Palestinian terrorist organization, “Hamas,” attacked the Israeli-Gaza border on Oct. 7 of this year, sparking the current Israeli-Palestinian war. The conflict has been a long time coming, and is one of five wars that has occurred between the nations.
Disputes over the land have continued for thousands of years between the various religions that occupy the terrority, but the official Israeli-Palestinian conflict began on May 14, 1948 when Israel was proclaimed to be a state. Following the events of WWII, where Nazi Germany executed Genocide against the Jewish people, the nation of Israel was formed. It was decided that the Jewish people needed a nation of their own, after the enduring persecution and almost eradication during the war.
However, the land chosen to become the residence of the new Jewish nation was already home to the nation of Palestine. The land is important to many different religions as it is known as the Holy Land, held sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Due to the creation of Israel, there has been a Jewish and Arab conflict over who controls the area. These conflicts have led to decades of warfare and violence between Israel and Palestine.
The nation of Palestine was given control of small areas of the territory that was originally theirs, such as the Gaza Strip. Palestinians have faced decades of oppression from the Israeli government, and have constantly fought to gain their freedom.
In 1987, during the start of the first Palestinian uprising, a group called Hamas was formed. Hamas is an acronym for “Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya,” its English translation being the “Islamic Resistance Movement.” Hamas is now considered to be a terrorist organization.
Last year videos surfaced of Israeli bombings on Palestinian civilians, and a call to freedom with the people of Palestine began. The conflict has continued to grow in pressure and finally burst. Hamas committed unprecedented acts of violence on October 7. The militant terrorist group entered from the Israel border from the Gaza Strip. There were reports of children being killed, even babies. Hamas also took many hostages, some of the hostages being United States citizens.
Israel responded with their military, planning to “wipe out every Hamas soldier,” and bring home all of the hostages taken by Hamas. President Biden reported that he expected there to be zero civilian Palestinian deaths in Israel’s response, but over 11,000 Palestinians have been reported to have died as of Nov. 10, in Gaza. The UN called Gaza “a children’s graveyard,” the UN chief calling for an immediate ceasefire. “The nightmare in Gaza is more than a humanitarian crisis. It is a crisis of humanity,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres told reporters in New York.
Many sides can be taken to the issue that is taking place. Some may argue that what Hamas did was warranted because Palestinians have endured years of oppression. Others may argue that Israel has the right to defend itself against the terrorist organization. Either way, putting sides aside, it is an undeniable fact that many innocent people are being killed in Palestine.
Violence against innocent civilians is entirely immoral. It is estimated that 4,104 children have died in Gaza, that is 100 children killed every day on average. Children are blameless, and have done nothing to deserve what is happening to them. The most recent conflict started with the deaths of many civilian Israelis, however the war has mainly affected the lives Palestinian children.
