500 Days Since Devastating Hamas Attack: Fragile Ceasefire and Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

Families of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, along with their supporters, marked 500 days of Hamas captivity during a protest outside the Kyria military headquarters, calling for the completion of a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas. Feb 17, 2025 Photo: EFE

February 17, 2025 Hour: 4:49 pm

The war has had a devastating human cost, with over 48,000 Palestinians killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, while Israel reports the deaths of more than 17,000 militants, though without providing concrete evidence.

This Monday marks 500 days since the devastating attack carried out by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023, in southern Israel, an event that has become a milestone in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Following the fighting, approximately 90% of Gaza’s population, totaling 2.3 million people, were forced to flee their homes. However, with the ceasefire now in effect, hundreds of thousands have begun to return, only to find mostly rubble, devastation, human remains, and unexploded munitions.

The situation in the region is described as “very fragile” by political analysts such as Michael Milshtein and Mkhaimar Abu Sada, who warn of the imminent risk of a collapse in the ceasefire agreement.

New drone footage from northern Gaza shows entire neighbourhoods reduced to rubble after 500 days of Israel’s war on the enclave. pic.twitter.com/QtooArT1CJ
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) February 17, 2025

This agreement, which came into effect 42 days ago, has its first phase scheduled to end on March 2. Negotiations for a second phase aimed at achieving a sustainable cessation of hostilities have been stalled since February 3.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet today with his security cabinet to discuss next steps and prepare a negotiating delegation set to travel to Cairo.

The initial attack on October 7 left around 1,200 dead in Israel and approximately 250 people kidnapped, many of whom remain captive in Gaza. Uncertainty persists over the future of the ceasefire and the possibility of lasting peace in a region scarred by decades of conflict.