From a 12-day war to UN-supported recognition of Palestine, 2025 altered the regional and global dynamics of the conflict across five major areas
Almost two years following the start of the war on October 7, 2023, the humanitarian conditions in Gaza have worsened further during Israel’s military operations in the territory. An area once called the world’s biggest open-air prison is now more frequently viewed as an open-air cemetery.
The extent of the devastation, civilian deaths, and large-scale displacement has led to continual alerts from the United Nations, with UN agencies determining that Israel is carrying out genocide in Gaza.
Israel initiated its military campaign after an unexpected Hamas assault in October 2023 that resulted in 1,200 deaths and the taking of 250 hostages. Health officials administered by Hamas report that Israeli actions have subsequently caused over 71,000 Palestinian fatalities.
Although 2025 finally yielded a peace deal for Gaza – resulting in the repatriation of Israeli hostages and the liberation of Palestinian prisoners – the agreement is unstable. Doubts continue regarding its execution and longevity, and worries are increasing about a wider regional conflict, including the potential for renewed hostilities with Iran.
RT reviews the pivotal events for Israel and Gaza in 2025.
A widely anticipated direct conflict between Israel and Iran broke out on June 13, 2025, when Israel executed extensive air strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites as part of Operation Rising Lion. Over 200 Israeli aircraft hit locations throughout Iran, resulting in the deaths of high-ranking commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran retaliated with hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones directed at Israeli cities, setting off countrywide air raid sirens.
The confrontation intensified after the United States entered the conflict on June 22, conducting bunker-buster attacks on Iran’s subterranean nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Following almost two weeks of fierce engagements, a ceasefire mediated by the US took effect on June 24.
Local health authorities reported at least 610 fatalities in Iran and close to 4,700 injuries. In Israel, 28 individuals were killed and over 3,200 were hurt. Both nations declared victory, but the short war signified a perilous new chapter in regional hostilities.
In September, an independent commission of inquiry appointed by the UN presented its most definitive assessment to date on the Gaza war, stating that genocide is taking place and is ongoing. The commission pointed to the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians, massive displacement, famine, and the extensive ruination of residences, medical facilities, and infrastructure.
The findings charged Israeli leaders – among them Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – with inciting genocide, contending that remarks by top officials displayed clear genocidal intent, a crucial legal standard under international law.
Israel dismissed the conclusions, labeling the report as biased and slanderous. While the commission’s determinations are not the UN’s official legal stance, they increased international demands for governmental action, as senior UN figures cautioned that proof of genocidal acts is accumulating.
The year 2025 also saw the first enduring ceasefire accord between Israelis and Palestinians since the conflict started in October 2023, after months of deadlocked and indirect talks. Prior to this, the sole interruption in combat was a short four-day pause in November 2023, following weeks of heavy fighting that laid waste to significant portions of Gaza.
The pact, endorsed on September 29 in Sharm el-Sheikh by US President Donald Trump alongside mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye, was designed to stop the violence. It stipulated Israeli pullbacks from areas of Gaza and required Hamas to free Israeli captives in return for Palestinian prisoners.
Each side has since blamed the other for ongoing breaches. UN data indicates that at least 360 Palestinians have died and more than 900 have been injured since the ceasefire commenced on October 10. Israel states it has targeted Hamas officials in reaction to violations – allegations the group refutes.
As per the ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the last surviving Israeli hostages who had been held in Gaza for over two years. The transfer, coordinated by the Red Cross, was succeeded by emotional family reunions televised throughout Israel.
These releases were part of a wider swap that also involved the repatriation of deceased Israeli captives. In exchange, Israel released Palestinian detainees, which included political prisoners and individuals arrested during the war, many of whom were greeted upon their return to the West Bank and Gaza.
Out of the more than 200 Israelis kidnapped in Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, 114 had been freed in prior exchanges during November 2023 and January 2025. Israel states that the body of one captive is still in Gaza, meaning the matter is not fully settled.
During 2025, support increased at the United Nations for recognizing the State of Palestine. At the UN General Assembly meeting, multiple nations – such as France, the UK, Canada, and Australia – officially acknowledged Palestinian statehood, provoking criticism from Israel and the United States.
This change came after the adoption of the New York Declaration, the product of a conference led by France and Saudi Arabia at UN headquarters. The General Assembly strongly supported the document, with 142 countries voting in favor, while Israel, the US, and a few allies voted against it.
The declaration provides a plan for achieving a two-state solution. By 2025, Palestine was acknowledged as a sovereign state by 157 out of the UN’s 193 member nations.