Israel–Gaza Conflict

 

Introduction

The Israel–Gaza conflict entered one of its most devastating phases on 7 October 2023, reshaping the political, humanitarian, and security landscape of the Middle East. What began as a sudden attack quickly escalated into a prolonged war with far-reaching consequences, drawing in regional actors, global powers, and renewed diplomatic efforts — including references to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace vision?

This blog traces the conflict chronologically, examining key events, humanitarian impacts, international responses, and the role of Trump’s peace plan in the evolving discourse.\

1. October 7, 2023: The Trigger Point

On 7 October 2023, Hamas launched an unprecedented attack from Gaza into southern Israel. Fighters crossed the border, targeting Israeli towns, military bases, and civilians. Hundreds of Israelis were killed, and many were taken hostage.

Israel declared a state of war, calling the attack the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. The Israeli government vowed to eliminate Hamas entirely.

This day marked turning point, transforming a long-standing conflict into a full-scale war.

2. Israel’s Military Response in Gaza

Following the attack, Israel launched massive airstrikes across Gaza, targeting what it described as Hamas infrastructure, leadership, and weapons facilities. Soon after, a ground invasion began.

Key features of Israel’s response included:

 Intensive aerial bombardment

Siege of Gaza, restricting fuel, electricity, food, and water

·         Large-scale ground operations in northern and central Gaza

Israel maintained that civilian harm was the responsibility of Hamas, accusing it of using human shields. However, civilian casualties rose sharply.

3. Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

 As fighting continued, Gaza faced an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians were killed or injured

·         Hospitals, schools, and refugee shelters were damaged or destroyed

·         Over a million people were displaced

·         Severe shortages of food, medicine, and clean water emerged

International organizations, including the UN and Red Cross, warned of famine-like conditions. Calls for ceasefires grew louder, especially from the Global South and humanitarian groups.

4. Regional and Global Reactions

 United States:

 

The U.S. strongly supported Israel’s right to self-defense while urging restraint. Military aid continued, alongside diplomatic efforts to prevent regional escalation.

 

Arab World:

 

Public anger surged across Arab nations. While some governments maintained diplomatic ties with Israel, pressure mounted domestically to cut relations.

 

Iran and Hezbollah

Tensions rose along Israel’s northern border with Hezbollah, raising fears of a broader regional war, though full-scale escalation was largely avoided.

 

5. Targeted Killings of Hamas Leadership:

As part of its war objectives following October 7, 2023, Israel launched an intensive campaign to eliminate Hamas’s political and military leadership, viewing decapitation of command structures as essential to dismantling the organization.

Key Hamas Leaders Targeted or Killed

·     Mohammed Deif – Head of Hamas’s military wing (Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades). Long considered Israel’s most-wanted militant, Deif was repeatedly targeted in Israeli airstrikes. Israel claimed successful strikes against his command network during the war.

·       Yahya Sinwar – Hamas’s top leader in Gaza and a principal architect of the October 7 attack. Israel declared Sinwar a primary target, holding him personally responsible for the assault and the subsequent conflict.

·     Ismail Haniyeh – Hamas’s political leader based outside Gaza. Israel publicly stated that Hamas leaders would not be immune regardless of location, signaling a global reach in its counterterrorism policy.

·       Senior Commanders and Battalion Leaders – Dozens of Hamas field commanders, intelligence heads, and tunnel-network coordinators were killed during airstrikes and ground operations.

 

  

6. Ceasefires, Hostage Deals, and Stalemate

 Short humanitarian pauses were negotiated, allowing:

Limited aid deliveries

·         Exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners

However, lasting ceasefires failed repeatedly. Israel struggled to fully dismantle Hamas, while Hamas continued asymmetric resistance.

By mid-2024, the conflict had reached a military and political stalemate, with immense human cost and no clear endgame.

7. Re-emergence of Trump’s Peace Plan

As diplomatic efforts stalled, discussions resurfaced around Donald Trump’s Middle East peace vision, originally unveiled in January 2020.

Core Elements of Trump’s Plan

Recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital

·         Israeli sovereignty over settlements

·         A demilitarized Palestinian state with limited territorial continuity

·         Economic incentives for Palestinians

The plan was rejected by Palestinian leadership but supported by Israel and some Arab states under the Abraham Accords.

8. Trump’s Position Post-2023 Conflict

Following the Gaza war, Trump and his allies argued

Hamas must be completely eliminated before any peace

·         Regional normalization with Israel should continue

·         Security-first solutions are essential

Supporters viewed Trump’s approach as “realistic,” while critics saw it as dismissive of Palestinian rights and self-determination.

9. Can Trump’s Peace Plan Work after Gaza?

The post-2023 reality poses serious challenges:

Gaza’s devastation makes governance uncertain

·         Palestinian political leadership remains fragmented

·         Public trust in diplomatic solutions is at historic lows

Any peace plan — Trump’s or otherwise — must now address:

Reconstruction of Gaza

·         Political legitimacy of Palestinian leadership

·         Security guarantees for Israel

·         International accountability and humanitarian justice

Without these, lasting peace remains elusive.

Conclusion

The Israel–Gaza conflict since 7 October 2023 has reshaped the region, deepened human suffering, and exposed the limits of military solutions. While Trump’s peace plan has re-entered discussions, it alone cannot resolve decades of grievances intensified by war.

Peace will require more than plans and power — it will require mutual recognition, justice, reconstruction, and sustained international engagement.

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Er. Kamal Chauhan

Founder of World Current Affairs. Inspired to make things looks better.