100 Days of Warfare Between Israel and Hamas: No End in Sight
Hamas' surprise mass terrorist attack on Israel, 100 days ago, and Israel's devastating response since then, have led to a catastrophic humanitarian situation, with tens of thousands of casualties and a deepening crisis
The war between Israel and Hamas, the armed group that governs the Gaza Strip, reached a grim milestone of 100 days on Sunday.
The relentless military campaign follows a harrowing incursion by armed Hamas forces on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. In the initial attack, around 3,000 Hamas terrorists breached Israel’s seemingly impenetrable borders by land, sea, air, and through tunnels. They invaded border communities, military bases, and a music festival, and carried out brutal atrocities, including torture and sexual assault, that resulted in the killing of more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals, most of them civilians, and the taking of more than 240 hostages—a significant escalation in the long-standing conflict.
Following the surprise attack by Hamas, the Israeli Air Force launched a series of airstrikes targeting Hamas compounds, command centers, tunnels, and other assets in Gaza. Within two days, Israel reported hitting 426 Hamas targets, including significant infrastructure and the homes of Hamas officials. In response to these attacks, Israel declared a state of war for the first time since the 1973 Yom Kippur War and imposed a “total” blockade on the Gaza Strip, cutting off electricity and restricting the entry of food and fuel.
As the conflict escalated, the Israeli military issued an evacuation warning for northern Gaza, leading to widespread displacement. This directive was criticized by several international organizations and resulted in an explosion along one of the designated safe routes, causing 70 casualties. Amid these developments, Hamas was accused of using civilians as human shields, a claim it denied.
Controversy surrounded an explosion at the Al-Ahli Arabi Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, with differing accounts from Hamas and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) regarding its cause. Independent investigations suggested a misfired Palestinian rocket was likely responsible, a conclusion later supported by international intelligence assessments.
Throughout this period, Israeli officials maintained that their military actions were necessary to dismantle Hamas’ infrastructure and protect Israeli citizens, while facing increasing international scrutiny and calls for a cease-fire.
In late October, the IDF launched a significant ground incursion into northern Gaza, with clashes reported near Beit Hanoun and Bureij. The conflict saw heavy casualties on both sides, with Israel targeting Hamas facilities and infrastructure. World Health Organization head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed deep concern about the situation, particularly regarding the evacuation warnings for hospitals like al-Quds, which were filled with smoke and dust from nearby Israeli airstrikes.
The densely populated Jabalia refugee camp faced devastating airstrikes, resulting in numerous casualties and widespread destruction, with scenes described as “apocalyptic.” Amid these events, the first group of evacuees, including critically wounded and foreign nationals, were allowed to leave Gaza for Egypt. The IDF faced additional criticism for striking an ambulance convoy near Al-Shifa Hospital, which it claimed was being used by Hamas fighters. Further complicating the situation, an UNRWA school in the Jabalia camp was hit by an Israeli airstrike, leading to additional casualties and Turkey recalling its ambassador to Israel.
A Qatari-brokered truce was reached in late November to facilitate an exchange of hostages for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel. After several exchanges, the truce expired on December 1, with each side blaming the other for not extending it.
Israel used leaflets and online maps to delineate areas where it sought to evacuate civilians ahead of the expanding zones of combat, a system that was criticized for being inaccessible and causing confusion. As the fighting intensified, the Pentagon authorized emergency ammunition sales to Israel, while South Africa filed a case at the International Court of Justice, charging Israel with carrying out a “genocide.” Israeli forces later withdrew from parts of North Gaza, claiming to have dismantled Hamas control in the region.
The toll of the conflict has been catastrophic, particularly for the Palestinian population in Gaza. The Palestinian Health Ministry reports nearly 24,000 dead, including 10,000 children, representing over 1% of Gaza’s prewar population of 2.3 million. These staggering figures have drawn international condemnation and concern, with Martin Griffiths, the United Nations humanitarian chief, describing the situation as “a stain on our collective conscience.”
More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed in the conflict, including 188 soldiers in the ground operation.
