Israel declared war in response to Hamas' cross-border attack on Oct. 7, in which the Islamic militant group killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took about 250 others hostage.
Israel responded with weeks of intense airstrikes on the Gaza Strip before turning the operation into a ground offensive. According to Israel, the objective is to destroy Hamas and obtain the release of the more than 100 hostages still held by Hamas.
Relatives protest
The hostages' families continue to fight for their release. Posters of the kidnapped people are still spread across the streets, people wear t-shirts that say “Take them home”. The Hostage Family Forum built a replica of a short section of tunnel in central Tel Aviv. Hamas is reportedly holding hostages in these underground facilities. On Saturday, thousands of people took to the streets in Tel Aviv to demand the release of Hamas hostages. There were demonstrations of solidarity around the world, but also demonstrations to end the violence in Gaza.
AP/Leo Correa An image of a Hamas tunnel opened as an art installation in Tel Aviv
It is reportedly considered almost impossible for the Israeli military to forcibly release those abducted. The tunnels built by Hamas cross the entire Gaza Strip for hundreds of kilometers. The Islamic organization's fighters use them as underground command centers, retreat and storage rooms, and transportation routes. The hostages' families are pinning their hopes on a negotiated solution.
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Middle East: What will the future of the region be like?
Massive destruction in the Gaza Strip
Israel's offensive caused widespread destruction in the Gaza Strip. But more than three months later, Hamas is still largely intact. Hamas health authorities say the death toll has now exceeded 23,000, representing about one percent of Gaza's population. Thousands more are missing. There are also thousands of injured.
More than 80 percent of the population was displaced: tens of thousands of people had to flee to scattered camps in the south of the Gaza Strip, which also came under Israeli fire.
APA/AFP/Ahmad Gharabli Around 100 hostages are still in the hands of Hamas
The United Nations estimates that about a quarter of Gaza's population suffers from hunger. According to the UN, only 15 of Gaza's 36 hospitals are partially functioning, meaning the medical system is on the verge of collapse. Children have been missing school for months and have no prospect of returning to class. Based on satellite analysis, it is estimated that around half of Gaza's buildings were damaged or destroyed.
The UN Palestine Relief Agency (UNRWA) reiterated its call for a humanitarian ceasefire on Saturday. “Mass deaths, destruction, displacement, hunger, loss and sadness over the past 100 days have tarnished the humanity we all share,” the network wrote in a statement.
Tensions across the Middle East
The conflict has already spread throughout the Middle East and threatens to worsen. Almost immediately after the Hamas attack, Iranian-backed Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon began attacking Israel, provoking Israeli retaliatory strikes.
Portal/Kevin Coombs Calls for peace in the Middle East are growing around the world
More recently, there was an airstrike on January 2 for which Israel is blamed and in which a senior Hamas official was killed in Beirut. Hezbollah responded with heavy bombing of Israeli military bases, while Israel killed several Hezbollah commanders in targeted airstrikes.
At the same time, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have carried out a series of attacks on civilian cargo ships in the Red Sea. Meanwhile, Iranian-backed militias have attacked US forces in Iraq and Syria. The US has sent warships to the Mediterranean and Red Sea to quell the violence. On Thursday night, the US and UK militaries bombed more than a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen. These have already begun with retaliatory attacks.
Netanyahu firmly in the saddle
The October 7 attack hit Israel with full force and also shook many Israelis' confidence in its leadership. Although some Israeli security officials have apologized for misjudging the threat of a Hamas attack and have already signaled they will step down after the war, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears firmly in charge.
APA/AFP Israel responded to the Hamas attack on October 7 with heavy airstrikes on the Gaza Strip
At a press conference on Saturday, he announced: “No one will stop us.” “It is possible and necessary to continue until victory, and we will do so”, said the head of government. Critics accuse him of ignoring Palestinians throughout his term. Several thousand people demonstrated in Tel Aviv on Saturday for Netanyahu's resignation.
The head of government rejected peace initiatives before October 7th. Instead, he sought to normalize relations with other Arab countries in hopes of exerting pressure on the Palestinians. Shortly before October 7, Netanyahu boasted about his efforts to establish ties with Saudi Arabia.
Uncertain outcome
Plans for the post-war period are rarely mentioned these days – and when they are, it is from the US. They want a revived Palestinian Authority to govern the Gaza Strip and steps towards a two-state solution. Israel is against this and wants to maintain a long-term military presence in Gaza. But the US is against Israel's occupation of the Gaza Strip.
A few days ago, Israel flatly rejected the suspension of military operations against Hamas that South Africa demanded before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The country also firmly rejected the accusation of genocide in Gaza. In any case, rebuilding the region will take many years, as will resolving the suffering of all parties.