Gaza (Washington Insider Magazine)— As the war on Gaza reaches its 100th day, Israel’s relentless bombardment of the besieged territory shows no signs of easing, amidst a growing humanitarian catastrophe and the looming threat of regional escalation.
Since the war began on October 7, following Hamas’ assault on southern Israel that killed 1,139 people and saw approximately 240 individuals taken captive, more than 23,968 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, have been killed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to “continue [the war] until victory,” declaring in a televised address on Saturday, “No one will stop us – not The Hague, not the Axis of Evil, and no one else.” His comments referred to a case brought by South Africa to the International Court of Justice, seeking emergency measures to halt Israel’s war, as well as to the Iran-aligned “axis of resistance” groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
The Bloodiest Conflict in Decades
This war has been the most destructive in the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Gaza media office recently reported that Israel has dropped over 65,000 tons of bombs on the region. Satellite data analyzed by the Associated Press suggests that approximately 33 percent of buildings in Gaza have been destroyed.
According to the United Nations, nearly 85 percent of Gaza’s 1.9 million people have been displaced, and over 90 percent of the population faces acute food insecurity. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) warned on Sunday that the “massive destruction, displacement, hunger, and loss” over the past 100 days is “staining our shared humanity.”
Calls for Action Amid Humanitarian Collapse
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the international community for its failure to implement resolutions that address the Palestinian cause, adding that Israel has turned Gaza into “an uninhabitable place” within just 100 days.
Israeli Military Objectives and Challenges
Israel’s war cabinet has set two main objectives: dismantling Hamas’ ability to rule Gaza and securing the release of the remaining captives—136 of whom are still believed to be in Gaza. Last week, the Israeli military announced it had largely dismantled Hamas’ northern Gaza “military framework” and indicated a shift to a lower-intensity phase of operations.
However, questions remain about how Israel will manage more focused operations in the southern Gaza Strip, especially after forcing over a million people to evacuate from the north. Despite earlier truces allowing the release of 105 captives, little progress has been made in recovering the remaining hostages, causing increasing frustration among their families.
Tensions in Israel
In Tel Aviv, tens of thousands of people marked “100 days of hell” at rallies over the weekend, demanding the return of the hostages. The mood at these rallies has shifted from unity to desperation, with protesters adopting the slogan, “Enough is enough.”
Risk of Regional Spillover
While the conflict rages in Gaza, tensions are mounting in the wider region. Along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, near-daily exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli army have raised fears of an expanded conflict. The recent killing of a senior Hamas leader in Beirut by an alleged Israeli strike further increased concerns of a regional spillover.
In Yemen, Houthi rebels have escalated their attacks, targeting ships linked to Israel in the Red Sea—an essential route for global trade. They have vowed to continue these attacks until the war ends. In response, the United States and the United Kingdom have launched significant strikes on Yemen.
Uncertainty About Gaza’s Future
Amidst the chaos, there remains little clarity about what post-war Gaza might look like. The United States has repeatedly suggested that it wants the Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza once again. However, the Palestinian Authority, which currently controls parts of the occupied West Bank, enjoys limited support among Palestinians.
As the war continues, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens, and the risk of a broader regional conflict looms larger with each passing day.