The Gaza war is an armed conflict in the Gaza Strip and Israel fought since 7 October 2023. A part of the unresolved Israeli–Palestinian and Gaza–Israel conflicts dating back to the 20th century, it follows the wars of 2008–2009, 2012, 2014, and 2021. The war has resulted in the deaths of more than two thousand Israelis and tens of thousands of Palestinians, along with widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis in Gaza that many have described as a genocide. Meanwhile, the surrounding region has seen heightened instability and fighting. The first day was the deadliest in Israel's history, and the war is the deadliest for Palestinians in the broader conflict.

On 7 October 2023, Hamas-led militant groups launched a surprise attack on Israel, in which 1,195 Israelis and foreign nationals, including 815 civilians, were killed, and 251 taken hostage with the stated goal of forcing Israel to release Palestinian prisoners. After clearing militants from its territory, Israel launched a bombing campaign and invaded Gaza on 27 October with the stated objectives of destroying Hamas and freeing the hostages. Israeli forces launched numerous campaigns during the invasion, including the Rafah offensive from May 2024, three battles fought around Khan Yunis, and the siege of North Gaza from October 2024, and have assassinated Hamas leaders inside and outside of Gaza. A temporary ceasefire in November 2023 broke down, and a second ceasefire in January 2025 ended with a surprise attack by Israel in March 2025.

Since the start of the Israeli offensive, over 57,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, over half of them women and children, and more than 135,000 injured.