefire. We're exclusively reporting that Trump administration officials are roiled in debate over how to implement the president's pledge to equalize U.S. tariffs with those charged by other nations. Trump's team have recently been weighing whether to simplify the complex task by sorting nations into one of three tariff low, medium and high rates. The proposal was later ruled out, however, according to an administration official close to the talks, adding that Trump's team is still trying to sort out how to implement an individualized rate for each nation. The debate comes as aides are scrambling to meet the president's deadline of April 2 to debut a reciprocal tariff plan, along with additional 25% duties on a handful of industries such as autos, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. President Donald Trump is due to speak to Russian President President Vladimir Putin today in the hopes he can secure a 30 day ceasefire in Ukraine. Russia is widely expected to push for territorial and other concessions that would be unpalatable for Ukraine and its European allies. James Marson is our Ukraine bureau chief. James, what do we know about the Russian demands?

[James Marson]

Well, Vladimir Putin has been careful not to outright reject the idea of a ceasefire, but instead he set out a series of demands that are, in fact, little changed since the beginning of the war. Moscow wants Ukraine to be neutral, not a member of NATO with a weakened army that isn't supplied by the West. It wants no European peacekeepers on Ukrainian soil, which has been one idea of how to make this ceasefire work. And then Russian officials have also been calling for a deal that addresses what Moscow calls the root causes of the conflict. Part of this is that it wants to retain certain provinces in the east and south of Ukraine, which it's claimed as its own territory, and it wants to be able to exert political influence over the rest of the country.

[Kate Bullivant]

So these demands that you've just outlined, how acceptable are they to Ukraine and Ukraine's allies?

[James Marson]

Well, these kind of demands are unacceptable, certainly to Ukraine and to European allies who've been saying that a peace deal should only be struck in a way that's acceptable to Ukraine. President Zelensky has said that this series of demands from Russia just looks like a delaying tactic and that Putin doesn't want to irritate President Trump by rejecting the ceasefire proposal, but instead wants to set conditions that are unworkable. Zelensky has said several times in recent days that Ukraine is ready for an immediate ceasefire, just as President Trump has proposed, and that it's Russia that's dragging things out.

[Kate Bullivant]

So what does all of this tell us about the likely outcome of today's call?

[James Marson]

Well, you can't make a deal to end the fighting without both parties agreeing to it. Ukraine has already agreed to a ceasefire and as proposed by the US So far, we haven't heard that from President Putin that he's ready to do it. Russia is pushing forward slowly on the battlefield. It's grinding down the Ukrainian army, it is destroying the Ukrainian electricity grid, which is a key Russian tactic to degrade the ability of Ukraine as a country to resist. So President Putin feels like he's winning. And so for him to agree to a ceasefire to a peace deal, he would be expecting his conditions to be met. So he is quite prepared to play the long game and to not agree to a ceasefire until he gets what he wants. So one possible outcome is that President Trump comes away with a clear understanding of those conditions and then tries to take those to the Ukrainians. But Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine won't accept territorial losses limits on its army political influence because these are in fact the very things that Ukraine has been fighting for three years. So this single phone call certainly will not bring peace, because peace will only come when the Russians stop fighting.

[Kate Bullivant]

James, thanks so much for breaking this down for us.

[James Marson]

My pleasure.

[Kate Bullivant]

Coming up, two stranded astronauts returned to Earth following a nine month stint in space. That story and more after the break.

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[Kate Bullivant]

In market news today, Google parent Alphabet is once again trying to acquire cybersecurity startup Wiz, this time for around $30 billion. The deal would be Google's largest ever and according to people familiar with the matter, could come together soon. Barring any last minute snags. Alphabet had been close to a roughly $23 billion deal for Wiz last summer, but the talks fizzled in part over concerns from Wiz and investors about the time it would take for a deal to clear regulatory hurdles in Hong Kong. BYD's shares hit a record high today after the Chinese electric vehicle company unveiled a new fast charging technology. BYD said the new tech is capable of providing 400km of range in just five minutes of charging time and will be available on the company's new sedan and SUV models, which go on sale next month. Meanwhile, the so called Woodstock of AI is underway in Santa Fe this week. Today we'll see Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang give a much anticipated keynote speech at the GTC AI conference and as Journal Finance editor Alex Frangos explains investors will be listening out for any news on next generation AI chips.

[Alex Frangos]

With so much riding on Nvidia and their massive business selling AI chips, people are paying very close attention to the latest rounds of chips, what chips they're going to have later this year and what chips they're going to have next year to see how much better they're going to be, how much more they're going to be able to charge for them. So much is riding on that, given how valuable that company is, given huge spending by tech companies for these chips, but also worries about the AI models like DeepSeek that maybe don't need as many chips. And we had this huge wobble in January when Deepsea came out and people worried, well, do we need Nvidia anymore? Turns out we still do for the time being.

[Kate Bullivant]

And astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams are finally on their way home from the International Space Station, more than nine months later than originally planned. Butch and Sunny, as they're known, are on track to splashdown near Florida just before 6pm this evening. Astronaut Nick Hague joined Butch and Sonny's crew in September on the ISS and is today's Commander of the SpaceX Crew Dragon craft carrying them home. Here's his message to the crew taking over the space station, courtesy of NASA.

[Anat Peled]

We know the station's in great hands.

[Alex Frangos]

We're excited to see what you guys are going to accomplish and we'll be waiting for you.

[Kate Bullivant]

Butch and Sonny arrived at the ISS last June to test the capabilities of Starliner, a Boeing developed spacecraft designed to ferry astronauts to and from the space station. Starliner left without the pair in September after officials decided using the Boeing craft was too risky at the time. And that's it for what's news for this Tuesday morning. Today's show was produced by Daniel Bark with supervising producer Sandra Kilhoff. And I'm Kate Bullivant for the WAL filling in for Luke Vargas. We will be back tonight with a new show. Until then, thanks for listening.