Millions across the Middle East long for peaceful, undisturbed lives, free from the turmoil and violence that have gripped the region for years. Yet, the past year has brought some of the worst violence in recent times, revealing that dreams of peace remain elusive as deep political, strategic, and religious divides persist. The region is once again being reshaped by conflict, with no end in sight.
Hamas’ recent offensive is the latest escalation in a conflict that has been unresolved for over a century. When Hamas breached Israel’s lightly defended border, it resulted in Israel’s worst day of civilian casualties in its modern history. Around 1,200 people, primarily Israeli civilians, lost their lives. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the attacks to U.S. President Joe Biden, saying, “We’ve never seen such savagery in the history of the state”; it was a devastation not seen “since the Holocaust.” For Israel, Hamas’ actions were seen as an existential threat.
Since then, Israel has retaliated against the Palestinians in Gaza with devastating force. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, nearly 42,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed. Much of Gaza now lies in ruins, and Palestinians accuse Israel of committing genocide. The conflict, which began as a local skirmish, has spread, with the Middle East now teetering on the edge of an even larger, more destructive war.
The Collapse of Illusions
A year of bloodshed has shattered many long-held assumptions. Netanyahu’s belief that the Palestinian issue could be managed without addressing their calls for self-determination has proven false. This misguided approach, coupled with the West’s hope that Netanyahu could eventually be persuaded to accept a Palestinian state, has crumbled. Western leaders like those in the U.S. and UK had clung to the idea that peace was achievable if Netanyahu, who has opposed a Palestinian state throughout his political career, could be swayed.
Netanyahu’s stance, rooted in his personal ideology and a widespread distrust of Palestinians within Israel, ultimately derailed an ambitious American peace proposal. U.S. President Joe Biden’s plan, which aimed for Saudi Arabia to formally recognize Israel in exchange for Palestinian independence, collapsed when Netanyahu refused to entertain the notion of statehood for Palestinians. In February, Netanyahu called the idea a “huge reward” for Hamas, while Bezalel Smotrich, an ultra-nationalist in his cabinet, referred to it as an “existential threat” to Israel.
Hamas, under its leader Yahya Sinwar, held its own misconceptions. Sinwar, who is believed to still be alive and hiding in Gaza, likely hoped that Iran and its allies in the “axis of resistance” would join the war against Israel. However, this expectation proved wrong. Sinwar kept his plans for the October 7 attack a secret, surprising not only Israel but also some within Hamas. Sources suggested that Sinwar might not have even informed Hamas’ exiled political leaders in Qatar of his plans, due to security concerns.
Despite Hamas’ offensive, Iran made it clear it did not seek a wider conflict. When Israel invaded Gaza and the U.S. deployed carrier strike groups to protect Israel, Iran refrained from escalating the war. Hezbollah, an ally of Iran and led by Hassan Nasrallah, limited its actions to targeting Israel’s northern border with rocket fire. This led to the evacuation of over 60,000 Israelis and an even larger number of Lebanese civilians as Israel retaliated.
However, Israel would not accept a prolonged war of attrition with Hezbollah. The common assumption that Israel would be deterred by Hezbollah’s military prowess and stockpile of missiles, supplied by Iran, was proven wrong when Israel launched a preemptive strike in September. Israel’s military, including the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Mossad, surprised many by dealing significant damage to Hezbollah, one of Iran’s strongest allies. Israel dismantled Hezbollah’s communications infrastructure and killed key leaders through remote detonation of booby-trapped devices, marking one of the most intense bombing campaigns in recent memory.
On September 27, a pivotal moment occurred when Israeli airstrikes killed Nasrallah and many of his top associates in Beirut. This strike disrupted Iran’s belief in the strength of its “axis of resistance.” Despite these setbacks, Hezbollah did not retreat, and Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon failed to subdue Iran’s influence in the region.
Feeling pressured, Iran shifted its stance. On October 1, Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israel, marking its entry into the broader conflict. The move was risky, as it guaranteed Israeli retaliation, but for Iran’s leadership, it was seen as the least unfavorable option.
A Symbol of Trauma
The Kibbutz Kfar Aza, located near the Gaza-Israel border, became one of the first targets of Hamas on October 7. This small community, with neatly maintained gardens and lawns, was devastated, with 62 residents killed by Hamas fighters. Out of the 19 hostages taken from the kibbutz into Gaza, two were accidentally killed by Israeli troops during an escape attempt, while five remain in Gaza.
Journalists visiting Kfar Aza three days after the attack found a battle zone, with Israeli soldiers engaged in clearing out buildings where Hamas fighters were suspected to be hiding. Bodies of Israeli civilians were carried out in body bags, while the corpses of Hamas militants lay in the kibbutz lawns, decomposing under the Mediterranean sun. Today, a year later, little has changed. The dead have been buried, but the living have not returned to their homes, which remain preserved in their destroyed state. Posters and memorials display the names and faces of those who were killed.
Zohar Shpak, a surviving resident, walked journalists through the homes of neighbors who did not survive. One home had a photo of a young couple, both killed on October 7. The ground surrounding the houses had been disturbed, as the young man’s father had spent weeks searching for his son’s head, which had been missing at the time of his burial.
For Israelis, the events of October 7 remain fresh, with the stories of the dead and the hostages regularly discussed in the media. Zohar, still grappling with the trauma, said, “We are still inside the trauma. We are not in post-trauma. Like people said, we’re still here. We are still in the war. We wanted the war will be ended, but we want it will be ended with a victory, but not an army victory. Not a war victory. My victory is that I could live here, with my son and daughter, with my grandchildren and living peacefully. I believe in peace.”
Zohar and his neighbors, who once believed in peace through Palestinian independence, now view Netanyahu’s leadership as disastrous. While they blame him for leaving them vulnerable to the attack, they also no longer trust the Palestinians they once sympathized with. “I don’t believe those people who are living over there. But I want the peace. I want to go to Gaza’s beach. But I don’t trust them. No, I don’t trust any one of them,” Zohar remarked.
Gaza’s Tragedy
Hamas leaders remain steadfast, denying that their attacks were a mistake, despite the devastation it brought upon Gaza. Khalil al-Hayya, a top Hamas leader based outside Gaza, insisted that their actions were necessary to draw international attention to the Palestinian cause. “It was necessary to raise an alarm in the world to tell them that here there is a people who have a cause and have demands that must be met,” he stated.
Since October 7, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has vowed to destroy Hamas and bring home Israeli hostages. However, his political opponents accuse him of prioritizing his survival over the lives of the hostages. Nonetheless, the Israeli public, hardened by the war, largely supports the campaign against Hamas, even as international humanitarian groups call for an end to the suffering in Gaza.
As the war grinds on, Gaza remains under siege, with 2 million Palestinians lacking basic necessities like food, water, and electricity. Satellite imagery reveals that over half of Gaza’s buildings have been damaged or destroyed, with waves of displacement sweeping through the territory. Even humanitarian zones designated by the Israeli Defense Forces have not been spared from airstrikes, as the conflict shows no signs of abating.