Janice R. Andrews
Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza’s northern region shows little sign of resolution. More than a year since the conflict began, Israeli forces are still engaged in fierce battles with Hamas fighters in Gaza’s most devastated areas, particularly the heavily bombarded and isolated northern region. Despite multiple offensives, Hamas continues to regroup, launching surprise attacks from bombed-out buildings. Locals report that Israeli troops have raided shelters for displaced civilians, often forcing them out at gunpoint, while emergency responders struggle to operate amid continuous airstrikes.
The latest wave of fighting was triggered by a deadly Hamas attack on October 7, which killed 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, and took approximately 250 hostages. In response, Gaza’s health ministry reports over 43,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes, with more than half reported as women and children. Israel claims it has killed around 17,000 Hamas fighters, although it has not provided evidence. Despite these heavy casualties, a ceasefire seems unlikely, as Hamas retains control over Gaza, holding hostages and preparing for further resistance.
The conflict has drawn in militants from across the Middle East, including Lebanon and Yemen, backed by Iran, which edges closer to a direct confrontation with Israel. In Gaza’s northern town of Beit Lahiya, deadly Israeli airstrikes recently killed at least 88 Palestinians, mostly women and children. Israeli forces argue they were targeting militants, though residents describe distressing scenes of civilians being displaced and shelters destroyed.
Israel has also imposed stricter restrictions on aid, sparking global condemnation. Recent legislation may limit the activities of the UN’s largest aid provider in Gaza, with Israel accusing the organization of harboring Hamas members—an allegation the UN denies.
The prolonged conflict leaves Israel facing difficult choices. Former Israeli intelligence officer Michael Milshtein suggests two options: fully reoccupy Gaza, requiring a substantial military presence, or negotiate a ceasefire involving hostage exchanges and an Israeli withdrawal. However, Israel is hesitant to pursue such a deal, partly due to previous failed US and Arab-led negotiations. As Israeli forces repeatedly return to former battlegrounds, Hamas fighters often reappear, leading some to label the conflict a “never-ending war.”
Mass evacuations have displaced around a million people from northern Gaza, while approximately 400,000 civilians remain in high-risk areas, cut off from essential supplies as entire neighborhoods face destruction. The UN reports at least 60,000 have fled to Gaza City from northern regions as conditions deteriorate, with many families stuck amid the fighting and unable to access food, water, or medical aid.
In one case, an Israeli drone ordered a shelter in Beit Lahiya to evacuate. Survivors recount traumatic experiences as men were ordered to strip and searched, while women and children were sent on foot to Gaza City. Some spent nights in open fields without basic provisions, and many remain in makeshift camps, awaiting humanitarian aid.
The Israeli government has severely restricted aid to Gaza, allowing in only a fraction of previous deliveries. Israel’s COGAT body, overseeing civilian matters in Gaza, cited holidays and troop movements as reasons for the limited aid. However, the US has urged Israel to allow more assistance, warning of possible consequences for continued military support. Palestinian officials and human rights groups argue that Israel’s restrictive measures violate international law and amount to collective punishment.
While Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed Israel has not adopted a “surrender-or-starve” policy that would cut off northern aid entirely, Israeli officials have not explicitly dismissed the idea. Some experts view these extreme strategies as signs of desperation within Israel’s military leadership, seeking to end the cycle of reoccupation and insurgency.
With no end in sight, both sides appear entrenched, leaving northern Gaza in a seemingly endless cycle of devastation and despair.
