AS of now, at least 39,699 people have been killed and 91,722 wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza. In Israel, an estimated 1,139 people were killed during the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, and more than 200 were taken captive. Israeli aircraft have intensified their strikes as the war enters its 11th month, with forces stepping up airstrikes across the Gaza Strip. The conflict is on the brink of escalating into a wider regional war. Is it possible for the Gaza conflict to spread to other areas? What is the current status of the conflict between Israel and Gaza? What actions are being taken by the international community to address the situation? What are the potential repercussions of the escalating tensions in the region?
Israeli aircraft continued to bomb houses in the heart of Gaza City in the north, killing innocent Palestinians. Another airstrike in the southern city of Khan Younis killed and wounded scores of Palestinians. On 8 August, 15 Palestinians were killed and 30 injured in Israeli bombings of two schools east of Gaza City, as reported by the territory’s Civil Emergency Service. The Israeli military stated that it struck Hamas command and control centres embedded in the Abdel-Fattah Hamouda and Al-Zahra schools in the Tuffah neighbourhood of Gaza City, where Hamas militants were reportedly operating. They accused Hamas of exploiting civilians and civilian properties for military purposes, an allegation that Hamas denies. Footage circulated on social media showed casualties being brought to a hospital on donkey carts.
The armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for firing anti-tank rockets and mortar bombs at Israeli forces operating across Gaza, causing deaths and injuries among them. Israeli airstrikes hit a cluster of houses in central Gaza’s Al-Bureij camp, killing at least 15 people, and the nearby Al-Nuseirat camp, killing four, as reported by medics. Nuseirat and Bureij are among the densely populated enclave’s eight historic camps and are seen by Israel as strongholds of armed militants. Additionally, the Israeli army issued new evacuation orders in Khan Younis. This situation raises the risk of a regional war, as Iran and Hezbollah have vowed retaliation for recent assassinations.
In the current tense environment, leaders from Qatar, Egypt and the United States have extended invitations to Israel and Hamas to resume ceasefire talks on August 15. This comes as regional tensions escalate, with an anticipated retaliatory strike over Israel’s assassination of Hamas and Hezbollah officials. The key question is whether the Gaza conflict will fuel terrorism within the region and beyond. To address this question, we need to determine whether this is a new conflict or a continuation of the conflict since 1948. If viewed as an ongoing war, the spillover effects on the region might be limited. However, if this conflict is seen as a resurgent threat to regional security and global peace, then yes, it could have far-reaching consequences.
Can we consider Hamas’s attack on Israel on 7th October a success? To a large extent, yes. Hamas demonstrated its strength not only by carrying out the attack but also by continuing to resist the powerful Israeli military and a resource-rich country. Despite Israel’s advanced technology, weaponry, and support from powerful states, it has been engaged in a struggle with Hamas for the past 11 months. This demonstrates Hamas’s resilience and strong determination to overcome Israel. The ongoing conflict is undeniably causing frustration in the region and across the world.
It is unprecedented to witness people taking to the streets to show their support for Palestine and to urge their governments to recognize Palestine as an independent state, using the slogan ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine is going to be free’. This was not the case before October 7th, indicating that Hamas has achieved its goals. However, this has come at a cost, as Palestinians are suffering at the hands of Israel, exposing the true face of Israel and contributing to increased polarization and unrest worldwide. Despite having limited resources and manpower, Hamas remains committed to posing a serious security threat to Israel.
Following the October 7th attack, Israel’s extensive bombing operations have caused significant loss of life and infrastructure damage. The use of high explosives and third-party weapons has raised concerns about arms sales and their potential misuse, leading to global condemnation. The perceived failure of international organizations to address these issues has highlighted double standards among Western powers and international bodies. David Petraeus has warned that Israel must consider whether its actions will eliminate Hamas or create more enemies. The conflict’s unresolved human rights violations could lead to increased polarization and extremism, potentially spreading instability beyond the Middle East.
—The writer is Assistant Professor at Dept of Government and Public Policy, NUST, Islamabad.
(farahnaz@s3h.nust.edu.pk)
