Gaza Strip in ruins after more than 2 years of fighting

After more than 2 years of war between Israel and Hamas, the Gaza Strip is in ruins. According to the Palestinian Ministry, more than 68,000 people have died since October 2023, and 95% of agricultural land and a large part of urban infrastructure have been destroyed. The ceasefire negotiated with the US, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey allowed the release of 20 Israeli hostages in exchange for 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. On Sunday Israel accused Hamas of breaking the ceasefire and bombed at least 20 targets. It shows how fragile a truce is.

– A very far area in Gaza. The area of Palestine, the full mediate East, is inactive on fire, it will surely not be easy to find a solution to the goal for a lasting peace between the Palestinians, the Arabs surviving in Palestine and Israel. – stressed Dr. Małgorzata Bonikowska, president of the Centre for global Relations, the Centre for dialog and Analysis, at the European Forum of fresh Ideas.

The truce, which entered into force on 9 October 2025, was negotiated with the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey. It includes 3 phases: the exchange of hostages and prisoners, the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from northern Gaza and the launch of an global stabilisation mission under the auspices of the UN and the arabian League. However, as the Center for east Studies emphasises, the paper is purely method in nature – it does not contain records of Gaza position or of a two-state solution which has been blocking the Israeli right for years.

Under the agreement, 20 Israeli hostages were released, including respective women and children, and Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinians from prison. For many people in the region, this is the first signal in months that further discussions are possible. However, fresh days have shown that this is simply a very fragile truce. On Sunday, October 19, Israel began bombings—as reported by the media—of over 20 facilities, accusing Hamas of breaking the ceasefire. The Palestinian organization denied these accusations. In the background is besides the decision to suspend humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

The Gaza Strip after more than 2 years of armed action is simply a ruin landscape. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, over 68,000 people have died, and 1.8 million of 2.2 million residents stay without permanent shelter.

– In the Gaza Strip, there is no way to function normally, and the first steps that will be taken there will be to enable people to have a basic existence. At the same time, there may always be crimes, looting, so we besides request to keep a regular order. This is over 2 million people who are not going to leave their place on Earth, despite this terrible war. The question of how to reorganize their lives – says the president of the Center for global Relations. – But it's not gonna work unless there's diplomatic talks about any permanent solution, due to the fact that this truce is very, very fragile..

The ARP considers that the truce is simply a "forced pause" alternatively than the beginning of the peace process – the signed text contains no political guarantees and its sustainability depends on global supervision and continuous funding.

– These 2 feudal sides are so profoundly divided, so profoundly divided over decades, that uncovering the mark solution is very difficult, impossible without the engagement of the Americans. Neither would there be a truce if it were not for president Trump, who simply pressed the Prime Minister of Israel – says Małgorzata Bonikowska. – arabian countries must besides be involved, as they do, due to the fact that there is no easy solution. On the Palestinian side, there are truly no leaders, and there is no clear decision on who represents the Palestinian society today, with whom we should talk about the construction of the Palestinian state.

The arabian states announced that they would bring any 7,000 soldiers into the stabilisation mission. Their task will be to guarantee civilian safety and coordination of reconstruction. Egypt and Saudi Arabia besides propose the establishment of a temporary civilian administration that would take over part of the public function until the Palestinian Government of Unity was established.

– At the same time, the current Israeli authorities do not want a two-state solution, and while Benjamin Netanyahu is Prime Minister of Israel, there will be no real agreement on specified a policy. any Israelis don't agree, due to the fact that they're tired of war too, they'd like to start building peace, and without giving something to Palestinians, it's impossible. – emphasises the president of the Centre for global Relations

UN-UNDP data indicate that the reconstruction of the region will cost around 70 billion dollars. Yale Environment 360 data indicates that nearly 95 percent of agricultural land was devastated. By contaminating dirt and groundwater in 90% of wells there is no clean water. UNOSAT satellite data talk about harm or demolition from 66 (in Rafah) to 85 percent of buildings (North Gas). Over 90% of schools and 94 percent of medical institutions are damaged and 70 percent are inactive.