Since October 7, following attacks by Hamas, Gaza has been the focus of intense military operations conducted by Israel, resulting in profound humanitarian and political consequences. Israeli military action has led to significant casualties and destruction in the Gaza Strip, where more than 70,000 Palestinians are reported to have died, according to Israeli military admissions. Thousands more have been injured, and the region’s critical infrastructure—including medical facilities, housing, and access to food and clean water—has been severely damaged.
A cease-fire went into effect on October 10, and on November 17, the United Nations Security Council endorsed a 20-point plan proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump aimed at ending the conflict and rebuilding Gaza. This plan envisions a phased approach, including demilitarization and reconstruction of the area to be managed by a transitional Palestinian technocratic authority under the oversight of an international Board of Peace, chaired by Trump. The plan also anticipates the creation of a major multinational military presence as part of Gaza's redevelopment.
Currently, nearly 70 percent of the Gaza Strip is under Israeli military control, confining approximately two million Palestinians to about one-third of the territory. These residents face dire living conditions in an environment lacking basic humanitarian infrastructure.
The proposed reconstruction initiative envisions transforming Gaza into a future-oriented "New Gaza," with extensive foreign investment and development. Reports suggest that major real estate projects and international business interests, including American entrepreneurs, could play a significant role in this transformation. However, there are concerns that this process may marginalize the Palestinian population by relegating them to service roles in their own land, with limited access to newly developed housing and commercial areas.
At the same time, legal and political accountability for the recent conflict remains uncertain. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The ICC has also targeted a Hamas official, who was confirmed to have been killed. The United States has taken steps perceived as undermining the ICC, while Israeli officials have maintained close diplomatic ties with Washington.
South Africa has filed a case against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing it of genocide in Gaza. However, any potential ICJ ruling faces practical limitations due to Israel’s support from the United States and its allies on the U.N. Security Council, which has enforcement authority. Critics argue that, as a result, Israeli leaders are unlikely to face meaningful international accountability unless domestic political changes lead to their prosecution.
The broader international response has also raised questions. Germany, Israel’s second-largest arms supplier, faces accusations from Nicaragua at the ICJ, alleging complicity in the Gaza conflict by supplying arms and cutting funds to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), charges Germany denies. Other countries, including the United Kingdom and France, have expressed interest in moving past the issue, focusing instead on diplomatic relations and regional influence.
Despite some European sanctions targeting Israeli military firms, Israel’s arms industry recorded a 30 percent increase in export sales last year, reaching a new high of $19.2 billion. The conflict in Gaza has reportedly been used to demonstrate the effectiveness of Israeli weapons systems to international buyers.
On the ground, conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate. Israeli plans reportedly include establishing segregated “humanitarian cities,” monitored by Israeli forces and Palestinian security personnel, where residents would remain confined while parts of the territory undergo redevelopment. New Jewish settlements are also expected to expand in areas retained under Israeli control.
Observers warn that the Trump-led reconstruction plan may ultimately entrench Israeli control and dismantle Palestinian political and social structures, erasing Gaza’s historic character. Some experts suggest this approach could undermine international humanitarian law and weaken institutions established to hold perpetrators of war crimes and genocide accountable.
While some view Israel’s strong alliance with the United States and its historical context as unique, legal scholars and human rights advocates caution that the current trajectory sets a dangerous precedent. It could signal a future in which genocidal actions go unpunished and even become politically and economically incentivized, raising profound questions about the enforcement of international norms designed to prevent and punish such crimes.