One Year of Gaza War

Prelude

Israel launched its assault on Gaza on October 7, following an attack by armed fighters from the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, along with other Palestinian groups. The attack claimed the lives of about 1,140 people, with around 240 taken into Gaza as captives. In response, Israel intensified its bombing campaign and further tightened the already suffocating siege that has been imposed on Gaza since 2007. This marks one year since Israel’s ongoing offensive against Palestinians in Gaza.

Casualties due to Genocide

Israeli attacks over the past year have killed at least 41,615 Palestinians in Gaza, amounting to 1 in every 55 residents. Independent sources suggest that the actual death toll could be up to four times higher than reported. Among the dead are at least 16,756 children, marking the highest child death toll in any conflict over the past two decades. Additionally, more than 17,000 children have lost one or both parents. Despite widespread global condemnations and pleas from international organizations and human rights groups, Israel has continued its indiscriminate campaign, spreading terror across Gaza and wiping out entire multi-generational families.

Injuries due to Israeli Barbarianism

Israeli attacks in Gaza have injured at least 97,303 people, equating to one in every 23 residents. The World Health Organization reports that nearly a quarter of the injured—around 22,500—suffer life-altering injuries, and rehabilitation needs are going unmet. Severe limb injuries are the primary cause driving the need for rehabilitation. UNRWA notes that every day, 10 children lose one or both legs, with amputations performed with little or no anesthesia due to Israel’s ongoing siege. Additionally, over 10,000 people are feared to be buried under the rubble. With limited tools to remove debris and rescue those trapped, volunteers and civil defense workers are forced to use their bare hands.

Demolition of Infrastructure

Israel has dropped an estimated 75,000 tonnes of explosives on Gaza, and experts predict it could take years to clear the more than 42 million tonnes of debris, much of it containing unexploded bombs. Israeli forces have also targeted nearly all of Gaza’s hospitals and healthcare facilities. Over the past year, at least 114 hospitals and clinics have been forced to shut down, depriving many patients of essential medical care.

Experts estimate that Israeli forces have dropped around 75,000 tonnes of explosives on Gaza, predicting that clearing the resulting debris—exceeding 42 million tonnes and filled with unexploded bombs—could take years. Gaza’s Media Office assesses the direct damage from Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip at $33 billion. According to OCHA, by January, 60 percent of residential homes and 80 percent of all commercial facilities had suffered damage or destruction. Gaza’s Media Office estimates that 150,000 homes have been completely destroyed, along with over 3,000 kilometers of electricity networks.

With so many homes lost, hundreds of schools in Gaza have turned into shelters, leaving at least 625,000 children without access to education. Over the past year, Israel has completely destroyed 123 schools and universities and damaged at least 335 others. At least 11,500 students and 750 teachers and educational staff have lost their lives.

Israeli forces have destroyed at least 34 sports facilities, including stadiums and gyms.

As of August, the Palestine Football Association reported that the war had claimed the lives of at least 410 athletes, sports officials, and coaches. Among the deceased, 297 were footballers, including 84 children who dreamed of playing for Palestine.

Destruction of Health Infrastructure

The Gaza Media Office reports that Israeli forces have rendered 34 hospitals and 80 health centers inoperative, and targeted 162 health institutions. At least 131 ambulances were damaged in the attacks. Experts argue that targeting hospitals, especially those treating critically ill patients and babies, may constitute a war crime under international law. Israeli strikes on hospitals and the ongoing bombardment of Gaza have killed at least 986 medical workers, including 165 doctors, 260 nurses, 184 health associates, 76 pharmacists, and 300 management and support staff. Additionally, at least 85 civil defense workers have lost their lives on the frontlines.

Mass Abductions and Mass Graves

The Israeli army has surrounded several hospitals in Gaza, trapping hundreds of people inside. In April 2024, 300 bodies of men, women, and children were discovered at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis. That same month, another mass grave was found on the grounds of a school in Beit Lahiya. In May, the Gaza Media Office reported the discovery of another mass grave at al-Shifa Hospital, with some bodies found decapitated. Motasem Salah, director of Gaza’s Emergency Operations Centre, stated that bodies were found on beds in the reception and emergency departments, above the heads of the sick and injured, and that some were buried alive.

Epidemic Diseases

Over the past year, three-quarters of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have contracted contagious diseases due to poor sanitation, open sewage, and inadequate access to hygiene. Israel’s blockade on medical supplies has put the lives of at least 350,000 chronically ill patients at serious risk, as they urgently need treatment. At least 10,000 cancer patients can no longer receive essential care, while more than 15,000 people who are injured or chronically ill require treatment outside of Gaza but are unable to travel.

