What is happening in Gaza? 2025 Update
The war flared on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian entities, led by Hamas, moved to surprise Israel with an attack that cast doubt on the strength of the Israeli army not only in front of Israelis but also in front of the world, because it was believed that their army was the strongest that no one could defeat. As a result, Israel responded with a war on Gaza.
Israel launched a massive military offensive in the Gaza Strip in response, which was characterized by extreme violence and the subsequent killing of 54,381 people, mostly civilians. About 124,054 people were seriously injured. Israel has not only attacked civilians and bombed homes, it has imposed a crippling blockade on the Gaza Strip and blocked food, water and medicine supplies. He arrived without food and without enough food to stay healthy.
War damage to Palestinians
The war in Gaza has severely damaged Palestinians in the Strip, destroying most livelihoods from homes to basic services. By June 2025, 54,381 Palestinians had been killed and 1.9 million displaced, the majority of the population, forced from their homes by shelling and destruction.
Of the 36 hospitals, less than 17 are only partially functional, making the ability to provide treatment and health care no longer relevant to the current situation in Gaza.
Is the shooting in Gaza over?
In November 2023, the first attempt at a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began after weeks of military violence in Gaza. A ceasefire agreement was reached and was part of a deal involving a prisoner exchange between the two sides, the truce lasted only seven days, and humanitarian aid was allowed into the Strip.
The truce ended in failure, collapsing without a permanent agreement, but over the course of several months, attempts to revive a new truce continued, but there was no quick success, but Israel dramatically increased its military operations to what is described as genocide against our people in the Strip and thousands of casualties.
By January 2025, after a major effort by international mediators, a major deal for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange was reached and was supposed to have included three phases ending with a full Israeli withdrawal from the Strip, a ceasefire and an end to the war.
What is the current situation in Gaza?
Initially, the first phase of the agreement lasted 42 days, ending on March 1, and by the end of the first phase, Israel demanded an extension of the first phase, but Hamas refused and insisted that the second phase be moved. Israel resumed its genocidal war on March 1, more than ever before.
Whitkov then went back to another proposal, which would extend the ceasefire until April 20, so that Israel and Hamas could begin negotiations to reach a longer truce and deliver aid to Gaza, but Hamas refused to want to return to zero.
As of mid-May 2025, Whitkov had made a new proposal, agreeing that Israel would allow full humanitarian access to the Strip, and that occupation forces would withdraw from the northern, southern and eastern areas of the Strip by the fifth day after the truce. Israel rejected the proposal outright.
The main disagreement between Israel and Hamas is over Israel’s unwillingness to fully withdraw its forces from the Gaza Strip or to establish a ceasefire. On the other hand, it also refuses to reach any settlement that keeps Hamas in power or restricts its military movements later, especially with regard to the disintegration of the movement’s military structure.
Read more about The Humanitarian Appeal for Gaza:
Humanitarian situation in Gaza
Israel has cut off all essential supplies to the people of Gaza, and this comprehensive blockade has led to a sharp deterioration in the lives of Palestinians under the difficult conditions they are living because of the war.
- Medicines: Making the situation worse and affecting the ability of hospitals to treat the sick and wounded.
- Electricity and water are essential in Gaza and as they are cut off, the suffering of civilians is even greater.
- Food: This has led to a significant shortage of food.
After the escalation of attacks and the deterioration of the situation in Gaza, especially after the collapse of the truce and the recent ceasefire, Israel increased the frequency of its attacks on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The military escalation has killed scores of civilians and exacerbated the risk of destroying what is left of the already badly damaged infrastructure. This has put the humanitarian situation in Gaza at risk and worsened.
Israel’s total blockade of Gaza has been renewed, halting all essential humanitarian aid flows, exacerbating living crises and making the lives of Gazans even more miserable and dangerous, with severe shortages of whatever is necessary for their survival.
