A year ago, the scenes were truly haunting.
In the wake of the deadliest attack in Israel’s history, while Gaza was enduring relentless bombardment, many viewed this moment as a turning point. The Israel-Palestine conflict, which had seemingly faded from public awareness, suddenly erupted back into focus.
This resurgence took nearly everyone by surprise. Just a week before the attacks, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan claimed, “The Middle East region is quieter today than it has been in two decades.” Fast forward a year, and the region is engulfed in turmoil.
Tragically, the death toll for Palestinians has surpassed 41,000, with two million Gazans forced to flee their homes. In the West Bank, another 600 Palestinians have lost their lives. Meanwhile, more than a million people in Lebanon are now displaced, with over 2,000 fatalities reported. The day of the attacks saw over 1,200 Israelis killed, and since then, an additional 350 Israeli soldiers have died in Gaza. Approximately 200,000 Israelis have been evacuated from regions near Gaza and the volatile northern border with Lebanon, where around 50 soldiers and civilians have fallen victim to Hezbollah rocket strikes.
Tonight, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds will present The Today Debate, tackling the pressing question: Is there a path to peace in the Middle East?
Various factions across the region have entered the conflict. Despite the U.S.’s persistent efforts to mitigate the crisis through presidential visits and extensive diplomatic initiatives, the situation remains unchanged. Rockets have been launched from as far away as Iraq and Yemen, and Israel and Iran, long-time adversaries, have started exchanging fire, pointing to an escalation of confrontations.
At a time when Washington’s influence seems to wane, the roots of this conflict appear to fade from collective memory, much like the impact of a devastating car crash receding into the rearview mirror of a speeding vehicle.
As the situation deteriorates and expands, the daily lives of Gazans seem to have slipped from media attention, which is primarily focused on forecasts of “all-out war” in the Middle East. Many Israelis, profoundly affected by the traumatic events of October 7, are expressing feelings of neglect.
“We have been pushed aside,” shared Yehuda Cohen, father of hostage Nimrod Cohen, during an interview with Israel’s Kan news last week. He placed the blame for the current situation on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of conducting a “pointless war that has turned all potential enemies against us.”
“He is doing everything, and doing it well, to minimize the significance of the events of October 7,” Cohen asserted.
Meanwhile, Israelis are commemorating the one-year anniversary of the October 7 attacks. Not everyone shares Cohen’s perspective; for many, the Hamas assaults from a year ago mark the start of a broader campaign by Israel’s adversaries to dismantle the Jewish state. In response, Israel has employed various methods of retaliation, including targeted strikes, assassinations, and long-range bombing missions, all reflecting the intelligence operations the nation takes pride in.
“There is nowhere in the Middle East Israel cannot reach,” Netanyahu confidently declared last week.
Although his popularity plummeted following October 7, signs suggest that his approval ratings may be climbing once again. Could this pave the way for more aggressive strategies?
The future remains unpredictable. “None of us know when the music is going to stop and where everybody will be at that point,” noted Simon Gass, Britain’s former ambassador to Iran, speaking on BBC’s Today Podcast last Thursday.