Israel’s military response has been extensive and multifaceted. Its primary focus has been on dismantling Hamas’ military infrastructure, including a vast network of underground tunnels known as “the Metro.” Despite significant advancements in destroying these tunnels and killing thousands of Hamas fighters, Israel has not achieved some key objectives. Notably, top Hamas leaders like Yahya Sinwar remain at large, and over 100 hostages continue to be held captive.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is dire. Hospitals, already overwhelmed with the injured, face severe shortages of medical supplies and electricity. Egyptian hospitals have taken in some of the injured and sick, but the needs in Gaza still far outweigh their capacity to cope. The World Health Organization reports that hospitals in the Strip are operating at over 350% capacity, with many treating patients on the ground due to a lack of available beds.
The conflict has not been confined to Gaza and Israel. Regional players, including Lebanon’s Hizbullah and Yemen’s Houthi group, both allies of Iran like Hamas, have also engaged. Hizbullah has launched cross-border shelling attacks against Israel, drawing Israeli counterstrikes, while the Houthis have launched long-range attacks on the Israeli Red Sea port city of Eilat and Red Sea shipping. Even the Tehran-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed to have launched a long-range attack on Israel, though the Jewish state reported no impact. These developments underscore the interconnected nature of regional conflicts and raise concerns about the war escalating and spilling over into additional countries.
Internationally, pressure continues to mount for a cease-fire, with US President Joe Biden urging Israel to reduce the intensity of its operations. However, Israeli leaders have vowed to continue their campaign until Hamas is destroyed. This stance has garnered widespread domestic support in Israel, despite the growing international criticism and the high civilian death toll.
Observers note a shift in the rhetoric of the Biden Administration, which initially gave firm support for Israel’s response to the October 7 attack. The American president has recently called Israel’s bombing campaign “indiscriminate” and suggested that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may be dragging out the war to improve his domestic political position and put off a postwar reckoning with the electorate for as long as possible.
The prime minister, already on trial on multiple corruption charges, is sure to face devastating criticism from the Israeli public for the security failures that enabled the Oct. 7 attack. These include his pursuit of policies tacitly supportive of Hamas to avoid negotiations and compromise with the more moderate Palestinian Authority.
In addition to the US, other international actors have also been vocal in urging Israel to protect civilians and scale down the war efforts. However, the Israeli government remains steadfast in its military campaign, asserting that a total victory over Hamas can and must be reached.
Military analysts and international observers have expressed concerns about the feasibility of Israel’s broader strategic goal of eradicating Hamas. Success will depend on destroying Hamas’ military force and ensuring that whatever leadership comes next in Gaza has legitimacy and the ability to function.
As the war enters its next phase, with Israeli troops shifting their focus to southern Gaza, the humanitarian situation worsens. More than a million Palestinians are now living in the southern city of Rafah, crowded into ever smaller spaces and making the task of rooting out Hamas combatants increasingly complex.
The war’s protraction and the devastation it has wrought have made the prospect of a peaceful resolution increasingly remote. Many Palestinians and Israelis can no longer envision peaceful coexistence after more than three months of intense military action.
As the Israeli military signals its intention to continue fighting in Gaza through 2024 and its expectation to remain in the coastal enclave for an extended period, the need for a political solution becomes ever more critical. However, with Hamas still maintaining a significant presence and continuing to hold more than 100 Israeli hostages, and the humanitarian crisis deepening, the path to peace remains fraught with challenges.
The future of the conflict is uncertain. While Israel has made significant military gains, the human cost has been enormous. The destruction of civilian infrastructure and the high number of civilian casualties have led to international outcry and calls for humanitarian intervention.
As the days of conflict rise into the triple digits, the plight of the people in Gaza remains dire. The once-bustling streets and high-rise apartment buildings of Gaza City have been transformed into rubble and dust. Families have been displaced multiple times, seeking shelter wherever they can find it.
In Israel, as well, hundreds of thousands of residents have been displaced from their homes and jobs near the Gaza border and along the northern border, under fire from Hizbullah. No one can say for sure when it will be safe for them to go home, and when the homes and communities destroyed by the violence will be rebuilt.
The war’s impact extends beyond the immediate military and humanitarian crisis. It has profound implications for the future political landscape of the region, the prospects for peace, and the lives of millions of people caught in the crossfire. As Israel and Hamas continue to clash, the world watches anxiously, hoping for a resolution that brings an end to the bloodshed and suffering.
