The war on Gaza, one year after October 7

Itxaso Domínguez de Olazábal

The paper entitled ‘Gaza: One Year after 7 October’ presents a comprehensive analysis of the events and consequences following the 7 October 2023 attack, which marked a turning point in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The text explores the local, regional and international implications of this crisis, with a focus on the Israeli reaction and its impact on Gaza.

The author, Itxaso Domínguez, contextualises the conflict from the historical background, highlighting the tensions prior to 7 October and underlining that the attacks did not occur in isolation, but in an environment of increasing occupation and repression against Palestinians. Through a multidimensional approach, the paper narrates and analyses the coordinated attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian militias, as well as the subsequent Israeli military response, which has triggered an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

The paper examines not only the immediate events, but also the international response, including the positions of the US, the EU and bodies such as the UN. It highlights divisions in the international community and the role of international justice, with references to charges of genocide and war crimes. Furthermore, the ideological instrumentalisation of the conflict in the global public debate and the resulting polarisation are addressed.

Finally, the text offers a forward-looking view on the future of Gaza and the Palestinian cause, raising questions about the viability of a peaceful solution and the role that key actors in the region will play. This paper is essential for those seeking a comprehensive understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the geopolitical dynamics surrounding it.