The conflict between Israel and Hamas has been ongoing since October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants killed over 1,200 people and took around 250 others hostage. In response, Israel launched a military operation in Gaza with the objectives of rescuing the hostages, dismantling Hamas' governance in the region, and preventing future attacks from Palestinian territory.
Since then, the toll on civilians in Gaza has been devastating, with health authorities reporting that more than 37,000 Palestinians have been killed. The situation has raised serious concerns from the United Nations and various humanitarian organizations regarding widespread malnutrition, hunger, risk of famine, lack of aid and medical supplies, collapse of the healthcare system, and mass displacement of millions of civilians.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed to have eliminated over 14,000 Hamas fighters, but Hamas remains active, and not all hostages have been rescued. Netanyahu recently stated that the intense phase of the conflict in Gaza is nearing its end, hinting at a potential shift in focus towards Israel's northern border with Lebanon, where tensions with the Iran-backed group Hezbollah have escalated.
Despite the ongoing military operations, public discontent in Israel is growing, with tens of thousands participating in protests, particularly regarding the handling of hostage situations and other grievances.
