Israel and Palestine: A Year On from Gaza Attacks amid Fears of Larger Multi-Front Crisis

After the Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel and the subsequent military offensive on Gaza, some held out hope for a potential peace catalyst. Yet, one year on, this hope lies in tatters, with intense suffering on both sides. Families in Israel agonize over lost loved ones, still held captive by Hamas, while the people of Gaza bear the brunt of a humanitarian disaster triggered by one of Israel's most punishing bombing campaigns to date. The attacks have left swathes of Gaza, heavily populated with women and children, decimated.

In recent times, Israel has shifted its focus northwards, instigating air strikes and ground invasion that has claimed thousands of lives in Lebanon and displaced millions more. As tensions escalate between Israel and Iran, fears grow about the involvement of Western powers, raising concerns about an uncontrolled and extensive conflict.

In an attack that amounted to Israel’s worst-ever, Hamas fighters breached the Gaza-Israel perimeter, killing and kidnapping hundreds of terrified civilians. This event represented the deadliest terror attack per capita globally since 1970, according to the University of Maryland’s Global Terrorism Database. This has undoubtedly exacerbated feelings of vulnerability and fear among Israelis, who feel under constant threat from hostile forces seeking their annihilation. This extends to Jews worldwide experiencing a resurgence of anti-Semitism.

Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian groups backed by Iran have launched counterattacks on Israel in what they claim is a response to the Gaza situation. Opposition to these groups, however, perceives these actions as targeted attempts to eliminate the Jewish state. Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, remains under scrutiny for his refusal or inability to negotiate a hostage release deal, with critics implying political motives in his strategy.

Devastation in Gaza following Israeli attacks has resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of lives, including thousands of children, and reduced the region to rubble. The Israeli forces argue that they take precautions to prevent civilian casualties, citing their practice of warning households of impending strikes, but lay the responsibility at the feet of Hamas for using civilians as human shields.

Gaza’s already strained living conditions have worsened with the territory effectively under siege, with the supply of basic amenities such as electricity, food, and water cut off. Millions of Gazans have been displaced, with areas identified as safe zones also coming under attack. Famine and medical supply shortages compound the critical situation facing the besieged population.

Elsewhere, Palestinians in the West Bank face escalating violence from extremist Jewish settlers. Israeli authorities are accused of tacitly endorsing such activities. In tandem, international support for the Palestinian cause has grown, with accusations of genocide deliberated by the U.N.’s International Court of Justice, and allegations of war crimes brought before the International Criminal Court. Recent opinion polls suggest declining support for Israel globally.

Adding to the complexity of the situation is the involvement of Lebanon’s Hezbollah, backed by Iran, which has attacked Israel. This has led to additional displacement of people on both sides. An escalation in hostilities over the past few weeks culminated in striking down Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and the ensuing retaliation by Iran.

Observers worry that the situation could further spiral out of control, drawing in other regional players and escalating an already volatile situation into something far more catastrophic. Former special envoy for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations under President Barack Obama, Frank Lowenstein, sums up this global concern as he questions the potential endpoint of this seemingly endless conflict.