For over 612 days, the world has watched Israel’s military campaign in Gaza intensify into what many now describe as a war not merely of retaliation, but of systematic annihilation. While Tel Aviv’s official rhetoric continues to focus on the return of hostages, the elimination of Hamas, and the demilitarisation of Gaza, critics and analysts argue these are facades for a deeper, long-standing ambition — one that dates back to 1948.

Rhetoric vs Reality: Hostages and Hamas

From the early days of the war, Israeli leaders have insisted that their actions in Gaza are designed to secure the release of hostages, dismantle the Hamas leadership, and ensure future security for Israel’s southern communities. These goals, however, have remained largely unfulfilled.

Hostage recovery efforts have stalled, with many killed in crossfire, including some reportedly by Israeli strikes. Hamas, though damaged, continues to operate guerrilla-style resistance, and despite international outcry, Israel's bombardment of densely populated areas has intensified.

Meanwhile, the discrepancy between declared aims and real-world actions has become stark. The indiscriminate use of firepower, the siege on food and medical supplies, and the systematic targeting of civilian infrastructure point to a strategy far beyond tactical retaliation.

54,000 Dead and Counting

According to updated figures from independent humanitarian sources, the war has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, a vast majority of them civilians, with a shocking number of women and children among the dead. More than 162,000 people have been injured, hospitals have been bombed repeatedly, and the healthcare system has collapsed.

The war has created one of the worst humanitarian crises of the 21st century. The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the primary humanitarian body in Gaza, has been systematically blocked, delegitimised, or outright accused by Israeli authorities of collusion — charges many international organisations have rejected as baseless.

A War of Starvation and Siege

Gaza’s 2.3 million residents now face not just bombardments but a man-made famine. Israel’s siege has cut off food, fuel, water, and medicine, reducing much of the Strip to rubble. According to World Food Programme assessments, 90% of Gazans face severe food insecurity, and child malnutrition is at crisis levels.

This form of warfare, experts argue, constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law, possibly rising to the level of genocide under the Genocide Convention — particularly when combined with statements made by Israeli officials that dehumanise Palestinians and encourage collective punishment.

Echoes of 1948: “Finishing the Job”

The most controversial argument coming from historians, rights advocates, and Middle Eastern scholars is that Israel’s current war is not just about 2023 or Hamas, but about completing a mission that began in 1948.

That year — during the creation of the state of Israel — over 750,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes in what is now referred to as the Nakba (Arabic for “catastrophe”). Gaza became one of the main destinations for refugees, whose descendants make up 80% of Gaza’s current population.

The current campaign, many argue, is about ensuring those refugees never return — effectively cleansing Gaza of its Palestinian population either through death, displacement, or despair.

“This is not just a war,” says Professor Noura Erakat, a prominent Palestinian-American legal scholar. “It is an effort to permanently depopulate Gaza, to eliminate the idea of Palestinian self-determination at its root.”

The International Facade: Justifying War for Western Audiences

Israel has carefully crafted its war messaging for an international audience, especially in the West, where media narratives are shaped by hostage appeals, security threats, and anti-terrorism language.

The portrayal of the conflict as a fight against terrorism — rather than a war against a population — has helped Israel maintain military aid, particularly from the United States, and avoid serious international sanctions despite UN resolutions condemning the war.

However, as the death toll mounts, support for Israel’s war has begun to erode, even among key allies. Mass protests across European cities, the rising student movement in the US, and the legal cases filed in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) are signs of growing global outrage.

Criminalising the UN, Silencing Dissent

One of the most troubling dimensions of the war has been the criminalisation of humanitarian work. UNRWA, long the lifeline for Gaza’s refugees, has been defunded by several countries, largely due to Israeli claims of staff complicity with Hamas — claims that lack transparent evidence.

Meanwhile, journalists, doctors, and NGO workers have been targeted, detained, or killed. Israel has denied visas to foreign press, restricted access to Gaza, and controlled the narrative through embedded war correspondents.

The message is clear: those who document the truth risk becoming casualties themselves.

Gaza as a Testing Ground

Some military analysts suggest that Gaza has become a live testing zone for weapons and technology, including AI-driven surveillance, autonomous drone strikes, and urban warfare tactics. Israel, known for its defence tech exports, has reportedly used the war to demonstrate capabilities to global buyers.

This framing — turning Gaza into a theatre of innovation for war industries — adds another sinister layer to what is already a morally and legally contentious campaign.

The View from Palestine: Life Under Occupation

For Gazans, this is not just a war from the air. It is a daily horror of survival, without food, water, electricity, or safe passage. Families sleep in shifts, hoping the building won’t collapse. Children no longer go to school; many don’t even speak anymore due to trauma.

Entire generations are being wiped out, not just physically, but culturally and psychologically. Art, music, literature — the intangible heritage of a people — is vanishing under rubble and rocket fire.

What Comes Next?

Even as ceasefire talks remain stalled and regional tensions escalate, including cross-border strikes involving Hezbollah and Iran-aligned forces, Israel appears committed to continuing the campaign — despite UN warnings of ethnic cleansing, international court cases, and rising diplomatic isolation.

Palestinian leaders warn that unless there is international intervention, the war may not stop until Gaza is uninhabitable — a goal some Israeli hardliners have openly endorsed.

Conclusion: A War with No Endgame but Erasure

Israel’s war on Gaza, now in its second year, can no longer be separated from the history that shaped it. It is not just about hostages or militant groups. It is about identity, land, and the right to exist.

If current actions are any indication, then Gaza is not simply under attack — it is being erased. And the world must decide whether it will continue to watch in silence, or finally say enough.

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