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Gaza
Nation / PlacePS

Gaza

Palestinian coastal enclave devastated by Israel's military campaign since October 2023.

Gaza remains under Israeli military presence and blockade in 2026, more than two years after the war began, with reconstruction and any lasting ceasefire still contested. Its demolition doctrine, Beit Hanoun and Rafah cited as models, was explicitly extended to Lebanon's border villages from March 2026.

Last refreshed: 17 August 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

What is the structural link between Gaza, Hamas, and Iran's Quds Force in 2026?

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Background

Gaza is a 365 sq km Palestinian territory on the eastern Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt. It has been governed by Hamas since 2007 and held under Israeli blockade for the same period; the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel triggered the war that has devastated it since, with the UN estimating over 46,000 Palestinians killed.

Gaza carries two concurrent legal processes: an International Court of Justice case under the Genocide Convention (South Africa v. Israel) and International Criminal Court arrest warrants for Israeli officials. Neither has resolved the territory's status, and reconstruction remains contested more than two years after the war began.

Hamas's dependence on Gulf funding to rebuild has shaped its posture beyond Gaza's own borders: during the 2026 Iran conflict it publicly urged Tehran not to target Gulf States, an unusual public constraint for Iran's closest Palestinian ally.

Key Issues
Demolition doctrine

Gaza's demolition model reaches Lebanon

Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered 'accelerated demolition of Lebanese houses in border villages' in March 2026, citing the 'Beit Hanoun and Rafah models' developed in Gaza, and said residents 'will not return south of the Litani.' Human Rights Watch identified three potential war crimes in the resulting Lebanon operations: forced displacement, wanton destruction and targeting of civilians.

The methods first developed to deny return in Gaza are now codified as replicable military policy elsewhere, and Katz's written order gives HRW documented intent it did not have before, narrowing the legal cover available to arms-supplying governments.

Common Questions
Why are Gaza-based individuals appearing in OFAC SDN lists in 2026?
OFAC's 19 May 2026 SDN round included Gaza-based individuals identified as nodes in Hamas's external financing network. US Treasury has targeted Hamas financial structures as part of the broader Iran sanctions campaign, given the historical Quds Force role in funding Hamas.Source: OFAC
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
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
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
Is there a ceasefire in Gaza?
No durable Ceasefire was in place as of mid-2026. Short pauses have occurred but Israeli military operations continued throughout the first half of 2026. The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2817 calling for restraint, though ground and air operations persisted.Source: UN Security Council
Why did Hamas tell Iran not to attack Gulf states in 2026?
Hamas publicly urged Iran to avoid targeting Gulf neighbours during the 2026 Iran-Israel war. The constraint reflected Hamas's financial dependence on Gulf States for post-war rebuilding funds — attacking those states would sever a critical funding line for Hamas's own reconstruction.Source: Lowdown iran-conflict-2026
What legal cases are being pursued over Gaza?
Two concurrent legal processes are under way: ICJ proceedings under the Genocide Convention brought by South Africa against Israel, and ICC arrest warrants for Israeli officials. Neither has halted Israeli military operations.Source: ICJ / ICC
What is the relationship between Iran and Hamas?
Iran's Quds Force provided weapons, financing, and training to Hamas over two decades. The relationship was strained after 2011 over Hamas's stance on the Syrian civil war but partially reconstituted by 2023. Hamas publicly urged Iran not to target Gulf neighbours during the 2026 conflict, reflecting its dependence on Gulf rebuilding funds.