It is important to understand both points of view during this conflict, on one side the Israelis, have faced discrimination and persecution across all of Europe, and since the early 19th century, the development of Zionism has grown, advocating for the return to their homeland. By the time the holocaust happened, there was already a sizable Jewish population in the region, and so, even more refugees would migrate to Israel. On the other side, the Palestinians have been living in the region for hundreds of years, and the sudden influx of Israeli refugees would displace them. The conflict would further grow after the Arab-Israeli war and Six day war, where the Palestinian land was further decreased, and Gaza and the West bank were under permanent Israeli occupation, by then the First and Second Intifada had happened, with riots and protests against Israeli governance.
On October 7, the coalition of Palestinian insurgents, led by Hamas, would lead an invasion from Gaza into Israel; on that day, around 1,400 Israelis died, most of the casualties being civilians. As of now, the ongoing conflict has seen nearly 10,000 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces. However, .+these weren’t unorganized assaults, militants would target key points such as police stations, electricity grids, as well as checkpoints. In order to keep the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) separated and confused. As the militants made a pathway of occupied territory towards Ashkelon, where they most likely intended to storm the prison where hundreds of Palestinians were kept incarcerated.
Israeli counterattacks in retaliation against Hamas would be seen as controversial, as many would question the actions of the IDF and Israeli government. First, Israel would issue something called collective punishment, where Israel had cut off food, electricity, and water to the entirety of Gaza. Many had called against this act, such as the Impartial Human Rights Organization, Amnesty International who has said, *“The collective punishment of Gaza’s civilian population amounts to a war crime – It is cruel and inhumane.” A collection of other organizations and governments would call out the state on its actions.
As the conflict expands more notes will arrive soon, to be continued…
