5 things to know for March 18: Israel-Gaza, Executive powers, Astronauts return, Federal employees, Missing college student

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Historians, conspiracy theorists, Oliver Stone: Set aside some reading time today. President Donald Trump said he plans to release “approximately 80,000 pages” of unredacted files associated with President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Here’s what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day. Gaza’s fragile ceasefire shattered early Tuesday as Israel carried out what it described as “extensive strikes” on Hamas targets, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to use “increasing military strength” against the militant group and Defense Minister Israel Katz declaring: “Tonight we returned to fighting in Gaza.” Hamas accused Israel of overturning the nearly two-month-long ceasefire agreement and “putting the captives in Gaza at risk of an unknown fate.” Israel accused Hamas of “repeatedly” refusing to release hostages and rejecting mediation offers. Israel’s attack killed over 320 people and wounded hundreds more, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. A doctor told CNN the scenes at one hospital were “nothing close to anything I’ve experienced before” and that the majority of cases she had seen were children. Israel consulted the Trump administration before the Gaza strikes. Recent court orders slowing down or indefinitely blocking President Trump’s policy blitz have raised the specter that the executive branch might openly flout the federal judiciary and prompted questions about how judges would respond. Any decision by the White House to defy federal courts would immediately implicate profound constitutional questions about the separation of powers that have kept each branch of the government in check for centuries. The issue reached a fever pitch over the weekend when the Trump administration deported hundreds of alleged gang members to El Salvador despite a federal judge’s order. Separately, a federal court hearing about the recent deportation of Brown University assistant professor Dr. Rasha Alawieh was canceled Monday. Federal agents found photos of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Iran’s supreme leader on her cell phone, a source familiar with the case told CNN. Two NASA astronauts, whose roughly week-long mission turned into a 286-day stay on the International Space Station, are finally returning to Earth. Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore became stuck in space when their Boeing Starliner spacecraft malfunctioned last year. In addition to conducting spacewalks, carrying out maintenance on the station and setting records, the pair have maintained a positive perspective about the whole experience. “I think just the fact that we’re living up here in this very unique place gives you an amazing perspective — not only (with the view) out the window, obviously, but also just on how to solve problems, and I don’t want to lose that spark of inspiration,” Williams said. They are expected to splashdown off the coast of Florida this afternoon. In response to a judge’s ruling, multiple federal agencies have reinstated terminated probationary employees and placed them on paid administrative leave. Workers interviewed by CNN were pleased to be receiving a paycheck again but also frustrated that they couldn’t return to their jobs. “I’m ready and raring to go. I don’t like to get paid not to do my work,” one USDA probationary worker said. The Trump administration has dismissed tens of thousands of probationary workers, who have typically been in their positions for only one or two years, as part of its efforts to downsize the federal workforce.