On the second anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel of 7 October 2023, the repercussions of the major confrontation continue. It reshaped the political and security landscape in the Middle East, and profoundly affected the Israeli interior and the international situation surrounding Palestine. We’ve watched as Israel has waged a genocide on the people of Gaza for two years.

Despite the heavy human cost, this event marked a historic turning point. The Palestinian resistance managed to break through the wall of international indifference. Crucially, they have brought the Palestinian cause back to the forefront of the global consciousness as one of liberation and the rights of a people under occupation.

Gaza genocide, two years in: the Palestinian cause regains its centrality

The Battle of Al-Aqsa succeeded in restoring the Palestinian cause to the international arena. The United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) have escalated moves to raise Palestine’s status within the international system. Notably, this has included expanding its rights as an observer state.

By the autumn of 2025, the number of countries recognising the State of Palestine had risen to 157. It indicates growing international support for Palestinian rights.

At the grassroots level, millions of people have held major demonstrations in capitals such as London, Washington, Madrid, Ankara, and Cape Town. Together, people across the world have demanded an end to the siege on Gaza and a halt to military support for Israel. The mass protests have restored global popular momentum after years of political stalemate.

Increased legal accountability for Israel

One of the most notable shifts over the past two years has been the expansion of international accountability for Israel, which has long enjoyed political and legal immunity.

In 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued precautionary measures. These required Israel to take immediate steps to prevent acts that could be classified as ‘genocide’ in Gaza. The measures also stipulated that it must facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid.

At the same time, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials on charges including war crimes and forced displacement. Analysts have described these developments as the beginning of a “gradual erosion of the political immunity” that Israel has enjoyed for decades.

Unprecedented economic losses for Israel

Economic data has revealed the significant impact on the Israeli economy since it begun its siege. Losses exceed 250bn shekels in two years as a result of ongoing military operations and the decline in the commercial and tourism sectors.

In February 2024, Moody’s downgraded Israel’s credit rating for the first time in more than 30 years. The credit rating company cited rising fiscal deficits and declining investor confidence. The value of the shekel has also fallen, and unemployment and inflation rates have risen significantly.

In addition, tens of thousands of Israelis are estimated to be living in internal displacement from border areas, amid shaken public confidence in the military and declining army morale.

Politically, calls for early elections have intensified. These have followed widespread protests demanding the resignation of Netanyahu’s government, blaming it for the greatest security failure in Israel’s history.

Palestinian gains on the ground and symbolically

Despite the extensive destruction in Gaza, the resistance factions, that the Al-Qassam Brigades and the Jerusalem Brigades lead, have managed to maintain their military capabilities and develop their offensive and defensive tactics.

The resistance succeeded in exhausting the Israeli army and forcing it to redeploy on more than one front. As a result, it poses a strategic challenge to the Israeli military establishment.

Politically, the battle contributed to unifying the Palestinian popular position. It has consolidated consensus around the option of resistance and rejection of forced displacement. This was amid growing Arab and Islamic popular support and the return of relief initiatives such as the Global Sumud Flotilla and ‘Gaza is not alone’ campaigns.

Decline of Israel’s image in the West

Recent opinion polls in the US and Europe have shown a significant decline in popular support for Israel. Significantly, 40% of US citizens now believe Israel is intentionally killing civilians. This is the highest percentage since 2006.

Jewish communities in the US have also been divided over the policies of Netanyahu’s government, amid mounting criticism of war crimes in Gaza.

In Western universities, academic and cultural boycott campaigns have grown. Some research institutions have imposed restrictions on cooperation with their Israeli counterparts.

Overall, it indicates a gradual shift in Western public opinion towards Israel.

Gaza, two years on: towards a new equation for the conflict

Analysts believe that Operation Protective Edge has gone beyond being a military battle. It has become a watershed event that is redrawing the contours of the Arab-Israeli conflict. The battle has exposed the depth of the internal crisis in Israel. And, conversely, it has demonstrated the Palestinian resistance’s ability to persevere despite harsh conditions.

International pressure to launch a new political process is likely to increase. Two years after 7 October, analysts and observers agree that the region has entered a new phase of conflict. It’s one that’s different from anything that has come before.

Despite the exorbitant human and material costs incurred by the Palestinians, they have achieved significant political and moral gains. They have established Palestinian resistance to occupation as a legitimate cause of liberation and human rights.

In contrast, Israel finds itself facing intertwined crises, including the erosion of political immunity, turmoil on the home front, and an unprecedented decline in its international image. It signals what will likely be a long-term shift in the map of the conflict.

Analysts agree that the ‘post-flood’ will not resemble the pre-flood. The balance of power in the region is undergoing a period of realignment that may open the door to a new political path. However, this will not succeed without full recognition of Palestinian rights. Foremost among these will be ending the occupation, lifting the blockade, and establishing an independent, sovereign Palestinian state on the 1967 borders.

Featured image via Unsplash/Nikolas Gannon

By Alaa Shamali

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