Gaza conflict nears second anniversary as Trump pushes peace plan

The scars of war have left much of Gaza in ruins, with nearly two million Palestinians displaced inside the enclave over the past two years.

(CNN)- The scars of war have left much of Gaza in ruins, with nearly two million Palestinians displaced inside the enclave over the past two years.

“It’s madness and it’s ongoing,” said James Elder, Global Spokesperson for UNICEF, describing the humanitarian crisis.

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched brutal attacks across southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping more than 250 others. Israel responded with a sustained military campaign, killing thousands, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed not to stop until Hamas is eliminated.

As the second anniversary approaches, international pressure for peace continues to mount.

President Donald Trump told reporters, “It’s looking like we have a deal on Gaza. It’s a deal that will get the hostages back. It’s going to be a deal that will end the war.”

According to a source familiar with the negotiations, the Trump administration has put forward a 21-point peace plan. The proposal calls for Hamas to release all remaining hostages within 48 hours of an agreement and outlines a post-war roadmap for Gaza.

In an interview with Fox News Sunday, Netanyahu confirmed talks are ongoing. “We want to free our hostages. We want to get rid of Hamas rule and have them disarmed,” he said.

The plan does not include U.S. backing for a Palestinian state. Still, dozens of countries—including the U.K., France, and Canada—have pledged support for Palestinian statehood. Netanyahu strongly rejected the idea, saying, “Giving the Palestinian a state, one mile away from Jerusalem, after October 7th, is like giving Al-Qaeda a state one mile from New York City after September 11th.”

On Friday, Netanyahu addressed the U.N. General Assembly, though his speech was met with widespread walkouts from delegates.