The world watches as the escalating conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group known as Hamas becomes more detrimental. The conflict has reached unprecedented levels of violence and tension, not just in that region but globally. The situation that unfolded has roots that can be dated back decades.
The Recent Escalation Explanation
The recent outbreak of violence, on October 7th, 2023, began when Hamas launched an attack on Israel by air, sea, and land. The attack was significant due to its element of surprise and its scale. Militants fired thousands of rockets toward Israeli towns. Hamas also managed to breach Israel’s heavily fortified border, causing widespread destruction.
The surprise assault has resulted in more than 1,200 deaths so far in Israel, according to Israel Defense Forces (IDF). According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, Israel struck back by launching devastating airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, which has resulted in over 1055 deaths so far, including several women and children.
The situation became worse when Hamas militants claimed that they took hostages and threatened to kill them if Israel launched further airstrikes without prior warning. Due to the surprise attack by Hamas, Israel declared war on Hamas, launching “Operation Swords of Iron,” where they struck different targets in the Gaza Strip like suspected Islamic Jihad targets. This unprecedented attack has led to a complete siege on Gaza with no electricity, food, fuel, or water deliveries. This has put the already suffering population in Gaza in even more dire circumstances.
Historical Context
The tensions between Israelis and Palestinians have deep historical roots that date back to the establishment of Israel in 1948. Israel captured Gaza from Egypt in 1967 and then withdrew its troops in 2005. After the 2007 civil war, Hamas gained control over the territory, leading Israel and Egypt to impose a siege on Gaza. This has caused them to suffer in dire living conditions. Hamas and Israel have conflicted for several years, and this build-up has led to the events that transpired recently.
What is Hamas?
Hamas is officially known as the Islamic Resistance Movement. It views Israel as an occupying power and is committed to liberating Palestinian territories. Hamas considers Israel an illegitimate state and calls for its downfall. Hamas refuses to engage with Israel in peace talks where there is a two-state solution. Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the EU, and Israel. It has been said that Hamas receives support from Iran, which has raised concerns as it involves more nations in the ongoing conflict.
Global Impact/Tensions
This conflict has had a global impact with Israel mobilizing troops for an attack on Gaza, and Hamas has taken civilian hostages. The United States has backed Israel by sending in additional military assets. However, they are also limited in their response due to the House not having a speaker. Israel’s relations with its neighboring countries also add to this predicament, as it is still at war with Lebanon and Syria.
Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group, has expressed support for Hamas, which is backed by Iran. This raises further concerns for escalation in the global spectrum. More countries being involved in this conflict can make matters worse and have an impact on people all over the world. Finding a peaceful resolution to this conflict continues to be a difficult task.