Starvation & Aid Blockade

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court defines intentionally starving a population during international armed conflict as a war crime. An investigation by Al Jazeera’s Fault Lines revealed that Israel has systematically denied aid and water to the starving population. Stacy Gilbert, a former U.S. State Department official, told Al Jazeera that aid agencies and the U.S. have widely documented Israel’s blockade on aid. Currently, 2.15 million people, or 96 percent of Gaza’s population, are experiencing severe food shortages, and one in five Palestinians, about 495,000 people, are facing starvation, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).

Siege of Gaza’s Water

In March 2024, Anera, a nonprofit organization, reported that 95 percent of Gaza’s population had been without access to clean water for months. Residents in Gaza receive only 1.5 to 1.8 liters (51 to 61 oz) of water per day, far below the WHO’s recommended daily allowance of 100 liters (26 gallons) per person. By September, OCHA noted that all three water connection points from Israel were only partially functional, and two of the three desalination plants operated intermittently. In desperation, Gaza’s people have been forced to drink unpotable salty water and use the sea for bathing and washing their clothes.

Media War

Reporters Without Borders reports that Israeli forces have killed over 130 journalists, nearly all of them Palestinian, since October 7. Gaza’s Media Office puts the death toll at 175, averaging four journalists killed every week since the attacks began.

Illegal Abductions

Israeli authorities are holding more than 10,000 Palestinians in harsh conditions, including at least 250 children and 80 women. Many of these individuals are detained without charge. Specifically, at least 3,332 Palestinians are under administrative detention, facing imprisonment without charge or trial.

Heritage Loss

Over the past year, Israeli forces have destroyed at least 206 archaeological and heritage sites. Their attacks have completely obliterated at least 611 mosques and partially damaged 214 others.

On December 8, an Israeli air raid caused extensive damage to Gaza’s Great Omari Mosque, leaving its 747-year-old library—once home to rare manuscripts, including ancient copies of the Quran—in ruins.

All three churches in Gaza have also suffered damage from Israeli attacks. The Church of Saint Porphyrius, a fifth-century church and one of the oldest places of worship in Gaza, was targeted on October 17, 2023, and then again on July 30.

The Role of International Actors

The conflict has drawn significant international attention, with various countries and organizations seeking to mediate and provide humanitarian assistance. The geopolitical implications are far-reaching, affecting relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors, as well as broader global dynamics.

Major International Responses

• United States: USA Continued military support for Israel while urging de-escalation.
• European Union: Condemned violence on both sides and called for humanitarian access.
• Arab League: Expressed solidarity with the Palestinian cause, calling for an end to Israeli aggression.

Looking Ahead: Prospects for Peace

As the conflict continues, the prospects for peace remain bleak. The deep-seated grievances on both sides, coupled with the failure of past negotiations, have created a complex web of issues that will require sustained international effort and commitment to resolve.

Potential Pathways to Resolution

• Renewed Diplomatic Efforts: Engaging regional powers and international organizations in peace talks.
• Humanitarian Ceasefire: Immediate cessation of hostilities to allow for humanitarian aid to reach those in need.
• Long-Term Solutions: Addressing core issues such as territory, refugees, and security arrangements.

Spread of War

Following Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel, Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based militant group backed by Iran, began firing rockets into Israel, sparking cross-border exchanges reminiscent of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war. Meanwhile, Israel targeted Iranian-linked groups in Syria, intensifying strikes after the killing of members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. On Oct. 18, Iran-linked militants began launching missiles at U.S. forces in Iraq, escalating attacks on U.S. positions across Iraq, Syria, and Jordan. The U.S. responded with airstrikes on Iran-backed militias, particularly in Iraq and Syria.

The conflict spread further when Yemen’s Houthi rebels, also supported by Iran, launched missiles toward Israel and attacked shipping in the Red Sea. These actions disrupted global trade, leading to U.S. and U.K. military retaliation against Houthi positions in Yemen.

Despite no direct war between Iran and the U.S., Iran continues using proxy forces to pressure the U.S. and Israel, especially in response to the Gaza conflict. The Israeli violence and barbarianism has led to the strikes in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Iran which fears of a broader regional war amidst the deaths of Ibrahim Raisi, Ismail Haniye, Hassan Nasrallah and alleged martyrdom of other top leadership of Hezbollah and Hamas which may fuel up the full scale war in the region.

Conclusion

One year into the conflict, the situation remains critical, with profound implications for the people of Gaza and Israel alike. As the world watches, the urgent need for a comprehensive and just resolution has never been more apparent. The path forward will require a concerted effort from all stakeholders to ensure lasting peace and security in the region.