Three years after Israel’s war on Gaza began with the October 7, 2023 attack, the enclave faces a humanitarian catastrophe, with severe damage to infrastructure and widespread lack of essential resources, according to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
The war has left Gaza’s population of 2.1 million “asphyxiated” as Israeli forces occupy 65% of the territory, squeezing residents into shrinking areas while restricting aid and medical supplies, MSF reported. Nearly 74,000 Palestinians have been killed, including 20,000 children, since Israel’s military campaign began, with the UN estimating 90% of buildings damaged or destroyed.
Humanitarian Collapse and Displacement
Over 2 million Palestinians now live in less than 30% of Gaza, confined by Israeli military control and access restrictions, according to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights. The Israeli military has created a “ghetto” by concentrating over 2 million people in a depleted area covering less than 30% of the Strip, according to Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor.
Dr. In June and July 2026, MSF teams treated more than 1,200 cases of violent trauma, including blast injuries, burns, and gunshot wounds, while 11,000 skin disease cases and 1,500 chickenpox cases were recorded in June alone.
The Palestinian Ministry of Education has warned of a serious loss of basic skills and a growing academic gap, with nearly three years of interrupted education threatening the long-term prospects of an entire generation. Over 700,000 children have been deprived of regular in-person schooling for nearly three years, while 91.8% of children in UNICEF consultations expressed fear of bombardment. In May 2024, Israel’s military operation in Rafah displaced more than 800,000 people, according to the UN.
Escalating Violence in Gaza
The October 2025 ceasefire, intended to halt violence, has failed to end hostilities. Israeli airstrikes, shelling, and ground operations continue, with 1,462 Palestinians killed since the “ceasefire” took effect, according to the UN. Hamas and other groups have not disarmed, and nearly two-thirds of Gaza remains inaccessible due to Israeli restrictions. The Israeli military has crept westward, block by block, effectively “asphyxiating” Gaza’s population, as one aid group said Monday.
Survivors like Safaa Mushtaha of Al-Tuffah describe a policy of protracted displacement,
with families forced to move repeatedly as Israeli forces advance. We risk being shot by Israeli forces when we approach the yellow line, MSF reported, citing incidents of gunfire near the de facto border separating IDF-controlled areas from Palestinian zones. The yellow block marking the invisible Israeli yellow line east of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, has become a symbol of enforced confinement, with residents uncertain about where the line begins and ends.
Israeli forces have continued to violate the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) provisional measures, which require Israel to prevent acts of genocide and ensure humanitarian aid reaches Gaza. The ICJ has called for Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent acts prohibited under the Genocide Convention,
but enforcement remains absent.
International Inaction and Legal Challenges
Guterres emphasized that nothing can justify these atrocities
and urged all parties to implement the October 2025 ceasefire fully. The UN humanitarian office, OCHA, reported that Israeli authorities suspended cargo entry into Gaza on the anniversary, further exacerbating the crisis.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, but enforcement remains unaddressed. Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor called for the implementation of ICJ provisional measures, support for ICC investigations, and prosecution of officials responsible for crimes based on available evidence. The organization warned that any state that continues to arm Israel or enable it to continue these acts despite being aware of the risks exposes itself to accountability.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported 1,462 deaths since the ceasefire took effect, while Israeli attacks and military activity persisted. Over 70% of Gaza’s population remains in urgent need of shelter and basic household assistance, with 65% of households lacking adequate housing.
Voices from Gaza: Survival and Resistance
Dr. Mohammed Salha, director of PNGO, the Palestinian NGOs network, which is a partner of ActionAid, emphasized that the one thing the Israelis can’t take away from us is hope.
Despite 16 displacements, his family survived, and he continues advocating for international action. We look forward to the day when we can all live in peace,
he said. His experience reflects the resilience of Gaza’s people, who have endured 15 months without seeing family members after their home was bombed in October 2023.
For Ibtisam Malika, who lives near the yellow line, the struggle is daily. Where do we go? This is a question we’ve been asking ourselves for three years,
she said, echoing the uncertainty of millions trapped in a largest ghetto in history,
as described by Countercurrents. The city of Rafah, located in southern Gaza along the border with Egypt, became a refuge for over one million displaced Palestinians during the war.
Prices for basic goods are 200% above pre-war levels, and 92% of Gaza’s power grid is non-functional, according to the UN Conference on Trade and Development.
The war has also transformed education, with nearly three years of interrupted schooling threatening an entire generation. The Palestinian Ministry of Education warned of a growing academic gap, while the World Health Organization reported that all 36 of Gaza’s hospitals have been damaged, with only 19 currently functioning. MSF teams have treated over 200,000 trauma cases since the war began, highlighting the scale of human suffering.