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After Hamas gunmen assaulted Israel from the Gaza Strip on 7 October, killing and injuring many, Israel retaliated and destroyed what was once a peaceful city. But who exactly is Hamas? And why are they engaging in conflict with Israel?
Palestine and Israel have long since had a rivalry over territory, especially regarding Jerusalem as the capital city. Although a Palestinian territory, Israel occupied Gaza in the 1967 War and remained there until 2005, building Jewish settlements. After Israel withdrew its troops and settlers, it retained significant control in the area. The two countries have deep-seated prejudices towards each other as well as differing views. They disagree on various issues including the question of Palestinian refugees, whether this control in Gaza should be removed, and of course, to whom Jerusalem – a holy Islamic territory – belongs.
Israeli-Palestinian relations are interspersed with outbreaks of violence, with Israel accelerating their takeover into Palestinian territory.
This is where the Islamist Palestinian terrorist organisation Hamas comes in, a group committed to the destruction of Israel and the liberation of Palestine at any cost. Their victory in Palestinian elections has afforded them a position of power in Gaza. Since then, Israel has maintained a blockade on the Gaza Strip in an effort to isolate Hamas and put an end to attacks, resulting only in further violence between Gaza and Israel. This recent and brutal conflict, killing thousands in Gaza, is another Israeli effort to stifle Hamas.
Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry details about nine thousand citizens dead and twenty thousand wounded, with the majority being women and children. The World Health Organization has additionally categorised the medical situation in Gaza to be an “imminent catastrophe”, as facilities are not functioning as well as necessary.
The Middle-Eastern conflict scares many in the neighbouring countries who wonder when this fighting will come to an end. While the UN offers humanitarian aid to the thousands suffering, only time will tell when this awful war will come to an end, and which state will prevail.
Image: Gaza, 2020 // CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
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