On Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas initiated an attack on Israel, beginning the Israel-Hamas War. Currently, over 202,800 Palestinians have died, the vast majority of this number represents civilians, mostly not involved with Hamas. Israel estimates that 1,200 Israeli citizens have died since Oct. 7 according to CSIS.
Israel cut off many humanitarian aid shipments to the citizens of Palestine shortly after the initial attack and homes, hospitals, and refugee camps have been bombed. There was a temporary ceasefire for seven days at the end of November of 2023, but missile strikes quickly resumed afterward, according to the BBC.
Many Palestinians are displaced and are sheltering in the streets without adequate supplies or medical care. Journalists still inside Palestine continue to document the state of the country, specifically people camping out in the streets under tarps and tents that do not protect citizens from the harshness of the winter, according to the Gaza Press Heroes, made up of young journalists documenting life inside of Palestine.
Palestinians have been using social media to reach an international audience, even creating TikTok filters to generate revenue. Global citizens have shared their solidarity with Palestine through the platforms and have boycotted companies, such as Starbucks, in response to their stance on the conflict.
Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024 a Hamas leader was killed in a drone strike in Lebanon, sparking additional concern of the war’s expansion throughout the Middle East, as Iran has enacted recent proxy attacks in the Red Sea. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack, but they have stated that they plan to continue these attacks until Hamas is no longer a “perceived threat,” according to PBS.
“Now, we’re working to ensure that this conflict does not escalate beyond Gaza,” Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said in a press conference with Israel’s defense minister on Dec. 18. “But as we are driving to stabilize the region, Iran is raising tensions by continuing to support terrorist groups and militias.”
After over ninety days of conflict, the Israeli military has announced that they will be removing some of their forces from the Gaza Strip, according to NPR. However, despite international protests, there is no plan announced for a ceasefire. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said to a military unit that Israel will “do everything to restore security” according to Israel’s government services site.
Some Israeli officials have suggested the “resettlement” of Palestinians after the war ends, however the Israeli government’s official policy, and the United States has denounced such rhetoric.
“We have been clear, consistent, and unequivocal that Gaza is Palestinian land and will remain Palestinian land, with Hamas no longer in control of its future and with no terror groups able to threaten Israel,” U.S. Department of State, Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a press statement on Jan. 2. “That is the future we seek, in the interests of Israelis and Palestinians, the surrounding region, and the world.”
While Palestine and Israel have had a continuous conflict for almost a century, this series of attacks adds to a long history of ongoing violence between both countries.
