October 7 and the war in Gaza – two years on
On the second anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel – and two years of subsequent war – the whole geopolitical landscape of the Middle East has changed, but peace seems no closer
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – accused of prolonging war for political gain
FATALITIES
OCT
NOV
DEC
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
20,00
40,000
60,000

HOSTAGES
Dead 54
Freed 148
Still captive
Alive 20
Believed dead 29
251 captured by Hamas

ISRAELI FATALITIES
Combatants 454
Civilians 1,518*
*Includes foreign nationals
1,195  killed in Oct 7 attack
Total as of Oct 1, 2025
1,972

PALESTINIAN FATALITIES
Combatants 8,900*
Civilians 44,100
*Active operatives according to Israeli military intelligence
Total 53,000 (as of May 2025)†
66,148

Oct 7, 2023: Palestinian militant groups, including Hamas, fire thousands of rockets at central Israel and storm communities in south. Israel launches airstrikes on Gaza
Oct 8: Iranian proxies, Lebanon’s Hezbollah, and later Yemeni Houthis, launch ballistic missiles, rockets and drones at Israel
Oct 13: Israel orders evacuation of Gaza City ahead of ground offensive
Nov 21: International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Mohammed Deif
Dec 4: Ground assault on southern Gaza
Jan 26: International Court of Justice orders Israel to prevent genocide
Apr 1: Iranian Embassy in Damascus hit by suspected Israeli airstrike. Iran launches hundreds of missiles and drones, all intercepted with aid of allies
Jun 25: Amid tight restrictions on aid, Gaza declared at high risk of famine
Jul 2: Israel orders evacuation of Khan Younis and Rafah
Jul 13: Oct 7 mastermind Mohammed Deif (left) killed
Jul 31: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh (right) assassinated in Tehran
Sep 17: Israel detonates Hezbollah pagers
Sep 27: Airstrike on Hezbollah HQ in Beirut – leader Hassan Nasrallah (left) and six others killed
Oct 16: Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar (right) killed in Rafah shootout
Nov 21: Seven-day truce – 106 hostages released
Nov 27: Ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria overthrown
Jan 15: Ceasefire in Gaza, hostages released
Mar 1: Ceasefire expires, Israel ceases entry of aid
Mar 18: Israel resumes airstrikes on Gaza
Jun 13: Israel attacks Iran, killing leading military personnel and nuclear scientists. Iran hits back with ballistic missiles and drones
Jun 22: U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s underground nuclear facilities
Jun 24: U.S. President Donald Trump  announces ceasefire between Israel and Iran
Aug 22: UN confirms 514,000 people – 25% of Gaza population – experiencing famine

October 7 attack
Refugee camps
Evacuation order
Border crossing

ISRAEL
Gaza Strip
Gaza City
Beit Lahia
Al Mawasi humanitarian zone
Beit Hanoun
Jabalia
Khan Younis
Rafah
Nir Yitzhak
Mefalsim
Magen
Nir Oz
Kfar Aza
Sufa
Holit
Kerem Shalom
Nahal Oz
Erez
Zikim
Netiv HaAsara
Deir al-Balah
Nova Festival
Re’im
Kissufim
Ofakim
Ein HaShlosha
Nirim
Be’eri
Alumim
Sderot
3 miles
5km

Men 27,605
Women 9,735
Children 18,430
Elderly: 4,429
60,199 identified at Jul 31
Sources: Reuters, OCHA, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Pictures: Getty Images
© GRAPHIC NEWS