With no clear end in sight, the war in Gaza risks becoming a protracted conflict that destabilises the entire West Asia
As the Gaza war enters its second year, the devastation continues to deepen, turning a political and military confrontation into a full-blown humanitarian crisis. The conflict, which began as a violent flare-up between Israel and Palestinian militants, has now drawn in regional players like Lebanon and Iran, making the prospects for peace even more elusive. The war’s impact has rippled across borders, leaving countless civilians trapped in a spiral of violence, displacement and suffering. One year into the war, Gaza’s population bears the brunt of the ongoing violence. Entire neighbourhoods have been reduced to rubble, essential infrastructure is in ruins, and thousands of lives have been lost. With over two million people crammed into a strip of land roughly 140 square miles, Gaza was already grappling with poverty, unemployment and limited access to basic services. The war has exacerbated these challenges to catastrophic levels. Hospitals are overwhelmed, clean water is scarce and electricity is available for just a few hours a day. The United Nations has described the situation as a humanitarian disaster. Around half of Gaza’s population is now displaced, living in overcrowded shelters or temporary camps, with limited access to aid. The ongoing blockade of the strip has further restricted the entry of essential supplies, worsening the plight of ordinary citizens. Children, in particular, are facing the harshest consequences, with many losing access to education and mental health support, which adds another layer to the enduring trauma of the war.
What began as a localised conflict between Israel and Hamas has now escalated into a broader regional confrontation, with Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iran’s proxy forces becoming increasingly involved. Hezbollah, the powerful Shia militant group based in Lebanon, has launched attacks on northern Israel, adding a new front to the war. This has drawn in Israeli forces, threatening to destabilise Lebanon, a country already grappling with its own internal crises. Iran’s involvement, through its support of Hezbollah and various Palestinian factions, has further complicated the conflict. Tehran’s backing of these groups is part of a broader regional strategy, aimed at countering Israeli and the US influence in the West Asia. As Iran’s involvement grows, so does the risk of a wider regional war. The US and other global powers have expressed concern over the possibility of an all-out confrontation between Israel and Iran. Diplomatic efforts have been ineffective so far, with talks breaking down repeatedly. The involvement of Hezbollah and Iran signals that the war is no longer confined to Israel and Gaza but is part of a larger geopolitical struggle, further complicating any peace process. In Gaza, the humanitarian situation will continue to deteriorate unless there is an immediate intervention. The conflict has reached a point where military solutions alone cannot resolve the underlying issues. The time is running out, the UN must intervene to avert a crisis that could snowball into a regional catastrophe.
