Israel-Gaza war enters 3rd year next week
New Delhi, Sep 28: With the two-year anniversary of the Israel-Hamas conflict just over a week away, fears are mounting that the conflict may drag into a third year.
More than 35 people were killed in Israeli strikes and gunfire since the early hours of Saturday, Gazal officials said.
A strike on a house in central Gaza killed at least 11 people, more than half of them women and children, while nine members of a single family died in another strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp, reports BBC. At least six others were reported killed while seeking aid in central and southern Gaza. Local civil defence services also said members of the Bakr family were among those killed in an attack on Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City.
Israel’s military confirmed it had struck around 120 targets since Friday, describing them as Hamas-linked sites and operatives. The latest bombardment is part of an expanded ground offensive now focused on Gaza City, where Israel says Hamas maintains its last major stronghold. Hundreds of thousands have fled, but many more remain trapped in increasingly dire conditions.
The humanitarian crisis is worsening sharply. A UN-backed body confirmed famine in Gaza last month, with children particularly affected by acute malnutrition. Doctors say hospitals are overwhelmed, lacking medicines, equipment and fuel, while disease is spreading through crowded shelters. Essential services such as water supply, sanitation and electricity have nearly collapsed not to mention educational institutions and clean drinking water and sanitation.
The war began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise assault on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 others taken hostage. Israel’s subsequent offensive has left at least 65,549 Palestinians dead, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Combined, the death toll on both sides has climbed to nearly 66,800 over two years, with tens of thousands more wounded or displaced.
Beyond Gaza, the conflict has repeatedly spilled across borders. The US has carried out strikes against Iranian-linked groups in Syria and Iraq, while Iran-backed militias have attacked US and Israeli targets in the region. Qatar was struck in drone and missile incidents last year, and commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Eastern Mediterranean have faced repeated disruptions, threatening global trade.
Despite growing international calls for a ceasefire, bolstered this week by fresh recognitions of Palestinian statehood at the UN by several European countries, Israel remains intent on pressing its military campaign. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing the UN General Assembly on Friday, vowed that Israel “must finish the job” against Hamas, drawing walkouts from several delegations.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has voiced optimism about a breakthrough, citing progress toward a deal involving hostages, prisoner exchanges and a ceasefire. Reports suggest Washington has drafted a 21-point plan that could include demilitarisation of Gaza and even a roadmap to a Palestinian state. Netanyahu, however, has flatly rejected such proposals, setting up a tense meeting with Trump in New York on Monday. Two years on, the conflict shows little sign of resolution. The rising civilian toll, deepening famine, and expanding regional fallout underscore how far the crisis has spread and how difficult peace remains.
