2023.10.07 - present - Israel-Palestine War
Sources
Wikipedia contributors. "Gaza war." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Accessed August 21, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_war
Al Jazeera Staff. "Israel-Gaza war in maps and charts: Live tracker." Al Jazeera. August 21, 2025. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2023/10/9/israel-hamas-war-in-maps-and-charts-live-tracker.
BBC News Staff. "Israel and the Palestinians: History of the conflict explained." BBC. August 8, 2025. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgr71z0jp4o.
Human Rights Watch. "World Report 2025: Israel and Palestine." Human Rights Watch. 2025. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2025/country-chapters/israel-and-palestine.
Council on Foreign Relations. "Israeli-Palestinian Conflict." CFR Global Conflict Tracker. July 27, 2025. https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/israeli-palestinian-conflict.
Encyclopædia Britannica editors. "Israel-Hamas War." Encyclopædia Britannica. November 1, 2023 (updated). https://www.britannica.com/event/Israel-Hamas-War.
Associated Press. "More than 55,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war." AP News. June 11, 2025. https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/more-than-55000-palestinians-have-been-killed-in-the-israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-officials-say/.
PBS NewsHour. "Over 60,000 Palestinians have died in the Israel-Hamas war." PBS. July 29, 2025. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/over-60000-palestinians-have-died-in-the-israel-hamas-war-gazas-health-ministry-says.
Belligerents
- Israel
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
- Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant
- Gaza Strip
- Hamas
- Palestinian Islamic Jihad
- Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine
- Notable Leaders
- Commander - Mohammed Deif
- Prime Minister - Ismail Haniyeh
- Gaza Strip Leader - Yahya Sinwar
- Iran
- Hezbollah
- Houthis
Casualties and Losses
Palestinians (Gaza and West Bank)
- Deaths: 63,057 confirmed killed (76,916+ reported dead/missing on the Strip)
- Wounded: 163,943
- Imprisoned: 12,000+
Israel
- Deaths: 2,056 total (1,139 on Oct 7)
- Wounded: 13,500 (military and civilian).
- Imprisoned: None significant; 100+ hostages still held (as of Aug 2025, down from 251).
Other (Lebanon, Syria, Iran)
- Deaths:
- Lebanon: 4,047+ dead (mostly Hezbollah/civilians); 16,638 injured
- Iran: 1,190 dead, 4,475 injured
- Syria: 567 killed
Location
Causes
Background
| - This conflict was instigated by October 7th |
|---|
Events
Bombing of the Al-Ahli Hospital
- On October 17, 2023, news outlets reported a big explosion near Al-Ahli Hospital. Al Jazeera said about 500 people died Al Jazeera - Photos of Al-Ahli raid, BBC’s Jeremy Bowen called it a huge blast looking like an Israeli strike BBC News - Jeremy Bowen report, and Channel 4 questioned Israel’s claim it was a PIJ misfire Channel 4 - Hospital strike analysis. NYT also reported around 500 deaths NYT - Hospital bombing.
- Later analysis showed a crater in the parking lot, not the hospital itself, suggesting it wasn’t a big Israeli missile. Human Rights Watch found on November 26, 2023, that it was likely a Palestinian group’s rocket and raised questions about the death toll reported by Hamas Human Rights Watch - Al-Ahli findings.
Israel bombing "safe zones"
- Reports from UNCHR, HRW, PBS, DOHA News, and VOA News said Israel ordered 1.1 million people to leave northern Gaza in 24 hours, calling it impossible UNCHR - Evacuation order, HRW - Gaza evacuation, PBS - Evacuation news, DOHA News - UN call, VOA News - 24-hour notice. This came from a UN statement by Stéphane Dujarric UN Press - Dujarric statement.
- Some said Israel bombed southern Gaza after telling people to flee there. On October 13, 2023, Israel dropped pamphlets and posted on social media in Arabic/English warning 1.1 million to leave northern Gaza IAF - Airdropped warnings. No official 24-hour deadline was confirmed; major ground ops started October 27, 2023 IDF - Operation timeline. No mutual "safe zones" exist as Hamas hasn’t cooperated IDF - Al-Mawasi declaration. Israel declared Al-Mawasi a safe zone on October 18, 2023 IDF - Al-Mawasi safe zone. IDF claims Hamas fired rockets from Al-Mawasi, including failed launches, as early as December 9, 2023 IDF Twitter - Rocket claims. On January 4, 2024, Hamas reported 14 deaths from an airstrike in Al-Mawasi, but no photos or videos emerged Hamas statement - Al-Mawasi strike.
Reduction in required food and medical supplies
According to reports, fewer trucks are entering Gaza, raising concerns about a lack of food, water, medication, and fuel supplies. Some believe Israel is doing this on purpose as collective punishment. UN OCHA - Crossing Data.
