Operation Might and Sword occurred on 18 March 2025 when Israel began conducting widespread aerial bombardments and artillery shelling across the Gaza Strip in anticipation of a renewed Hamas offensive into southern Israel.
On 1 March 2025, Hamas rejected an Israeli proposal to extend a two-month ceasefire to release more hostages, with Hamas insisting on an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza instead. After Hamas refused to accept an extended truce for the Ramadan and Passover periods, Israel ceased the entry of aid to Gaza on 2 March, and, on 9 March, Israel halted its supply of electricity to Gaza. On 17 March, Israeli minister Gadi Eisenkot claimed that Hamas and PIJ had risen to 25,000 and 5,000 fighters, respectively, during the ceasefire. On the same day, an Israeli military report alleged that Hamas was planning a new raid on Israel to attack communities and kibbutzim near the border and Israeli soldiers in Gaza.
At 2:20 AM on 18 March 2025, Israeli warplanes began entering Gaza, conducting extensive strikes on Hamas targets across the strip. Rafah, Khan Younis, Deir al-Balah, Nuseirat, Al-Bureij, Al-Zaytoun, Al-Karama, and Beit Hanoun were bombed, and Israeli defense minister Israel Katz stated that Israel had returned to fighting in Gaza. The Israeli strikes killed Hamas politburo members Essam al-Da'alis, Ahmed Yassir Harb, and Abu Obeida al-Jamasi, Hamas justice ministry director-general Abu Amr al-Hatta, Hamas interior minister Mahmoud Abu Watfa, Hamas internal security forces head Bahjat Abu Sultan, Al-Quds Brigades spokesman Abu Hamza, PIJ rocket unit commander Hassan al-Na'im Abu Ali, and Al-Nasser Salah al-Deen Brigades artillery unit commander Abu Yusuf.
Following the strikes, vegetable prices in North Gaza tripled and six World Food Programme-subsidized bakeries were forced to close due to a lack of cooking supplies and gas. Israel also restricted Palestinian travel in the West Bank, and the IDF ordered the evacuation of all civilians from eastern Gaza and Beit Hanoun. The White House concurrently issued a statement warning that Hamas and other regional entities would "see a price to pay," and that "all hell will break loose."