By Times Now Digital

Copyright timesnownews

Two years after the shock of October 7, 2023, the Israel–Hamas war remains one of the deadliest and most consequential conflicts in recent memory — a war that began with a bloody cross-border assault, produced mass destruction across Gaza, left families on both sides grieving hostages and victims, and has cycled through ceasefires, prisoner swaps and fits of diplomacy that so far have failed to produce a durable peace. Talks are underway in Egypt under a new peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deepen, even as Israelis grieve their dead and call for the return of hostages. Below is a narrative timeline of the conflict’s key moments: Opening Shock: October 7, 2023 A large-scale assault by Hamas and allied terrorists on southern Israel in the early hours of October 7, 2023, killed around 1,200 people and saw hundreds taken hostage, an attack Israel and much of the world called a massacre. Israel quickly declared a state of war and launched a major military campaign into the Gaza Strip in response. The terrorist group called the operation “Al-Aqsa Flood’ and targeted military sites, kibbutzim and the Nova music festival. The Immediate Israeli Response: Blockade, Invasion and Displacement Within days Israel imposed a tight blockade on Gaza — restricting fuel, electricity, food and water — and launched sustained air strikes and ground operations. Towns and infrastructure were heavily damaged. Large parts of Gaza’s civilian population were forced from their homes, creating massive internal displacement. Humanitarian agencies warned almost immediately that civilian suffering would intensify. The Israeli government vowed to “elimiate Hamas completely.” Humanitarian Toll & Infrastructure Collapse (2023–2025) Independent and UN-linked reporting across 2024–2025 documented catastrophic damage to Gaza’s civilian fabric: tens of thousands killed, large-scale injuries and extensive destruction of homes, hospitals and schools. UN and humanitarian briefs tracked mounting deaths and worsening food insecurity, by late 2025 independent tallies and Gaza health ministry figures put Palestinian deaths in the tens of thousands and reported widespread malnutrition and famine-like conditions in parts of the Strip. The UN and OCHA have repeatedly sounded alarms about collapsed services and restricted aid access. Hostages, Negotiations And Ceasefire Talks One of the conflict’s defining threads has been the fate of hostages taken on October 7. Negotiations, conducted indirectly and through mediators in Egypt, Qatar and other capitals, produced periodic prisoner-for-hostage exchanges and temporary pauses in the conflict. A multi-stage ceasefire and exchange proposal, worked on in 2024 and implemented in iterations in 2025, led to several rounds of releases and temporary halts to the fighting, though a permanent political settlement remained elusive. The Pager Attack: A Blow to Hezbollah On September 17, 2024, a coordinated attack on Hezbollah’s communication infrastructure unfolded across Lebanon and Syria. Approximately 5,000 pagers, distributed to Hezbollah operatives, exploded simultaneously, causing widespread casualties. The following day, a second wave targeted walkie-talkies, amplifying the devastation. The devices were covertly modified by Israel’s Mossad. Explosive charges were concealed within the batteries, activated remotely through coded signals. Notably, Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon was among the injured. The Lebanese government condemned the attacks, labelling them as potential war crimes due to their indiscriminate nature. Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar Eliminated By Israel Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed on October 16 in 2024 during a routine Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) operation in southern Gaza’s Rafah. The operation, conducted by the IDF’s 828th Bislamach Brigade, was not initially aimed at Sinwar. Troops encountered three terrorists during a patrol and engaged them, leading to a firefight. Sinwar was found the next day in a building, wounded and unarmed and was identified through DNA analysis. Sinwar had been a key figure in Hamas and was believed to have masterminded the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. Two Years On – The Present Moment (October 7, 2025) On the second anniversary, Israelis held memorials for the October 7 victims and rallied for the return of remaining hostages, while in Gaza the humanitarian emergency persisted, with agencies warning of ongoing food, water and medical shortages and of deep population trauma and ruin. Diplomatic channels were active: mediators convened talks in Egypt in hopes of expanding a ceasefire and concluding a broader exchange or armistice, even as fighting and strikes continued in parts of the Strip. Israel Strikes Doha – Negotiations Derailed In September 2025, Israel carried out a surprising airstrike in Doha, Qatar, targetting a meeting of Hamas officials and mediators discussing a potential ceasefire. The strike killed six people, including civilians and sparked widespread condemnation from Arab nations and diplomats. Israel stated that the operation aimed at senior Hamas commanders allegedly planning future attacks. The strike disrupted the fragile negotiations and prompted a temporary suspension of the talks that had been slowly advancing since summer. Where’s It’s Headed Now? Two years after the initial assault, Israel and Hamas are back at the negotiating table. Delegations from both sides met this week in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to discuss a new 20-point Gaza peace plan proposed by Donald Trump. The plan calls for an immediate ceasefire once Hamas releases all hostages, the group’s disarmament and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Trump’s 20-point Gaza Peace Plan Gaza will be a deradicalized, terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbours.Gaza will be redeveloped for the benefit of the people of Gaza, who have suffered more than enough.If both sides agree to this proposal, the war will immediately end. Israeli forces will withdraw to the agreed upon line to prepare for a hostage release. During this time, all military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardment, will be suspended, and battle lines will