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Several sources warned about famine or starvation.
- BBC (December 9, 2023) BBC - Half of Gaza is famished.
- World Food Programme (December 20, 2023). WFP: Extreme Hunger
- Mercy Corps, December 21, 2023. Mercy Corps: Hunger dies
- Al Jazeera, December 28, 2023. Al Jazeera: Famine Risk
- New York Times (January 1, 2024). NYT - Starvation Risk
- CNN (January 6, 2024). CNN - Famine Warning,
- VOA (January 9, 2024). VOA: Acute Famine
- AP, January 15, 2024. AP - Aid Needs
- UN Human Rights (January 16, 2024). UN-Food System
- Washington Post (January 25, 2024). Washington Post - Hunger Struggle
- France24 (January 31, 2024) France24 - Starving
- MEMO (February 8, 2024) MEMO: Beyond calamitous
- USA Today (February 16, 2024). USA Today - Mass Starvation,
- France24 (February 19, 2024) France 24 - Child Deaths
- PressTV, February 20, 2024. PressTV - 700,000 danger
- Telegraph (February 22, 2024). Telegraph: Malnutrition
- UN Palestine, February 23, 2024. UN Palestine: Hanging on a thread.
- Times of Israel, February 24, 2024 Times of Israel: Desperation
- UN Press (February 27, 2024). UN - Famine is imminent
- AP (February 27, 2024). AP: One step from hunger
- WFP (March 18, 2024). WFP - Famine Warning
- Reuters (March 18, 2024). Reuters - Mass Deaths
- Guardian (March 20, 2024). Guardian - Catastrophic Famine.
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The "500 trucks per day" figure includes construction materials that Israel prohibited during the war UN OCHA - Crossings data. Food deliveries to Gaza have reached record levels in the last three months UN OCHA - Crossings data. Distribution issues include a shortage of workers/drivers, security concerns following strikes, Hamas aid theft accusations, and hazardous northern roads UN OCHA - Distribution challenges. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, 32 people died as a result of starvation on April 1, 2024.
Al-Shifa Hospital
- On November 13, 2023, the media claimed Israel lacked legitimacy for raiding Al-Shifa Hospital. Dr. Marwan Abu Saada, the chief of surgery, stated that it was packed of civilians and patients. [BBC News: Al-Shifa Raid] (https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-middle-east-67400490/page/7).
- U.S. and IDF intelligence revealed Hamas and the PIJ utilized it for command and hostages. (https://archive.ph/XHj2Cl). IDF demonstrated a tunnel shaft to reporters NYT - Tunnel evidence. According to a New York Times study of IDF documents, Hamas stored weapons and used tunnels. The Haaretz investigation concluded that staff were aware of Hamas activity [Haaretz - Al-Shifa tunnels]. (https://archive.ph/sgorF). On October 7, the IDF published footage of Hamas carrying hostages there. On March 18, 2024, a second operation lasted 14 days and arrested 900 people, including over 500 Hamas/PIJ members CNN - Second raid.
World Central Kitchen Strike
- On April 1, 2024, Israeli drones targeted a three-car convoy belonging to World Central Kitchen (WCK) in the Gaza Strip. The IDF admitted WCK did communicate their plans for the night
- WCK - Strike statement.
Nasser Hospital Mass Graves Discovery
- Mass graves were discovered at Nasser Hospital, with ongoing investigations GeoConfirmed - Nasser graves.
ICC Arrest Warrants
| - On May 20, 2024, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan requested warrants for Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, Ismail Haniyeh, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Yoav Gallant for Rome Statute breaches ICC - Warrant statement. He gave a 30-minute interview for context YouTube - Khan interview. U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken rejected it, questioning the speed State Dept - Blinken response. Senator Lindsey Graham called it a blindside. |
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United Nations Security Council Resolution 2735
| #### Main Article: United Nations Security Council Resolution 2735 |
|---|
| Subject | Release of Hostages by Hamas and Ceasefire agreement |
|---|---|
| Date | June 10th, 2024 |
| Meeting Number | 9,650 |
| Code | S/RES/2735(2024) |
| Voting | — |
| For | 14 | (China, France, United Kingdom, United States,Algeria, Ecuador, Guyana, Japan, South Korea, Malta, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Switzerland) |
| Against | 0 |
| Abstained | 1 | (Russia) |
| Result | Adopted |
| Permanent members | China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States |
| Non-Permanent members | Algeria, Ecuador, Guyana, Japan, South Korea, Malta, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Switzerland |
Beijing Declaration
| Subject | Beijing Declaration on Ending Division and Strengthening Palestinian National Unity |
|---|---|
| Date | July 23rd, 2024 |
| Location | Beijing, China |
| Parties | Palestinian National Liberation Movement Islamic Resistance Movement Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine Palestinian People's Party Palestinian Popular Struggle Front Palestinian National Initiative Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command Palestinian Democratic Union Palestinian Liberation Front Arab Liberation Front Palestinian Arab Front Vanguard for the Popular Liberation War - Lightning Forces |
Israeli Evacuation Zones
Since October 13th, 2023, the IDF has ordered mass evacuations from the Gaza Strip, claiming to 'minimize' civilian losses in the conflict. On the 13th, Israel ordered 1.1 million Gazans to relocate to the north of Wadi Gaza, and some in Gaza City to evacuate south within 24 hours. In December 2023, Israel designated a region in south Gaza as a "humanitarian zone". This zone was later expanded in May 2024 to cover the majority of Khan Younis, Deir al-Balah, and Al-Mawasi.. On March 18th, 2025, the IDF ordered evacuations in northern Gaza and eastern Khan Younis, which affected around 65,000 people.
