ISRAELI PALESTINIAN CONFLICT
In the last few days, aggression between the Palestinian militant group, Hamas, and the Israelis has grown into full-fledged violence in Gaza of the Middle East. Over the past decades, tensions have grown exponentially, as Israel continuously occupied Gaza, a Palestinian city in the Gaza strip, and committed war crimes of isolation (Human Rights Watch). On the other hand, Israel is the religious homeland for the Jewish population, which has received near constant oppression by Palestinians through most of history - not excusing, but allowing us to understand the relationship between these two nations. For more information about the history, refer to Timeline: The Palestinian and Israeli Conflict, Explained - The New York Times by Emma Bubola, as well as The Israel-Palestine Conflict - A Simple Guide by Al Jazeera.
The recent violence has sprung from the Hamas group, a military faction of the Palestinian government led by Yehia Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh. Citizens of Israel have had their schools, concerts, and homes striked with bombs and missiles nearly continuously for the last three days. Raping, public massacres, and parading death is common. In retaliation, Israel has begun air-strikes onto the Gaza Strip. War was officially declared on Sunday by Israel, and the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) has engaged in a complete siege of Gaza. As of Monday October 9, the overall death toll is 1500, and still rising.
While the US will continue to support Israel, the government has already declared that it will not be actively engaging or sending troops. Conflict with the Middle East has been a controversial topic between polar right and left-wing American politics, and with the 2024 presidential elections it is likely that the war will play an influential role in the future of the nation. In terms of other countries, Iran is backing Hamas, but most other countries have not taken any action. The international tensions due to Ukraine, China, and Russia, etc. means that many nations are not willing to risk involvement.
Since the attacks on the Twin Towers in 2001, there has been widespread hatred and fear surrounding Muslims and the Middle-Eastern cultures. Anti-Semitism, hostility and injustice towards Jews, also continues to be a prominent issue. Much of the Jewish population has claimed terrorism as the Hamas attack, rape, and hold many families hostage. The war has also been the most Jews killed in one day since the Holocaust. However, it is also extremely important to recognize the opposing perspective. Israel for years has been committing official war crimes against Gaza, ruining water supplies and often cutting off cities from access to food. Furthermore, Israel has a long-lasting history of hate crimes against Muslims, gassing crowds, bombing mosques (notably Al-Asqa the last two years), and targeting Muslims especially during Maghrib during Ramadan or prayer - actively disrupting sacred religious practices. These attacks on both sides have stemmed from a complex and nuanced history that cannot be fully summarized through a post.
There is no clear answer as to who is in the right in this war, but it is important to stay updated with all the facts and view the situation from different perspectives - learning about the history, current events, and how this will affect the future for the world.
When approaching the topic, we must consider the different backgrounds, experiences, and knowledge that each person has. Although we won’t always find common ground, we must recognize that every life matters. The longer war and hatred progresses, the more Israeli and Palestinian lives impacted and lost.
Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-gaza-attack-10-08-23/index.html?tab=Catch%20Up
https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-gaza-attack-10-09-23/index.html
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/10/07/world/israel-gaza-attack
https://www.allsides.com/unbiased-balanced-news
https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/israeli-palestinian-conflict
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/07/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-conflict-timeline.html
