From 7 October to the present day: the three years that changed the Middle East, in 30 key dates

A massive ground assault has begun in the centre of Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are fleeing.

Iran launches a major attack using drones and missiles against Israel, which responds five days later with retaliatory air strikes.

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has requested arrest warrants for Hamas leaders on charges of war crimes. The same request has also been made for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the then Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, is killed in Tehran.

The IDF has announced the death of Mohammed Deif, commander of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.

In Lebanon and Syria, thousands of pagers belonging to Hezbollah militiamen and leaders exploded simultaneously, killing 10 people and injuring thousands.

The leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, is killed in a massive raid in Beirut.

Iran attacks Israel with hundreds of missiles in response to the killings of Haniyeh and Nasrallah.

The Israeli invasion of Lebanon begins.

In Rafah, Yahya Sinwar, Haniyeh’s successor and the elusive leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, was killed.

The IDF has announced the death of Nasrallah’s alleged successor, Hashem Safieddine.

A ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, brokered by the United States, has been reached.

Trump announces an agreement between Israel and Hamas for a second ceasefire and a prisoner exchange, which comes into effect on the 19th. Thirty-three hostages, including eight bodies, are exchanged for nearly two thousand Palestinian prisoners.

Alcuni visitatori si recano al memoriale di Re'im dedicato alle vittime del festival musicale Nova, vicino al confine con Gaza, nel sud di Israele, il 4 ottobre 2026. Israele commemora il terzo anniversario degli attacchi del 7 ottobre 2023 guidati da Hamas. EPA/ABIR SULTAN

Israel resumes bombing Gaza.

A 12-day blitzkrieg between Israel and Iran breaks out. Tehran responds by targeting US bases in Qatar and military and civilian targets in Israel.

Trump announces a truce. According to an NGO, the war has caused over a thousand deaths in Iran and 28 in Israel.

The UN has declared a state of famine in Gaza.

Israel strikes Hamas leaders in the heart of Doha.

Israel has launched a large-scale ground operation in the Strip, with tanks entering Gaza City. Almost one million Palestinians have been displaced.

Trump has unveiled a 20-point peace plan which calls for the release of hostages, the disarmament of Hamas, an end to the Israeli offensive in Gaza, the withdrawal of the IDF and the establishment of a Board of Peace to manage the Strip, led by the US President himself.

Following intense negotiations in Sharm, Trump announced an agreement on the first phase of the talks, involving the release of the 20 hostages still alive, some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, a ceasefire and an initial withdrawal of the IDF from the towns in the Gaza Strip, excluding Rafah, and 400 lorries of aid per day.

Hamas hands over the 20 living hostages and the first four bodies of the deceased hostages to the Red Cross. Israel releases 1,996 Palestinian prisoners.

The Board of Peace was officially founded by President Trump during the World Economic Forum in Davos.

After 843 days in captivity, Israeli forces locate and repatriate the body of Ran Gvili, the last of the Israeli civilians to have been abducted.

An agreement, brokered by the US administration, has come into force for a new 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.

The United States draws up a “Phase 2” plan, including a memorandum of understanding on the disarmament of Hamas. Netanyahu rejects it, calling for “total and verifiable” disarmament. Two rounds of talks on peace in Lebanon take place in Rome (14–15 July and 4–6 August).

Israel is stepping up air raids on the Gaza Strip. International organisations are denouncing a catastrophic health crisis.

At least 21 Palestinians, including 12 children, were killed when a dilapidated building collapsed in Gaza.

I partecipanti al funerale trasportano le salme della palestinese Maisaa Abu Dawood e di sua figlia Mary, uccise in un attacco aereo israeliano nelle prime ore del mattino, durante la cerimonia funebre presso la Chiesa di San Porfirio nella città di Gaza, sabato 3 ottobre 2026. (Foto AP/Jehad Alshrafi) Associated Press/ LaPresse Solo Italia e Spagna

Unveiled in New York: reconstruction plan for Gaza was unveiled in New York.

Netanyahu is accused of having been warned in 2023 by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt of an imminent attack by Hamas. The Prime Minister denies this and shifts the blame onto the intelligence services. Ronen Bar, the former director of the Shin Bet, has announced that he will file a defamation claim.