The Gaza war began on 7 October 2023 when Hamas launched a large-scale attack into southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages. Israel launched a comprehensive military campaign in response, beginning with air strikes and followed by a ground invasion of northern Gaza in late October 2023.
The Gaza war began on 7 October 2023 when Hamas launched a large-scale attack into southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages. Israel launched a comprehensive military campaign in response, beginning with air strikes and followed by a ground invasion of northern Gaza in late October 2023.
As of March 2026, the conflict has resulted in one of the most severe humanitarian crises of the 21st century. According to UN OCHA, over 45,000 Palestinians have been killed, with the death toll disputed by different sources. 1.9 million people — virtually Gaza's entire population — have been displaced, many multiple times, to increasingly small and overcrowded areas in the south of the territory.
The IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) has confirmed Famine Phase 5 conditions in northern Gaza, with 500,000 people in catastrophic hunger. The destruction of civilian infrastructure including hospitals, water treatment facilities, and food distribution networks has been documented extensively by UN agencies.
The conflict has triggered broader regional escalation. Hezbollah opened a second front from Lebanon, resulting in Israeli military action that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in September 2024. Iran launched direct missile attacks against Israel in April 2024 and October 2024, drawing Israeli and US responses. The conflict is widely considered the primary driver of the Iran-Israel regional war now underway.