On 7 October 2023, Hamas launched a major attack on Israel from their base in Gaza. In what became the largest loss of life in a single day in the country’s history, over 1200 people were killed, many in a truly horrific manner.

On top of that, almost 3,000 were injured, and around 150 Israelis were taken hostage. In response, the Israeli Government declared war on the group. Since then, it has heavily bombarded Gaza and placed it under a “complete siege”. This has now seen over a thousand Palestinians killed and almost 6000 wounded, including many children

But as Israel appears ready to launch a ground invasion, many are asking whether this is a war Israel can ever actually win. For almost 80 years, the Israel-Palestinian conflict has been a feature of international politics. It has led to major wars in the Middle East in 1948, 1967, and 1973. In addition, it has fueled other conflicts and fed international terrorism.

However, in recent years, the conflict seems to have dropped off the international radar. Following a peace plan in 1993, the world has steadily turned its attention elsewhere. As a result, the conflict has lingered, occasionally flaring up. This was highlighted by this latest outbreak of violence. But as the region braces for the most serious fighting in many years, a conflict that could draw in the West Bank, Lebanon, and even Iran, real questions need to be asked about how the issue might finally be settled, once and for all.