The recent ceasefire agreement in Gaza comes after 15 months of intense fighting that has profoundly altered life in the Palestinian coastal territory. This period of violence followed an unprecedented cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken. In response, Israel launched a bombing campaign and a ground invasion, claiming it sought to eliminate Hamas’s military and governmental infrastructure, but the consequences have been catastrophic for Gaza’s civilian population. More than 46,600 Palestinians have been killed, according to Hamas's health ministry.

The initial phase of Israel’s military campaign focused on northern Gaza, where it alleged Hamas fighters were hiding among civilians. Cities like Beit Hanoun, located just 2 km from the border, were among the first to suffer heavy bombardment. As the military operation progressed, Israel ordered civilians to relocate south of the Wadi Gaza River for safety. However, as people fled to the south, Israel continued its aerial bombardments, causing devastation in areas that had previously been considered safe.

By the end of November, large parts of Gaza, including both the north and the south, were in ruins. The escalating airstrikes and ground offensive in Khan Younis in December left massive destruction in their wake, particularly in Gaza City, which faced the most severe damage. Experts from the CUNY Graduate Center and Oregon State University have estimated that nearly 60% of Gaza's buildings have been damaged or destroyed, with 160,000 homes completely destroyed and 276,000 others severely impacted.

Throughout the conflict, Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by Israel, the UK, and other nations, fought back against Israeli forces, launching thousands of rockets into Israel. Life in Gaza had already been difficult before the war, with a long-standing Israeli-Egyptian blockade severely restricting movement and trade.

Despite these challenges, Gaza’s population of 2.2 million residents had access to hospitals, schools, and basic services, but the ongoing war has left the region largely uninhabitable. Many neighborhoods have been razed to the ground, and farmland has been transformed into rubble.

The war has displaced nearly the entire population of Gaza, with families moving multiple times as the conflict shifted its focus. Satellite imagery shows a significant increase in the number of tents set up by displaced people in al-Mawasi, a narrow agricultural area near the Egyptian border. Despite the hopes for peace with the ceasefire, the United Nations warns that it may take decades for Gaza to recover, and the long-term consequences for its residents remain uncertain.