Rationale: Israeli officials said the zones kept civilians out of violence. The IDF said that their warnings and maps were "clear and detailed" and that it targeted militants rather than civilians. HRW notes Israel alleged the presence of Hamas fighters, weapons caches, and tunnels beneath civilian areas as justification for evacuations.. In public remarks, the IDF emphasized that it "calls for and facilitates evacuation" from risky regions.
Humanitarian impact: The displacement was significant, and by July 2024, aid agencies said 86% of Gazans has been ordered to relocate. Aid agencies warned that Gaza's roads, fuel, and shelters were inadequately equipped for such movements. Unicef's executive director, Catherine Russell, stated: "Images of children burning while sheltering in makeshift tents should shake us all to our core."
Legal and Strategic Outcomes: Human rights organizations criticized the evacuations. Amnesty International described them as "cruel and unlawful" forced displacements.. UN agencies reported that Al-Mawasi, designated by Israel as a humanitarian zone, had no electricity, water, or infrastructure for the hundreds of thousands of orders there. According to UN sources, between March and June 2025, Israeli strikes killed over 380 civilians (mainly women and children) in al-Mawasi tents, with no viable military targets identified.In total, by mid-2025, the UN calculated that 70% of Gaza's area was under evacuation orders or effectively off-limits to civilians. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) stated that a mass evacuation of Gaza City would be unsafe and impracticable due to the siege conditions.
Jabalia Refugee Camp
On October 31, 2023, Israeli air raids destroyed multiple apartment blocks in Jabalia. According to Hamas health officials, more than 50 civilians were killed and approximately 150 wounded. Video footage documented at least 47 bodies being recovered from the debris while rescue teams continued to search for survivors. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the operation targeted Hamas commander Ibrahim Biari in Jabalia and claimed that civilians had been warned to evacuate to the south in advance. The following year, on October 12, 2024, another residential complex in Jabalia was bombed. The Gaza Health Ministry reported at least 22 Palestinian fatalities and dozens of injuries.
Flour Massacre
Mohammed Deif
On July 13th, 2024, Israeli airstrikes hit the Al-Mawasi area targeting
Haniyeh
Nasrallah
Sinwar
Ceasefire
Operation Gideon's Chariots
GHF
What are they?
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) is an American nonprofit organization established in February 2025 to distribute humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, with the goal of getting food and supplies to people dealing with the ongoing crisis there. They've distributed over 135 million meals so far, mostly through sites in places like Rafah and Khan Younis.
Owner and Funding
GHF is run by Executive Director John Acree, who's been the main face pushing their work and calling for more partners. Mike Huckabee, the US Ambassador to Israel, has backed them publicly. The US State Department gave them $30 million directly.
GHF Killings
Since GHF started distributing aid on May 27, 2025, there've been reports of at least 2,146 Palestinians killed near their aid sites, with UN experts saying most were from Israeli military fire while people were just trying to get food, like 20+ killed in a stampede at one site, where GHF blamed "Hamas-affiliated agitators," but witnesses and docs point to Israeli forces or contractors using live ammo and grenades. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) calls these sites "slaughter masquerading as aid" and "orchestrated killing". On Twitter, ITV News and others shared videos of the aftermath.
Allegations of contaminated aid
There've been reports since June 2025 of GHF aid being contaminated, like flour bags with plastic waste, rubbish, or black mold, making it inedible. Gaza's Government Media Office called out oxycodone (a painkiller) found in some flour on June 27, saying it's like using drugs as a "soft weapon." Parachuted packages were reportedly moldy too. On Twitter, Al Jazeera posted videos of contaminated bags from GHF sites.