After Nearly 600 Days the End of the Israel-Gaza War Looks as Far off as Ever
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29 May will mark the 600th day since the brutal attacks by the terrorist organisation, Hamas, on Israel on 7 October 2023, which killed over 1,200 people, including peace activists, men, women and children living in kibbutzes along the Israeli-Gaza border, and youngsters attending a music festival.
29 May will mark the 600th day in captivity for the last twenty or so Israeli hostages still believed to be alive in Gaza, the 600th day of anguish for their friends and families, and the 600th day of trauma for all those caught up in or affected by the 7 October attacks, including many Jews around the world, for whom the attacks brought back horrific memories of the Holocaust, or who have faced anti-semitic abuse since then.
29 May will also mark the 600th day since Israel's dreadful retribution on Gaza began - first with a bombing campaign, six days later with the introduction of ground troops, and twenty days later with a full-scale invasion. This has resulted in the deaths of over 53,000 Palestinians, according to the latest Gaza Health Ministry figures, most of them civilians, including thousands of young children. Tens of thousands more Palestinians are missing, presumed dead under the rubble, which is all that is left of most buildings in Gaza. The remaining population has been displaced multiple times, and is facing acute food insecurity verging on famine, following a months-long blockade by Israel of all food supplies into the territory. Gaza's infrastructure is destroyed.
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The period since 7 October has also been marked by attacks on Israel from Iran, and Iranian-backed proxies Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen, and devastating Israeli responses.
Amidst all this death and destruction, what has been achieved?
On Hamas' side, the 7 October attack appears to have been a disastrous miscalculation which has brought nothing but misery and death on the Palestinians, in the West Bank as well as Gaza, and ensured that it will never again be allowed to establish formal rule over Gaza.
On the Israeli side, they can take comfort from the death of many prominent Hamas leaders, including Yahya Sinwar, who orchestrated the vile attacks, political leader Ismael Haniyah, and former military commander, Mohammed Deif; the weakening of Hizbollah in Lebanon, and the death of many of its commanders, including leader Hassan Nasrallah; and the destruction of much of Iran's military capability. 147 of the 251 hostages have been freed, either through negotiated exchanges, rescue missions, or in one case last week, the unilateral release by Hamas of an Israeli-American hostage.
But Israel's overall goals - the release of all the hostages, and the complete elimination of Hamas - have not been achieved, while its international reputation has plummeted due to its harsh conduct of the war, which many allege has involved war crimes, such as launching disproportionate attacks, firing on aid convoys, bombing schools and hospitals, and blockading food and medical supplies into the territory. Prospects for a grand reconciliation between Israel, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states are on indefinite hold.
Many international analysts have decried Israel for appearing to have no long-term strategy. Some critics believe Netanyahu is motivated to prolong the war for personal reasons, in order to delay elections and stay on in power. Hundreds of t...
To support its work, subscribe to the monthly Byline Times print edition, packed with exclusive investigations, news, and analysis.
Help us build the better media Britain deserves
29 May will mark the 600th day since the brutal attacks by the terrorist organisation, Hamas, on Israel on 7 October 2023, which killed over 1,200 people, including peace activists, men, women and children living in kibbutzes along the Israeli-Gaza border, and youngsters attending a music festival.
29 May will mark the 600th day in captivity for the last twenty or so Israeli hostages still believed to be alive in Gaza, the 600th day of anguish for their friends and families, and the 600th day of trauma for all those caught up in or affected by the 7 October attacks, including many Jews around the world, for whom the attacks brought back horrific memories of the Holocaust, or who have faced anti-semitic abuse since then.
29 May will also mark the 600th day since Israel's dreadful retribution on Gaza began - first with a bombing campaign, six days later with the introduction of ground troops, and twenty days later with a full-scale invasion. This has resulted in the deaths of over 53,000 Palestinians, according to the latest Gaza Health Ministry figures, most of them civilians, including thousands of young children. Tens of thousands more Palestinians are missing, presumed dead under the rubble, which is all that is left of most buildings in Gaza. The remaining population has been displaced multiple times, and is facing acute food insecurity verging on famine, following a months-long blockade by Israel of all food supplies into the territory. Gaza's infrastructure is destroyed.
'Israel's Genocide in Gaza is the Fatal Flaw in Starmer's European Alternative to Trump and Putin'
If we are to build a broad consensus in Europe against Trump, we need to bring Palestine into equal focus with Ukraine, argues Martin Shaw
Martin Shaw
The period since 7 October has also been marked by attacks on Israel from Iran, and Iranian-backed proxies Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen, and devastating Israeli responses.
Amidst all this death and destruction, what has been achieved?
On Hamas' side, the 7 October attack appears to have been a disastrous miscalculation which has brought nothing but misery and death on the Palestinians, in the West Bank as well as Gaza, and ensured that it will never again be allowed to establish formal rule over Gaza.
On the Israeli side, they can take comfort from the death of many prominent Hamas leaders, including Yahya Sinwar, who orchestrated the vile attacks, political leader Ismael Haniyah, and former military commander, Mohammed Deif; the weakening of Hizbollah in Lebanon, and the death of many of its commanders, including leader Hassan Nasrallah; and the destruction of much of Iran's military capability. 147 of the 251 hostages have been freed, either through negotiated exchanges, rescue missions, or in one case last week, the unilateral release by Hamas of an Israeli-American hostage.
But Israel's overall goals - the release of all the hostages, and the complete elimination of Hamas - have not been achieved, while its international reputation has plummeted due to its harsh conduct of the war, which many allege has involved war crimes, such as launching disproportionate attacks, firing on aid convoys, bombing schools and hospitals, and blockading food and medical supplies into the territory. Prospects for a grand reconciliation between Israel, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states are on indefinite hold.
Many international analysts have decried Israel for appearing to have no long-term strategy. Some critics believe Netanyahu is motivated to prolong the war for personal reasons, in order to delay elections and stay on in power. Hundreds of t...
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