Conflict Reemerges in Israel
Early October Attacks Result in Ongoing Struggle
On October 7th, Palestinian political organization Hamas began Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, sparking new conflict in Israel. Hamas announced that it had launched over “5,000 missiles and shells,” along with infantry that breached points in the Israeli security barriers around Gaza. This initial assault resulted in roughly 1,400 Israeli casualties reported according to Reuters, with the majority being civilians. Another 240 Israelis were taken captive by Hamas. Israel promptly responded later that morning, with an Israeli military spokesperson stating that their air force was carrying out a counter attack in Gaza around 10:00 AM, according to Al-Jazeera. In the ensuing conflict, Israel’s continued bombardment has caused nearly 9,700 Palestinian deaths.
This is the latest conflict in a decades long history of tension in the area between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea. Originating in 1947, when the United Nations General Assembly devised a plan to divide Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states. According to Reuters, Jewish leaders accepted the proposal that gave them 56 percent of the land, while the Arab League rejected it. Beginning with the 1948 Arab-Israeli war that instituted the state of Israel, there have been 8 major conflicts between the two groups until Hamas’ victory in the 2006 Palestinian Parliamentary election. It was Hamas’ first time participating, and the last time the elections were held. Since 2008, Israel has led 5 assaults on Gaza, including ongoing attacks today.
These events have raised many concerns in the global community. According to a United Nations press release, UN human rights experts have declared the bombings of Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City that killed more than 470 civilians as “an atrocity.” The experts are looking into “serious humanitarian and legal concerns” that have arisen in Israel. “The complete siege of Gaza coupled with unfeasible evacuation orders and forcible population transfers, is a violation of international humanitarian and criminal law,” the experts said. “We are sounding the alarm: There is an ongoing campaign by Israel resulting in crimes against humanity in Gaza. Considering statements made by Israeli political leaders and their allies, accompanied by military action in Gaza and escalation of arrests and killing in the West Bank, there is also a risk of genocide against the Palestinian People,” they continued. They also made a statement on Hamas: “We strongly condemn the horrific crimes committed by Hamas, the deliberate and widespread killing and hostage-taking of innocent civilians, including older persons and children. These actions constitute heinous violations of international law and international crimes, for which there must be urgent accountability,” the experts said. The UN now calls for an agreement of ceasefire and a release of hostages on both sides, hoping to bring an end to the fighting.
There is also concern from middle eastern journalists about bias in western media. “You don’t hear the word ‘victims’ [in reference to Palestinians] as you hear [when there is reporting] about the Israeli side,” media analyst Taghreed El-Khodary explained in an interview for an Al-Jazeera article. In the same article, the UK’s Times reported an email they received: “While the BBC has used words such as ‘massacre’, ‘slaughter’ and ‘atrocities’ when describing Hamas’s attack on Israel, it has refrained from describing Israel’s bombardment of Gaza in a similarly negative way.”
The world will continue to watch as new events unfold in this historically tumultuous region.