Two years have passed since the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation, which profoundly shifted the political landscape of Palestine and the Arab region, moving the Gaza Strip and its residents into a new era. Yet, the human cost of the ensuing war has been devastating.
Catastrophic destruction and human toll
The Ministry of Health in Gaza revealed that the war, which began on 7 October 2023, has led to the deaths of more than 67,000 Palestinian martyrs. The casualties include: 20,179 children, 10,427 women, and 4,813 elderly people, in addition to over 169,679 injured. Furthermore, 78 Palestinian prisoners have been killed in Israeli Occupation jails since the war’s start, while over 9,500 people remain missing. 2,700 families were completely wiped out, and 460 Palestinians, including 154 children, died due to malnutrition and starvation, alongside more than 12,000 cases of miscarriage due to the severe lack of care and food
In the Gaza Strip, the level of destruction reached approximately 90% of the entire territory. Out of 190,115 damaged structures, 102,067 buildings were destroyed and 41,895 were moderately damaged, with 330,500 housing units affected. Crucially, 85% of water and sanitation facilities are currently out of service, with an estimated cost of $1.5 billion for their rehabilitation.
Medical sector crisis and mass displacement
The health sector has sustained a critical blow, with 1,701 medical staff members martyred and another 362 arrested under harsh conditions. Of the 38 hospitals in the Strip, 25 are entirely out of service, while 13 continue to operate partially under impossible circumstances.
Regarding displacement, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Gaza exceeds 1.7 million, roughly 75% of the population. In the West Bank, the demolition of homes has displaced 6,463 citizens, and 40,000 citizens were forcibly displaced due to aggression against the Jenin and Tulkarm camps.
Hamas’s political stance and Israeli efforts
On this anniversary,Hamas stated: “Two years since Al-Aqsa Flood, and our people are rooted in their land, rallied around their resistance, and adhering to their legitimate rights against plans for liquidation and forced displacement.” Conversely, Israelis gathered at memorial events to mark the two-year anniversary of the 7 October attack.
Since the beginning of the war, Israeli Occupation has sought to assassinate the leadership of Hamas and its military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, particularly those responsible for the 7 October attack. The leaders the Occupation has killed include Mohammed Sinwar, Mohammed Shabana, and the Brigades’ spokesperson and military council leader “Abu Ubaida” (Huthaifa Al-Kahlout), who was responsible for the media file, alongside leaders from various ranks.
Despite two years of destructive war, Hamas has managed to preserve the lives of a significant number of Israeli Occupation hostages, which enabled mediators to reach two separate ceasefires, both short-lived before the Occupation resumed its attacks. The movement is credited with maintaining its organisational and military structure thus far, despite the Occupation claims of dismantling brigades and battalions—claims proven false by the movement’s ongoing attacks. Hamas has also succeeded in preserving its economic strength, paying the salaries of its government employees and its operatives. On the media front, the movement retains significant momentum in documenting its military attacks and filming hostages, which suggests a high degree of organisational cohesion and the ability to manage its ranks without major impediments.
Nevertheless, Hamas faces dilemmas regarding its future, most importantly the loss of governance in the Gaza Strip. The movement has affirmed its acceptance of this, conditional upon handing over rule to a Palestinian body agreed upon by all factions, including Fatah.