In the terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023, nearly 1,200 people were killed, 251 people were taken hostage. This caused enormous trauma to Israeli society, which is still felt today.
On October 8, 2023, Israel began a war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which continues to this day. At least 66,000 people have been killed in operations by the Israeli armed forces in the Gaza Strip, and according to data from the Hamas-run Health Ministry, nearly 80 percent of them are civilians. International observers believe the real death toll is even higher.
The International Organization for Migration reported that 90% of buildings in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged, forcing nearly 1.9 million Palestinians to become internal refugees. Due to the “total blockade” that Israel has imposed on Gaza, people in large parts of the territory are suffering from severe malnutrition, which has so far claimed at least 450 lives, including 150 children.
The goals of the war have been achieved only partially
After the October 7 attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the war in Gaza had two main goals: to return all hostages taken and to “destroy” Hamas. Two years later, neither has been achieved. Of the 251 people taken hostage in Gaza, 148 were returned to Israel alive. The bodies of several other dead hostages were also returned to Israel. According to the government, Hamas still holds 48 people, of whom 20 are believed to be alive.
Hamas, designated a terrorist organization by Israel, the EU, the United States and others, still operates in Gaza, although many of its fighters have been killed in the past two years. Two of Hamas's leaders, Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, were also killed. In late September, the group partially accepted US President Donald Trump's offer for peace in Gaza. Negotiations are currently underway to determine whether there will be peace in the region and whether Hamas will accept the other demand - to disarm.
Israel's enemies are weakened
The Gaza Strip has not been the only place where fighting has taken place in the past two years. Hezbollah, a terrorist group operating in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen have expressed support for Hamas and have also attacked Israel. Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis are believed to receive funding from Iran.
Hezbollah's longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in Beirut, and a large number of Hezbollah fighters were also killed in a coordinated Israeli attack that blew up the pagers they used to communicate. The Israeli air force has also attacked Iran several times, damaging Tehran's nuclear facilities. The overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria in late 2024 also dealt a blow to Iran, which lost an ally in the region. Israel's opponents in Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and the Gaza Strip have suffered serious blows in the two years of war, with Israel's military superiority in the region now greater than ever.
Accusations of genocide
The way Israel has waged its war in Gaza has drawn sharp criticism from the international community. The Israeli army has bombed hospitals, refugee camps, and schools, killing thousands of civilians, including children and women, journalists, and aid workers. Israel has repeatedly stopped humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza - the country's authorities claimed that the goal was to stop Hamas from misappropriating aid.
These actions by Israel have prompted accusations of genocide against the Palestinians. The UN's Independent Human Rights Commission, the International Association of Genocide Researchers, and Israeli human rights organizations such as B'Tselem allege that Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu's government denies the charges and says Israel has the right to defend itself. In 2024, Netanyahu and then-Defense Minister Yoav Galant were indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Israeli government and its supporters have also denied these charges.
Recognition of Palestine as a state
The catastrophic situation in Gaza has given new impetus to the processes of recognizing an independent Palestinian state. About 140 countries in the world recognized Palestine even before October 7, 2023. Two years later, 20 other countries recognized Palestine, including France, Britain, Spain, Australia, and Canada. In doing so, the governments of these countries expressed their support for a solution to the conflict through the establishment of two independent states. Netanyahu claims that this is a “reward” for Hamas. However, the countries that recently recognized Palestine reject the possibility of Hamas playing any role in a future Palestinian state.
At the same time, a number of countries have stopped exporting weapons to Israel in response to the ongoing war. Several countries have also imposed sanctions on Israel. The European Union is discussing punitive economic measures against the country. More and more EU countries are supporting the termination of the agreement that allows Israeli citizens visa-free travel to EU countries.
Israel's social division
There is no unified opinion in Israel on whether the war in Gaza should end. Far-right ministers in Netanyahu's cabinet - Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich - want the war to continue and suggest that Israel annex the occupied West Bank, which would end the two-state solution.
Other groups in Israeli society are calling for an immediate ceasefire - especially those whose loved ones are still held hostage in Gaza. They protest every week, and many feel abandoned by the government.
Israelis of Arab descent, many of whom are war veterans and relatives of soldiers currently serving in the Israeli army, are also protesting, demanding an end to the war. More than 60 percent of Israelis support ending the war, according to a July poll. If implemented, Trump's Gaza plan could end the fighting, but the wounds inflicted by the conflict are enormous and will likely take decades to heal.
Author: Thomas Lachan