Palestine - March 2025

In March, Israel violated the Gaza ceasefire agreement it had previously reached with Hamas, which had been in place since 19 January, by launching airstrikes and initiating a ground invasion of Gaza. After reimposing a full siege on Gaza on 2 March, blocking all humanitarian aid, the Israeli military launched a new wave of airstrikes across the Strip on 18 March. The following day, Israeli forces retook control of the Netzarim Corridor, cutting off north-south movement within Gaza. On 20 March, a new ground invasion was launched in the north. By the end of the month, more than 1,000 Palestinians had been killed since the strikes resumed. The violence also caused widespread displacement, with new evacuation orders issued by Israel throughout Gaza, including in the southern city of Rafah on 31 March, forcing thousands to flee.

*Since the impact of these events are felt primarily in Palestine, they are coded in the entries for the latter. While they are not coded for Israel, it is Israeli action that causes the effects on democracy in Palestine.

Sources: Associated Press (1), Associated Press (2), Haaretz (1), United Nations, Middle East Eye, Haaretz (2)