By||Hilal Zargar/Farooq Lone
The war between Hamas and Israel that escalated after October 7, 2023, is often described in the media as a sudden and unprovoked attack by Hamas on Israel. While the October 7 assault was indeed a significant escalation, the roots of this conflict stretch back decades and are deeply entrenched in a long history of territorial, political, and ideological disputes. The attacks on October 7, which left over a thousand Israelis dead and hundreds taken hostage, were not a singular event but the latest flare-up in a centuries-old struggle between Israelis and Palestinians.
The history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict dates back to the early 20th century, long before the formation of the state of Israel in 1948. The underlying causes of this conflict can be traced to the competing national aspirations of Jews and Arabs in Palestine. Following the end of World War II, the United Nations proposed the partition of Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, a plan accepted by Jews but rejected by Arab nations. The 1948 creation of Israel led to the first Arab-Israeli war, resulting in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and the deepening of animosities between Israelis and Arabs. The partition plan and subsequent establishment of Israel were seen by Palestinians as a dispossession of their land, a sentiment that continues to resonate among Palestinians today.
The subsequent wars, particularly the 1967 Six-Day War, resulted in Israel occupying the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. These territorial occupations set the stage for decades of tension, with Israel’s military presence in these areas further deepening the resentment among Palestinians. The creation of Jewish settlements in these areas, and the ongoing Israeli military control, fueled the growth of Palestinian militant groups, including Hamas, which was founded in 1987. Hamas emerged as a response to the perceived failure of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and other political factions to bring about an end to Israeli occupation or secure meaningful concessions for the Palestinian people.
The rise of Hamas was also a response to the frustrations of the Palestinian people, particularly those in Gaza, who felt abandoned by both the international community and their own leadership. The failure of the Oslo Accords in the 1990s to bring about a lasting peace agreement further eroded trust in the peace process. Hamas gained support not only for its militant resistance to Israel but also for its social services, which provided an alternative to the more moderate Fatah leadership that was perceived as too willing to negotiate with Israel without achieving significant gains for Palestinians.
Hamas’s use of violence, including suicide bombings and rocket attacks, became a defining feature of its strategy, particularly in the early 2000s. This resistance to Israeli military and civilian targets became a symbol of Palestinian defiance, even as it led to devastating Israeli counterattacks. The 2006 Palestinian elections, in which Hamas won a decisive victory, were a turning point. Hamas took control of Gaza after violent clashes with Fatah forces, solidifying its position as the de facto ruler of Gaza. In response, Israel, along with Egypt, imposed a blockade on Gaza, severely restricting the movement of goods and people, and further exacerbating the dire humanitarian conditions in the region.
The Israeli siege of Gaza and the repeated military operations in response to rocket fire from Hamas created an environment of constant conflict and suffering for the people of Gaza. This cycle of violence, punctuated by short-lived ceasefires, led to an ever-growing humanitarian crisis. By 2023, Gaza had become one of the most densely populated and impoverished places on earth, with little hope for improvement. The blockade, Israeli airstrikes, and military incursions had devastated Gaza’s infrastructure, killing thousands and displacing even more. In this context, Hamas’s decision to launch the surprise attack on October 7 was not an isolated incident but part of the ongoing struggle for control, self-determination, and resistance to occupation.
Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2024, was, therefore, a calculated response to a confluence of factors, including the deteriorating situation in Gaza, frustration with the ongoing blockade, and the shifting geopolitical landscape in the Middle East. The normalization of ties between Israel and several Arab nations, particularly Saudi Arabia, had left Palestinians feeling increasingly isolated. Hamas saw the attack as a way to reignite the Palestinian cause on the global stage, drawing attention to the plight of Gaza and the broader Palestinian issue, which had, to some extent, been overshadowed by the diplomatic moves toward peace between Israel and the Arab states.
In the aftermath of the attack, Israel responded with a massive military campaign, launching airstrikes and ground operations aimed at destroying Hamas’s military infrastructure and leadership. The intense Israeli bombardment, however, resulted in a tragic humanitarian disaster. As of mid-November 2023, Gaza had suffered an estimated 43,000 deaths, with tens of thousands more injured, and much of its infrastructure was in ruins. Hospitals, schools, and UN refugee camps were hit by Israeli airstrikes, and tens of thousands of people were left without shelter or basic necessities. The United Nations warned of a growing humanitarian crisis and called for a ceasefire, but the violence continued unabated.
While Israel’s military objective was to eradicate Hamas and its leadership, the broader strategic goal seemed to be the continued control and dominance over Palestinian territories, particularly Gaza. The Netanyahu government’s response to Hamas’s attack was not just about punishing the militants but also about asserting Israel’s power and deterrence in the face of Palestinian resistance. In doing so, Israel also sent a message to the wider Arab world that any challenge to its security, whether through diplomacy or force, would be met with overwhelming military response.
However, the Israeli strategy in Gaza has been criticized for its disproportionate use of force, with some analysts accusing Israel of committing war crimes and genocide. As Jaleel Mehdi, a prominent Kashmiri scholar, wrote in an article for Press TV, Israel’s military approach lacked restraint, and the small size of Gaza meant that any large-scale Israeli assault inevitably resulted in massive civilian casualties. Mehdi pointed out that Israel’s inability to distinguish between Hamas militants and innocent civilians demonstrated the inherent weakness in its military strategy.
The ongoing war between Hamas and Israel is not just about the actions of one militant group or one Israeli government. It is about the broader struggle for Palestinian rights, territorial sovereignty, and the recognition of Palestine as a state. The war of October 7 was merely the latest chapter in a conflict that has been raging for over a century, with no clear path to peace in sight. Both sides have entrenched positions, and neither appears willing to back down. The international community remains divided, with some countries calling for a ceasefire and others siding with Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism.
As the war continues, the humanitarian situation in Gaza worsens by the day. International organizations have warned that the reconstruction of Gaza will take decades, and the long-term consequences of this war for both Palestinians and Israelis remain uncertain. The conflict is likely to have lasting repercussions on the geopolitics of the Middle East, with the potential for further destabilization and violence in neighboring countries. In the meantime, the people of Gaza continue to suffer, caught in the crossfire of a conflict with deep historical roots and no easy resolution.
The events of October 7, 2023, should not be seen as an isolated incident but as the latest manifestation of a centuries-old struggle that is unlikely to end until the underlying issues of territorial disputes, national identity, and self-determination are addressed. Until then, the cycle of violence will likely continue, with each new attack and counterattack only deepening the divisions between Israelis and Palestinians.
About Author: Hilal Zargar, Journalist and currently pursuing a Master’s in International Relations (P&C) Studies at IUST Awantipora J&K, with co-author Farooq Ah Lone, a graduate in Political Science with an interest in writing on International Relations.