remain frozen until conditions are met for the complete staged withdrawal.Within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting this agreement, all hostages, alive and deceased, will be returned.Once all hostages are released, Israel will release 250 life sentence prisoners plus 1700 Gazans who were detained after October 7th 2023, including all women and children detained in that context. For every Israeli hostage whose remains are released, Israel will release the remains of 15 deceased Gazans.Once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. Members of Hamas who wish to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage to receiving countries.Upon acceptance of this agreement, full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip. At a minimum, aid quantities will be consistent with what was included in the January 19, 2025, agreement regarding humanitarian aid, including rehabilitation of infrastructure (water, electricity, sewage), rehabilitation of hospitals and bakeries, and entry of necessary equipment to remove rubble and open roads.Entry of distribution and aid in the Gaza Strip will proceed without interference from the two parties through the United Nations and its agencies, and the Red Crescent, in addition to other international institutions not associated in any manner with either party. Opening the Rafah crossing in both directions will be subject to the same mechanism implemented under the January 19, 2025 agreement.Gaza will be governed under the temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee, responsible for delivering the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities for the people in Gaza. This committee will be made up of qualified Palestinians and international experts, with oversight and supervision by a new international transitional body, the “Board of Peace,” which will be headed and chaired by President Donald J. Trump, with other members and heads of State to be announced, including Former Prime Minister Tony Blair. This body will set the framework and handle the funding for the redevelopment of Gaza until such time as the Palestinian Authority has completed its reform program, as outlined in various proposals, including President Trump’s peace plan in 2020 and the Saudi-French proposal, and can securely and effectively take back control of Gaza. This body will call on best international standards to create modern and efficient governance that serves the people of Gaza and is conducive to attracting investment.A Trump economic development plan to rebuild and energize Gaza will be created by convening a panel of experts who have helped birth some of the thriving modern miracle cities in the Middle East. Many thoughtful investment proposals and exciting development ideas have been crafted by well-meaning international groups, and will be considered to synthesize the security and governance frameworks to attract and facilitate these investments that will create jobs, opportunity, and hope for future Gaza.A special economic zone will be established with preferred tariff and access rates to be negotiated with participating countries.No one will be forced to leave Gaza, and those who wish to leave will be free to do so and free to return. We will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza.Hamas and other factions agree to not have any role in the governance of Gaza, directly, indirectly, or in any form. All military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, including tunnels and weapon production facilities, will be destroyed and not rebuilt. There will be a process of demilitarization of Gaza under the supervision of independent monitors, which will include placing weapons permanently beyond use through an agreed process of decommissioning, and supported by an internationally funded buy back and reintegration program all verified by the independent monitors. New Gaza will be fully committed to building a prosperous economy and to peaceful coexistence with their neighbors.A guarantee will be provided by regional partners to ensure that Hamas, and the factions, comply with their obligations and that New Gaza poses no threat to its neighbors or its people.The United States will work with Arab and international partners to develop a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) to immediately deploy in Gaza. The ISF will train and provide support to vetted Palestinian police forces in Gaza, and will consult with Jordan and Egypt who have extensive experience in this field. This force will be the long-term internal security solution. The ISF will work with Israel and Egypt to help secure border areas, along with newly trained Palestinian police forces. It is critical to prevent munitions from entering Gaza and to facilitate the rapid and secure flow of goods to rebuild and revitalize Gaza. A deconfliction mechanism will be agreed upon by the parties.Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza. As the ISF establishes control and stability, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will withdraw based on standards, milestones, and timeframes linked to demilitarization that will be agreed upon between the IDF, ISF, the guarantors, and the Unites States, with the objective of a secure Gaza that no longer poses a threat to Israel, Egypt, or its citizens. Practically, the IDF will progressively hand over the Gaza territory it occupies to the ISF according to an agreement they will make with the transitional authority until they are withdrawn completely from Gaza, save for a security perimeter presence that will remain until Gaza is properly secure from any resurgent terror threat.In the event Hamas delays or rejects this proposal, the above, including the scaled-up aid operation, will proceed in the terror-free areas handed over from the IDF to the ISF.An interfaith dialogue process will be established based on the values of tolerance and peaceful co-existence to try and change mindsets and narratives of Palestinians and Israelis by emphasizing the benefits that can be derived from peace.While Gaza re-development advances and when the PA reform program is faithfully carried out, the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, which we recognize as the aspiration of the Palestinian people.The United States will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous co-existence.