The war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas marked its third anniversary on the 7th.

Triggered by Hamas's surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, the war has left more than 74,000 Palestinians dead and reduced most of the Gaza Strip to ruins.

Although a ceasefire last October brought a halt to all-out warfare, Israeli attacks continue on an almost daily basis.

A post-war plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump has also remained deadlocked for a year, blocked by the difficult challenges of Hamas disarmament and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Israeli forces currently effectively control about two-thirds of the Gaza Strip, and most of its 2.1 million residents have been driven to coastal areas, suffering from severe food and housing shortages.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched the so-called "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood," raiding southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people, and dragging 251 hostages back to the Gaza Strip.

Israel launched massive airstrikes and a ground offensive with the goal of eradicating Hamas.

According to Gaza's health authorities, the death toll among Palestinians from subsequent Israeli military attacks has surpassed 74,000, with heavy casualties among civilians, including women and children.

Three years of ongoing bombardment and ground warfare have turned Gaza into a vast wasteland.

The Israeli military has also attacked refugee camps, schools, and hospitals under the pretext that Hamas uses them as military facilities.

According to an analysis of United Nations data and satellite images by the British daily Guardian, over 82% of buildings in the Gaza Strip have been damaged.

Rubble from destroyed buildings is estimated to reach approximately 61 million tons.

More than 100,000 residents who fled Gaza overseas during the war have yet to return.

Hamas has also suffered heavy blows from Israel's offensive.

Its leadership has been systematically eliminated, with political leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Tehran, Iran, in 2024, and Yahya Sinwar, who masterminded the raid on Israel, killed by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip the same year.

However, despite significant military losses, Hamas has managed to maintain its organization and continues to operate in parts of Gaza.

Since the outbreak of the war, about 2,000 people have died on the Israeli side, including soldiers.

The international community has pressured both sides to end the conflict, expressing concern that the war could spread across the entire Middle East.

What initially halted the momentum of the war was a 20-point peace plan introduced by the Trump administration last year.

The first phase included a cessation of all military operations, a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops, the release of hostages and prisoners, and the influx of massive relief supplies, leading to a ceasefire that took effect on October 10 of last year.

The final remaining hostages held by Hamas were released, and hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned or detained in Israel were also freed.

Subsequent phases called for Hamas to disarm and a Palestinian body to govern the Gaza Strip under the supervision of a "Peace Committee" led by President Trump.

The plan envisioned Israeli forces withdrawing in stages to hand over regional control to a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF), followed by full-scale reconstruction.

However, a year after the ceasefire, key follow-up measures remain deadlocked.

Although a breakthrough seemed to have been forged when a "Hamas Disarmament Roadmap" was unveiled under President Trump's leadership last July, Israel rejected it.

While Hamas agreed to store its weapons under the control of a U.S.-backed Palestinian technocratic government, Israel doubted Hamas's willingness to give up its arms and countered that it would not withdraw until "complete disarmament" was achieved.

Bodies tasked with post-war governance and security are still not functioning properly.

Although the Gaza governing body composed of Palestinian technocrats was launched in January of this year, it has yet to enter the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, while the ISF has appointed a U.S. commander and nations such as Indonesia, Morocco, and Kazakhstan have expressed willingness to contribute troops, actual deployment has not taken place.

Long-term plans to deploy 20,000 troops and train 12,000 Palestinian police officers remain merely at the planning stage.

Even though both sides agreed to a ceasefire, the sounds of gunfire continue.

Claiming that Hamas is regrouping its forces and attempting to rearm, Israel is carrying out airstrikes and military operations in the Gaza Strip almost every day.

Hamas has denied these claims, arguing that Israel is violating the ceasefire agreement.

According to Gaza's health authorities, at least 1,400 Palestinians have been killed even after the ceasefire took effect last October.

The Israeli military stated that five Israeli soldiers have died from attacks or engagements by Palestinian militant groups over the same period.

Although the humanitarian situation has somewhat improved with an increase in relief supplies entering after the ceasefire, the plight of the residents remains severe.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and other sources, more than 1.2 million residents still suffer from severe food insecurity, while about 280,000 live in flood-prone tent camps, damaged buildings, or overcrowded temporary facilities.

Aid organizations point out that improvements in living conditions are being delayed because Israel restricts the entry of items such as metal tent poles, engine oil, and various spare parts under the justification that they could be converted for military use by Hamas.

Reconstruction also remains at the starting line.

While the Peace Committee unveiled an initial reconstruction plan worth $2.45 billion (approx. 3.3 trillion won) last month, the United Nations and the European Union have estimated that $71.4 billion (approx. 95.6 trillion won) will be needed over the next decade.

With widespread destruction spanning not only housing, schools, hospitals, and roads, but also water and sewage systems and power grids, it will take a long time for residents to return to normal lives even if a political agreement is reached.

Beyond physical wounds, the hatred and psychological trauma accumulated by both sides over three years are also factors making an end to the war difficult.

Israeli residents who directly experienced the raid on October 7, 2023, have yet to recover from the memories and terror of that day, while for Gaza residents, the past three years have been a period of losing family, homes, and livelihoods while being forced into repeated displacement.

As Gaza residents suffer amid bombings, blockades, and ruins, and Israeli residents live with the memories of October 7, mutual distrust and hostility show little sign of subsiding.

In a statement marking the third anniversary of the war, UN Secretary-General António Guterres pointed out, "While last year's ceasefire brought some relief, it has yet to create a credible path toward security, sufficient humanitarian aid, recovery, and peace."

He emphasized, "I urge all parties to fully implement their commitments and move forward to the next phase of the ceasefire based on the 'Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict.'"

Three years after it began, the war in Gaza continues to see attacks, occupation, and humanitarian crises even after large-scale all-out warfare has stopped.

The task of turning the ceasefire into a sustainable end to the war and lasting peace remains unresolved.

(Photo: Getty Images)