On October 7 2023, military stationed in Gaza fired thousands of rockets and bombs towards Israeli towns. Hamas then broke through the border fence and entered Israel killing 1,400 people and taking 200 hostages which included children and the elderly. Hamas called this operation “Al-Aqsa Storm,” which was unpredictable and gruesomely violent. In response to the attack, Israel declared war against Palestine and launched “Operation Swords of Iron”. But how did this escalate so quickly, and what does this mean for the United States?
The History Between Israel and Palestine
The Gaza strip has been the cause of violence for decades between the two powers, dating back before Israel’s founding in 1948. Israel held Gaza under their control after capturing it from Egypt in 1967. After withdrawing their troops in 2005, Hamas eventually took control of the city, home to almost 2 million Palestinians. Since then, fighting has continued between Israel and Palestine with their last war being in 2021 which lasted 11 days, and was far less devastating, with 250 deaths in Gaza and 13 in Israel.
What is Hamas?
Hamas, a group of Islamic fundamentalists, is recognized as a terrorist organization by the United States, Israel, and Britain along with other European nations. Hamas believes Israel to be an “occupying power” (power controlling territories outside their own) and believes in liberating the Palestinian territories from Israel’s rule.
They arose in 1987 during the uprising of a man named Shelkh Ahmed Yassin. Yassin had begun work in Gaza and the West Bank during the 1960’s and 1970’s, setting up charities, clinics, and schools. In 2004, he was killed in an airstrike and Hamas, in attempt to liberate their believed “innocent” leader, began carrying out bombings towards Israeli military and civilians. Since then, the bloodshed has not stopped between the two, and Hamas has increasingly moved away from their original morals. Before, Hamas was operating a social welfare program throughout Gaza and the West Bank running schools, soup kitchens, and hospitals. But after running in the Palestinian parliamentary polls in 2006 and winning the majority, tensions between Hamas and the original Palestinian authority grew. The government declared a state of emergency in 2007 allowing Hamas to take control and turning the strip into a war zone “forcing Israeli citizens to live under unbearable circumstances” according to The Israel Defense Forces.
The Issue
This outbreak has created a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Israel has blocked shipments of basic supplies through the strip such as water and fuel and many crossings out of the territory have been shut down, locking Gazans inside. Today, many civilians are at an increased risk of starvation, diseases, and death as the number of bombings and ground offensives continue to grow in both strength and numbers. At least 5,000 people have been killed in the past two weeks, and more continue to be taken as hostages. There is no information where those prisoners are located as of yet.
The attack on Israel has brought consequences globally and could be devastating for the rest of the Middle East. Other terrorist groups such as Hezbollah are backing up Hamas’s actions and Iran is also believed to be involved with Palestine’s efforts. The violence has also caused the United States to get involved. After hearing of Hezbollah’s involvement, President Biden on October 10 2023 ordered the U.S Central Command to dispatch a carrier strike group towards the Mediterranean Sea in hopes of keeping other nations out of the conflict. The military aid package included many means of action and is continuing to respond to requests from Israel for ammunition. The United States has also sent aid to the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, reportedly $100 million worth of food, water, and medical care.
What Does this Mean for the U.S?
As for citizens of the United States, the government has warned people not to venture internationally. Future travelers are warned to stay within the United States as more conflict arises in the Middle East and could eventually move into other territories. Flights flying in and out of Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport are approaching complete shut down, and many people are being prevented from returning home out of Israel. Delta has cancelled all flights to Tel Aviv through October 31, while American Airlines has closed contact until December 4. The United States is currently working on getting 400 to 600 U.S citizens out of Gaza, but as border crossing continues to shut down, it has become increasingly harder for convenient international travel. Depending on how long the conflict continues, it could affect international travel further into the future.
The ADM High School French Department is planning a trip to France during spring break of 2024, but if the Israeli-Palestinian conflict grows increasingly more violent, that trip could potentially become concerning to students and parents. Mrs. Lori Rezek says she isn’t too concerned about traveling overseas, but is continuing to keep up to date with their travel company as the France trip nears. “Right now France is getting ready to host the 2024 Olympics, so security in the country itself is like at an all time high which is an even safer time to travel. But I am a parent too and I understand the concern about traveling, and I am constantly checking in with the travel company and flights and everything to make sure the trip runs smoothly and that our group can stay safe,” Mrs. Rezek commented. The trip to France, which will happen in 5 months, is taking a group of 9 students and Rezek says she is super excited to go as this will be her first time visiting Paris in 5 years. She believes everything will run smoothly and right now there is no severe threat to the students or the trip.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is still continuing and getting more violent each day. It is important as citizens of the United States to be aware of the issue rising in the Middle East and how one can help the suffering of Gazans from their own home. You can donate to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which is an organization that has worked with both Israel and Palestine for many years and is considered a neutral group. Another organization you can donate to is the PCRF (Palestine Children’s Relief Fund) whose goal is to provide food, clean water, and heath care for the children in Gaza. Spread the word, be active, and be loud because the beginning of change starts now.
