It’s been a year since the devastating October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel, and instead of simmering down, the conflict has only grown. What began as a brutal fight between Israel and Hamas has now expanded into a broader, more dangerous regional confrontation.  The fragile Middle Eastern landscape is once again teetering on the edge of a full-blown war. 

So, where do we stand today? Let’s break it down.

A timeline of the Israel-Hamas war

7 October  2023: Hamas launches a surprise attack

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel sending militants across the border from Gaza. This attack came after years of rising tensions in the region, resulting in more than 1,200 Israeli deaths and the abduction of 251 people. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a state of war.

9 October 2023: Gaza under siege

Israel responded with airstrikes, imposing a complete siege on Gaza, cutting off food, water, and electricity to the enclave’s two million residents. The enclave had already been under an Israeli blockade since Hamas took control in 2007.

13 October 2023: Forced evacuations in Gaza

Israel issued an ultimatum for over a million residents in northern Gaza to evacuate within 24 hours. While many fled south, others refused, fearing there was nowhere safe. 

19 October 2023: Houthi involvement

The war expanded beyond Israel and Hamas as Yemen’s Houthi movement launched missiles at Israel and disrupted shipping in the Red Sea, signalling the start of sporadic international involvement.

21 October 2023: Humanitarian aid enters Gaza

For the first time since the fighting began, humanitarian aid trucks were allowed to cross into Gaza through the Rafah border with Egypt, carrying urgently needed supplies of food, medicine, and fuel.

October 27, 2023: Israeli ground offensive begins
Israel launched its ground invasion of Gaza, targeting Hamas’ extensive tunnel network, known as the “Gaza metro,” which allows militants to move arms and hostages undetected by airstrikes.

24 November – 1 December 2023: First Truce
A brief ceasefire allowed the release of 105 Israeli and foreign hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners. Humanitarian aid flowed into Gaza, where the death toll had surpassed 10,000 by this time. The truce ended after 10 days and hostilities resumed.

January 2024: South Africa files case with the International Court of Justice

By January 2024, South Africa had taken a bold step on the international stage, filing a case with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel, accusing it of violating international law and committing war crimes in Gaza. South Africa’s government, known for its strong stance on human rights issues, argued that Israel’s military actions amounted to genocide. 

February 2024: Humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens

As the war dragged on into the new year, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsened. By February 2024, the Gaza Health Ministry reported that over 30,000 people had been killed and 70,000 injured, the majority women and children. Gaza’s infrastructure was in ruins, with electricity, water, and food supplies critically low. International efforts to deliver aid were frequently disrupted by the ongoing fighting.

13 April 2024: Iran retaliates

Following an Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus, Iran retaliated by launching 300 missiles at Israel, marking a sharp escalation.

June 2024: South Africa’s ICJ case gains momentum

In June 2024, the ICJ held its first hearings in the case brought by South Africa. The court reviewed evidence submitted by South African lawyers, who argued that Israel’s actions violated international humanitarian law, particularly regarding the treatment of civilians in occupied territories. Israel, for its part, denied any wrongdoing and argued that it was acting in self-defence against a terrorist organisation.

September 2024: Israeli strikes on hezbollah in Lebanon

On 17 September, hundreds of Hezbollah member’s pagers and walkie-talkies exploded across Lebanon, killing 39 people and injuring close to 3,000. Israel expands its military efforts towards Lebanon. 10 days later, an Israeli airstrike kills Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut.  

October 2024: The conflict Continues

A year after the conflict began, the situation remains tense, with occasional flare-ups of violence. While peace talks are ongoing, there is no clear path to a long-term solution. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza persists, with the international community continuing to call for increased aid and a lasting resolution to the conflict.

A war beyond borders: Hezbollah and Iran’s role

The war, once limited to Israel and Hamas, has now drawn in Hezbollah and Iran. Hezbollah, based in Lebanon, began firing rockets into northern Israel shortly after the conflict began, supporting Hamas in their fight.

As the year went on, Israel responded with targeted airstrikes, escalating tensions between the two groups. Iran, Hezbollah’s chief backer, has played a pivotal role in fueling the conflict. Following Israeli airstrikes on its assets, including a consulate in Syria, Iran launched its own missile attacks.

The human toll: lebanon and gaza in crisis

The human cost of the war has been staggering. In Lebanon, more than 1,400 civilians have been killed, and over 1.2 million people have been displaced due to Israeli airstrikes and ground operations targeting Hezbollah. Hospitals in southern Lebanon, overwhelmed by casualties, have struggled to care for the injured.

Gaza has been hit even harder, with more than 41,000 deaths and over 90,000 people injured. Israeli airstrikes have targeted civilian areas, including schools and mosques, further straining the region’s crippled healthcare system. Despite brief pauses in fighting, aid delivery has been severely disrupted, leaving millions without basic supplies.

One year on: Where do we go from here?

As the conflict enters its second year, the humanitarian crisis continues to deepen, with countless lives lost and communities shattered in both Gaza and Lebanon. The involvement of regional powers like Hezbollah and Iran complicates the situation further, making peace seem more distant.

While peace talks are ongoing, the road ahead remains uncertain. This is a pivotal time for the international community to come together, encouraging dialogue and seeking solutions that address the root causes of the conflict.