Two years on: War on Gaza persists amid rising civilian toll

ISLAMABAD: Two years after the outbreak of the Gaza war, the conflict continues to devastate civilian life, with United Nations (UN) reports highlighting widespread destruction of schools, infrastructure, and essential services across the enclave.

Despite growing humanitarian concerns, ceasefire efforts remain stalled as Israel and Hamas struggle to bridge key differences over hostages, withdrawal terms, and long-term security guarantees.
 

Widespread destruction

A UN report published on May 7, 2025, found that more than 400 schools in Gaza had been directly hit. The IRDNA reported in February 2025 that 88% of the 48,987 establishments in Gaza’s commerce and industry sector had been damaged or destroyed.

Further, a UNOSAT report on July 8, 2025, stated that 77% of the total road network in Gaza had been damaged. According to the OCHA, as of September 9, 2025, 69% (520 out of 756) of public WASH facilities and assets were located within Israeli-militarized zones.

The FAO also reported that as of April 2025, 83% of agricultural water wells had been damaged, worsening the humanitarian crisis.

 A tent camp for displaced Palestinians stretches among the ruins of buildings destroyed by Israeli bombardments in west Gaza City, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP/File)

Hostage negotiations and stalled diplomacy

Hostage negotiations remain at the center of diplomatic efforts. Israeli officials say 48 hostages are still being held in Gaza, with about 20 believed to be alive. Hamas has stated it will release them only in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until all captives are freed and Hamas is disarmed, according to Israeli officials.

In this aerial view, Palestinians check the rubble of a building destroyed by an Israeli strike in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on September 28, 2025. (AFP/File)

Surveillance

In a related development, The Guardian reported that a 2021 meeting between Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and the commander of Israel’s Unit 8200 led to the unit gaining access to a segregated area of Microsoft’s Azure cloud.

The investigation claimed this platform was later used to store and analyze recordings of millions of phone calls made by Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

Microsoft stated that Nadella was unaware of the nature of the data and that the company was taking steps to ensure compliance with its terms of service.

Last month, the Associated Press reported that Microsoft disabled services to an Israeli military unit after an internal review found its products had been used for mass surveillance of Palestinians. The company acknowledged selling advanced AI and cloud services during the war but said an internal review found no evidence that Azure was used to target or harm individuals.

This picture taken during a media tour organised by the Israeli army on October 3, 2025, shows an Israeli army soldier holding a mounted machine gun in front of destroyed buildings in the vicinity of the Jordanian Field Hospital in Gaza City. (AFP/File)

Mediation efforts

International mediation has intensified as both Israel and Hamas express cautious support for a United States-backed plan proposing a ceasefire, hostage releases, and expanded humanitarian aid.

However, key sticking points, such as the timeline of Israeli withdrawal, Hamas’s disarmament, and guarantees for a lasting ceasefire, remain unresolved. Initial talks in Sharm El-Sheikh signaled some willingness to negotiate, but continued Israeli airstrikes, internal political tensions in Israel, and the complexity of hostage recovery efforts make a swift resolution unlikely.

Outlook

While both Israel and Hamas have voiced support for the broad principles of US President Donald Trump’s plan, analysts caution that a comprehensive peace deal remains distant.

As the world marks the second anniversary of the war’s start, the likelihood of ending the Gaza conflict remains cautiously optimistic but fraught with challenges, even as global attention once again turns to the region.