Three years after 7 October 2023, the large-scale phase of Israel’s assault has receded under the October 2025 ceasefire framework, but Palestinians continue to be killed, large parts of Gaza remain under Israeli control, movement is heavily restricted, reconstruction has barely begun and much of the population remains displaced. In this episode of The Brief In podcast, we ask what life in Gaza actually looks like today, and whether the so-called ceasefire has ended the war or simply transformed it into a less visible system of military control, intermittent attacks and permanent emergency. We examine the struggle for shelter, healthcare, education and basic services; the restrictions holding back reconstruction; Israel’s continuing territorial control; and the unresolved question of who will govern Gaza. We also look at the ICC and ICJ, Palestinian detainees, the global Palestine solidarity movement, the political impact of Gaza in Britain, and whether journalism itself has changed after three years of unprecedented scrutiny. Finally, we ask the most important question: what would need to change before Palestinians could genuinely say the war was over?And after three years of destruction, are two states still a viable route to Palestinian self-determination, or has the moment arrived for a deeper debate about one state, equal rights and transitional justice?