Three years have passed since Hamas's attack triggered the ongoing war in Gaza, a conflict during which Israel's military might has failed to achieve its stated political objectives. Despite unleashing unprecedented destruction and causing over 74,000 deaths, Israel appears unable to translate its military superiority into political reality.

The conflict, initiated by Hamas's attack, saw Israel mobilize its military and Western allies in a campaign that devastated Gaza. The Israeli army targeted not only resistance fighters but also the civilian population through massacres and widespread destruction. This campaign has resulted in over 74,000 deaths and more than 180,000 injuries, alongside the starvation of the population and the destruction of critical infrastructure.

If the measure of military success is the achievement of political aims, then the ongoing carnage in Gaza indicates a failure. Israel's initial goals included freeing captives, eliminating Palestinian resistance, imposing security control over Gaza, and establishing an alternative administration, potentially paving the way for Palestinian expulsion.

However, the outcomes suggest otherwise. While Hamas has released captives, the Israeli army managed to free only a small fraction, with many released through negotiations. The vast majority of captives, both living and deceased, were freed after intense diplomatic efforts with Hamas, indicating military force's ineffectiveness in this regard.

Furthermore, Israel has been unable to end the presence of Palestinian resistance in Gaza. Despite extensive military operations and the assassination of many leaders, Hamas continues to control parts of the Strip. This has forced Israel into negotiations for Hamas's disarmament rather than achieving it through military means.

While the Israeli army has occupied 60 percent of Gaza, it has not undertaken a full-scale operation to take over the entire territory, suggesting a lack of a clear endgame or the capacity to manage such an expansion.

Experts note that the destruction of Gaza's infrastructure, including healthcare and education systems, and the devastation of life-sustaining facilities, have created a humanitarian catastrophe. The long-term implications for regional stability and the potential for further radicalization remain significant concerns.

The conflict raises critical questions about the effectiveness of overwhelming military power in achieving complex political objectives, particularly in densely populated urban environments with entrenched resistance movements. The path forward for Gaza and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains uncertain.