Two years since the Gaza War began, the region stands shattered. 98% of its land is barren, over two million people are displaced, and Trump’s new peace plan is stirring fragile hopes amid unending despair.

Two years after the Gaza War began on October 7, 2023, the territory stands devastated. About 98 percent of the land is barren, 2.1 million people are homeless, and over 51 million tons of debris cover the city. The United Nations estimates that clearing the wreckage could take a decade and cost more than $1.2 trillion.

Human Toll And Displacement

The conflict began when Hamas launched a large-scale attack inside Israel, taking 251 hostages. Israel, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, responded with massive air and ground assaults that destroyed entire neighborhoods. Today, 80 percent of Gaza is a militarized zone. Residents live in tents without electricity, clean water, or medicine.

The human cost has been staggering. More than 66,000 Palestinians, including over 18,000 children, have been killed. Nearly half a million face acute starvation, 39,000 children have lost at least one parent, and 17,000 have been orphaned. Relief agencies describe Gaza as “no longer a city, but a camp for survivors.”

Infrastructure And Agriculture In Ruins

Infrastructure has been nearly obliterated. Eighty percent of buildings are destroyed, including 90 percent of schools and 94 percent of hospitals. Of 36 hospitals, only 19 are partially functional, and just a third of beds remain. Dr. Rik Peeperkorn of the WHO noted, “Instead of schools, there are tents; instead of hospitals, there is silence.”

Agriculture has also collapsed. Farmlands lie under dust and shrapnel, 83 percent of irrigation wells are destroyed, and soil contamination has tripled. Only 232 hectares of fertile land remain, with recovery expected to take 25 years.

Military Control And Peace Talks

The war has split Gaza in two, with Israel establishing four major military corridors, restricting civilian movement to 20 percent of the territory.

Efforts to resolve the crisis continue. In Cairo, peace talks are underway under a 20-point plan proposed by Donald Trump. The deal calls for Hamas to release all Israeli hostages in exchange for 1,950 Palestinian prisoners and a phased Israeli withdrawal. Hamas has agreed in principle to the exchange but refuses to disarm until Israel ends its occupation.

With Gaza reduced to rubble, millions displaced and hungry, hope remains fragile. Trump’s plan is currently the only bridge toward potential resolution, but achieving lasting peace will require cooperation, compromise, and sustained humanitarian support.