section_path: Attacks/20 March
section_name: 20 March
paragraph_text: 20 March
  
  In the early morning hours of 20 March, Israel launched several attacks on the Gaza Strip, reportedly killing at least 80 Palestinians. Areas where attacked were launched included Bani Suheila, Abasan al-Kabira, al-Fukhari, Mosbeh, and Beit Lahia, resulting in at least eleven residential structures being "flattened". Many of the areas hit were family residences, resulting in the deaths of women, children, newborn infants, and men who had been sleeping at the time of the attacks. The Gaza Health Ministry stated that the number of deaths rose to 591 since 18 March, with 1,042 reported injuries.
  
  Hamas responded by firing rockets at Tel Aviv, explaining that it did not respond to the Israeli strikes immediately after they started to give mediators time to pressure Israel to cease its attacks, but decided to "give indications that it can respond" as the assault and death toll increased. Israel claimed that the three rockets were either intercepted or fell in open areas, inflicting no casualties.