October 7 To October 7: How Two Years Of War Redefined Israel, Gaza And The World

Last Updated:October 07, 2025, 16:49 IST

Two years after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, over 67,000 Palestinians and 1,665 Israelis are dead as violence, failed truces, and fragile diplomacy persist.

At least 1,015 children under one year old have been killed by Israel, along with 1,670 medical staff, 254 journalists, and 140 civil defence rescue workers among over 77,000 Palestinians. (Image Credit: Reuters)

Two years after Hamas launched a deadly surprise attack on Israel, the war it set off shows few signs of ending. As the conflict enters its third year, Israel and Hamas remain locked in violence, even as mediators push for a fragile peace. Across Israel, memorials today mark the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023 assault that killed around 1,200 people and shocked the world. In Gaza, where entire neighbourhoods have been flattened, more than 67,000 people have been killed, according to Palestinian health authorities.

October 7, 2023: The Day It Began

At dawn on October 7, 2023, Hamas crossed from Gaza into southern Israel, firing thousands of rockets and launching coordinated raids on towns, kibbutzim and military posts. More than 1,200 Israelis- including civilians, police, and soldiers- were killed and about 250 others were taken hostage. Among the hardest-hit areas was Kfar Aza, a kibbutz near the Gaza border, where dozens of families were massacred. Other attacks struck Re’im, the site of a music festival where hundreds died and towns such as Ofakim and Sderot, where residents fought running battles with Hamas gunmen.

Israel declared a state of war, vowing to “eliminate Hamas.”

October-November 2023: Israel Strikes Back

Israel retaliated with relentless airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, followed by a full-scale ground invasion later that month. The assault caused massive destruction to homes, hospitals and schools and displaced more than a million people from northern Gaza. International pressure mounted as images of flattened neighbourhoods spread worldwide. By late November, mediation led to a temporary ceasefire, during which more than 100 Israeli hostages and 240 Palestinian detainees were exchanged. But the truce was short-lived.

2024: War Without End

By early 2024, fighting had resumed with even greater intensity. Israeli forces pressed deeper into Gaza, carrying out operations in Rafah, Khan Younis and other southern cities. The humanitarian toll grew catastrophic and the United Nations accused Israel of creating conditions “incompatible with human life” while Israel blamed Hamas for embedding fighters among civilians.

In January 2025, under intense US and Egyptian mediation, Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement that included provisions for further hostage-prisoner swaps. It brought brief relief but by March, the truce had collapsed. Israel accused Hamas of violating the deal and Hamas accused Israel of assassinating its commanders.

2025: A Shifting War

In May and June 2025, Israel launched a renewed offensive, its most extensive since the war began. The Israeli military claimed to have captured large sections of northern and central Gaza, though Hamas continued guerrilla attacks and rocket fire. By August, the fighting had shifted to the south, with Israeli airstrikes pounding Rafah and Khan Younis.

The cost of the conflict had become staggering. According to UN estimates, more than 67,000 Palestinians had been killed, including thousands of women and children while Israel reported 1,665 dead, including soldiers lost in the ground offensive.

Diplomacy resurfaced and in October 2025, Israel and Hamas entered indirect talks in Egypt, brokered by the US and Qatar, around a 20-point peace plan unveiled by US President Donald Trump. Hamas said it accepted parts of the plan, prompting Donald Trump to call for Israel to “immediately stop the bombing” to enable the release of remaining hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was preparing for the “immediate implementation” of the first stage of the proposal. Still, residents in Gaza reported fresh airstrikes within hours of the announcement.

Two years after Hamas’ surprise attack, the war continues to reshape the Middle East- redrawing alliances, testing US diplomacy and leaving both Israelis and Palestinians trapped.

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