Common Questions

What is happening in Gaza?: Israeli military operations in Gaza have continued since October 2023, with UN agencies estimating over 46,000 Palestinians killed by late 2024 and the majority of the territory's built environment destroyed. In 2026, Israeli forces remain engaged in Gaza while simultaneously fighting in Lebanon and participating in strikes on Iran.Source: UN
How many people have been killed in Gaza?: The UN estimated more than 46,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza by late 2024, with casualties continuing into 2026. Human Rights Watch has identified multiple potential war crimes in Israeli operations, and the ICJ is hearing a genocide case brought by South Africa.Source: UN / Human Rights Watch
Is there a ceasefire in Gaza?: No durable Ceasefire was in place as of March 2026. Short pauses have occurred but Israeli operations continued. The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2817 in early 2026 calling for restraint, though Israeli ground and air operations in Gaza persisted.Source: UN Security Council
What is the Gaza model of warfare Israel is using in Lebanon?: Israel's Defence Minister Katz formally ordered demolitions in Lebanese border villages citing the Beit Hanoun and Rafah operations in Gaza as the template. This confirmed that the systematic destruction pattern developed in Gaza is now official Israeli military doctrine applied across multiple theatres.Source: Israeli Defence Ministry
What is Hamas's position in the 2026 Iran conflict?: Hamas publicly urged Iran not to target Gulf Arab neighbours during the 2026 conflict, signalling a divergence from Tehran on escalation strategy. Hamas remains militarily engaged against Israeli forces in Gaza while the broader regional war expands.Source: Hamas statement

Background

The Gaza Strip is a 365 sq km Palestinian territory on the eastern Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt. Home to approximately 2.3 million people, it has been governed by Hamas since 2007 and under Israeli blockade for the same period. The territory was thrust into war following the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel.

Israel launched a military campaign that has continued into 2026, with the UN estimating over 46,000 Palestinians killed and the majority of Gaza's built environment destroyed. By March 2026 the operational methods developed in Gaza were being directly applied to Lebanon: Defence Minister Israel Katz explicitly cited Beit Hanoun and Rafah as models for border demolitions , while Human Rights Watch identified at least three potential war crimes in Israeli operations across the same period .

Gaza now carries two concurrent legal processes: ICJ proceedings under the Genocide Convention (South Africa v. Israel) and ICC arrest warrants for Israeli officials. Hamas itself has signalled internal strain, publicly calling on Iran to avoid targeting Gulf neighbours during the wider conflict . Whether Gaza's devastation produces accountability or merely exportable doctrine is the unresolved question of the 2026 regional war.

How the World Sees Them

Egypt

Egypt has maintained the Rafah crossing as Gaza's main humanitarian entry point and mediates between Hamas and Israel. Egypt's role as the territory's southern neighbour makes it a key, if reluctant, party to any Gaza ceasefire or reconstruction deal.

Hamas

Hamas has governed Gaza since 2007 and launched the October 2023 attacks that triggered the current war. By 2026 it was showing internal fractures, publicly urging Iran not to strike Gulf neighbours while still fighting Israeli forces.

Israel

Israel frames the Gaza campaign as an existential counter-terrorism operation in response to the 7 October 2023 attacks. The Gaza doctrine of systematic demolition has been formalised as replicable military policy and explicitly applied to Lebanon in 2026.

South Africa

South Africa brought genocide proceedings against Israel at the ICJ, citing the scale of Palestinian deaths in Gaza. The case established a legal framework now being tested as Israeli methods spread to Lebanon and beyond.

United Nations

UN agencies have documented mass civilian casualties and aid blockages throughout the campaign. The Security Council adopted Resolution 2817 in early 2026, though enforcement against Israeli operations remained limited.