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 |
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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 necessary food and medical supplies
- Reports say fewer trucks are entering Gaza, leading to claims of insufficient food, water, medicine, and fuel. Some argue Israel’s doing this on purpose as collective punishment UN OCHA - Crossings data.
- Multiple sources warned of famine or starvation: BBC (Dec 9, 2023) BBC - Half of Gaza starving, WFP (Dec 20, 2023) WFP - Extreme hunger, Mercy Corps (Dec 21, 2023) Mercy Corps - Hunger deaths, Al Jazeera (Dec 28, 2023) Al Jazeera - Famine risk, NYT (Jan 1, 2024) NYT - Starvation risk, CNN (Jan 6, 2024) CNN - Famine warning, VOA (Jan 9, 2024) VOA - Acute famine, AP (Jan 15, 2024) AP - Aid needs, UN Human Rights (Jan 16, 2024) UN - Food system, WaPo (Jan 25, 2024) WaPo - Hunger struggle, France24 (Jan 31, 2024) France24 - Starving, MEMO (Feb 8, 2024) MEMO - Beyond catastrophic, USA Today (Feb 16, 2024) USA Today - Mass starvation, France24 (Feb 19, 2024) France24 - Child deaths, PressTV (Feb 20, 2024) PressTV - 700k risk, Telegraph (Feb 22, 2024) Telegraph - Malnutrition, UN Palestine (Feb 23, 2024) UN Palestine - Hanging by thread, Times of Israel (Feb 24, 2024) Times of Israel - Desperation, UN Press (Feb 27, 2024) UN - Famine imminent, AP (Feb 27, 2024) AP - One step from famine, WFP (Mar 18, 2024) WFP - Famine warning, Reuters (Mar 18, 2024) Reuters - Mass death, Guardian (Mar 20, 2024) Guardian - Catastrophic famine.
- The "500 trucks a day" figure includes construction stuff, restricted by Israel during the war UN OCHA - Crossings data. Food deliveries over the last three months hit record highs for Gaza UN OCHA - Crossings data. Distribution issues include few workers/drivers, security hesitancy post-strikes, Hamas aid theft claims, and unsafe northern routes UN OCHA - Distribution challenges. As of April 1, 2024, 32 people died from starvation, per Gaza Health Ministry Human Rights Watch - Starvation deaths.
Al-Shifa Hospital
- On November 13, 2023, media said Israel lacked justification for raiding Al-Shifa Hospital. Dr. Marwan Abu Saada, head of surgery, said it was full of civilians and patients BBC News - Al-Shifa raid.
- U.S. and IDF intel confirmed Hamas and PIJ used it for command and hostages NYT - U.S. intel. IDF showed a tunnel shaft to reporters NYT - Tunnel evidence. NYT analysis of IDF docs said Hamas stored weapons and used tunnels NYT - Tunnel analysis. Haaretz investigation agreed staff knew of Hamas activity Haaretz - Al-Shifa tunnels. IDF released footage of Hamas bringing hostages there on October 7 IDF Twitter - Surveillance. A second raid on March 18, 2024, lasted 14 days, arresting 900, including 500+ Hamas/PIJ members CNN - Second raid.
World Central Kitchen strike
- An Israeli strike hit World Central Kitchen workers on April 1, 2024, killing 7 WCK - Strike statement.
Nasser Hospital mass graves discovery
- Mass graves were found at Nasser Hospital, with ongoing probes GeoConfirmed - Nasser graves.
ICC Arrest Warrants
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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 Twitter - Graham.
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Jun 2024: UN ceasefire res; Norway/Spain/Ireland recognize Palestine.
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Jul 2024: Beijing Declaration for Palestinian unity; Deif/Haniyeh killed.
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Sep 2024: Hezbollah escalates; Nasrallah killed.
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Oct 2024: Sinwar killed; northern Gaza siege tightens.
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Jan 19-Mar 18, 2025: Second ceasefire, hostage swaps; collapses with strikes killing 400+.
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May 2025: Gaza European Hospital hit; Operation Gideon's Chariots launched.
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Aug 20, 2025: Gaza City offensive restarts; talks stall.
Hamas | Yahya Sinwar | Benjamin Netanyahu | Hezbollah | Operation Prosperity Guardian | Nakba | 6 Day War