The Gaza war, which began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, has caused massive destruction and loss of life. Over 1,200 Israeli civilians were killed and hundreds were taken hostage. Israel’s military response has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and Hamas fighters. The Gaza Strip has been almost completely destroyed, with 90 percent of buildings flattened, including hospitals, schools, and universities. The blockade of aid has caused famine, leading to hundreds of starvation deaths.
For Palestinians, the last two years have been described as a second Nakba, recalling the 1948 displacement and killings. Gaza’s health ministry reports over 67,000 deaths, mostly civilians, though independent studies suggest the actual number could be much higher. Many more people have been wounded, with a significant portion suffering permanent physical and mental damage.
A UN commission of inquiry last month confirmed that Israel’s actions in Gaza meet the definition of genocide. It cited large-scale killings, forced displacement, and the destruction of essential facilities like fertility clinics. Israel rejected these findings, claiming the report relied on false information from Hamas. Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have remained defiant, with some making statements comparing Palestinians to “human animals” and framing the conflict in historical and religious terms.
Israel has also used the war to expand its control over the West Bank. Jewish settlers have been allowed to attack Palestinians and seize land, including territories Palestinians consider essential for a future state. Netanyahu’s government recently approved a settlement plan cutting across the West Bank, further complicating prospects for Palestinian statehood.
Israel has faced global criticism for its military actions, including failed strikes on other countries in the region, which even upset allies like former US President Donald Trump. Some Western nations, frustrated with Israel’s conduct, have recognized Palestine and started imposing trade sanctions on Israel. These developments have also affected regional projects like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, as well as Saudi Arabia’s recent defense pact with Pakistan.
Despite the devastation, Hamas remains active in Gaza. Key leaders, including Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, have been killed, but the group has likely added thousands of new fighters. Of the 205 Israeli hostages released so far, only a few were freed through military operations; the majority were released through negotiations with Hamas. This shows that Israel may weaken Hamas militarily but cannot fully destroy it without diplomacy.
There is growing sentiment within Israel to negotiate with Hamas to end the war and secure the release of remaining hostages. A recent opinion poll shows that 74 percent of Israelis favor ending the war. Military leaders also support a negotiated solution. US-backed peace initiatives, like the one recently announced by Trump, are seen as the only possible path to ending hostilities, though doubts remain about its effectiveness.
Trump’s plan proposes a post-war Gaza model with heavy international oversight, giving Palestinians only limited control. It does not offer a clear path to a sovereign Palestinian state or allow new leadership to emerge among Palestinians. Currently, Mahmoud Abbas, the 89-year-old president of Palestine, is the only recognized Palestinian leader, but he lacks real power and popular support.
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A two-state solution, long considered a possible path to peace, has lost support in Israel, especially after the Hamas attack. Surveys show only one-third of Israelis support creating a Palestinian state, and less than one-quarter of Jewish Israelis back the idea. No major Israeli political party currently favors Palestinian statehood, and public opinion is unlikely to shift soon.
The history of peace efforts also weighs heavily. The Oslo Accords in 1993, signed by Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, created the Palestinian Authority and won Rabin the Nobel Peace Prize. However, Rabin was assassinated a year later by an Israeli extremist opposed to the deal. Since then, no Israeli leader has had the political will to make a similar agreement.
Even if the Gaza war ends soon, the prospects for true peace in the region remain slim. Palestinians continue to suffer under occupation, blockades, and ongoing military action. Israel’s internal politics, particularly Netanyahu’s desire to maintain power amid corruption charges, also complicate matters. Without meaningful negotiations, a new Palestinian leadership, and international support for justice, lasting peace may remain out of reach.
The war has shown that military dominance alone cannot solve the conflict. Gaza’s destruction and the loss of tens of thousands of lives illustrate the human cost. For the first time in years, some Western countries are taking action against Israel, recognizing Palestinian rights. However, the structural and political challenges mean that any peace process will be long, fragile, and uncertain.
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