Gaza: An Ongoing Conflict

This article was co-written by Avery Corbett.

Gaza, a narrow strip of land that lies between Israel and Egypt, is home to over two million Palestinians. This densely populated area has been the center of geopolitical tensions for years, and recent events have further pushed Gaza into more conflict. The ongoing fight between Gaza and Israel has led to a cycle of violence and caused immense suffering for the civilian population.

Understanding the Gaza conflict requires recognizing the historical context, the perspective of both Israel and Palestine and the ongoing challenges to maintain peace and stability within the region. The issue directly impacts millions of people and it remains one of the most sensitive and contested conflicts in the world. 

Conflict between Israel and Palestine can be traced back to after World War I, when Great Britain seized control of what is modern day Palestine after the fall of the Ottoman empire. This land was mainly occupied by Arabians, with only a minority of Jewish, as well as other ethnic groups. According to Aljazeera, a news website, tensions rose between Jewish and Arab inhabitants after the British agreed to start a “national home” for Jews in Palestine called the Balfour Declaration on November 2nd, 1917. This caused pushback from the Arab populations already living there, as they had already claimed the land. The Jewish population had other historical ties, the Zionist movement’s goal of  having a national home.

According to Office of the Historian, the first official conflict started when Israel declared independence in 1948. The very next day, it was invaded and surrounded by 5 different Arab nations, which led to the land being divided. As reported by Britannica, in 1967, a conflict known as the Six-Day War refined the borders of Israel into what we know today. This included the Gaza strip. However, Israel has also since annexed territories East Jerusalem and Golan Heights, although these regions are not officially recognized as being a part of Israel by most countries.

The more recent conflict between Gaza and Israel started on October 7th, 2023, when the Palestinian militant group called “Hamas,” who Israel considers a terrorist organization, launched a large-scale surprise assault on Israel. Thousands of rockets were fired into Israel, which severely overwhelmed the country’s Iron Dome defense system. In response to this, Israel declared war.  

According to Aljazeera, over 69,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed in the conflict, and over 170,000 injured. PBS News states that there has been a severe amount of displacement within the country as well, with roughly 90% of Gaza’s residents being removed from their homes. Many displaced families have been living in overcrowded tents or makeshift shelters that are slowly deteriorating. Along with the large number in Gaza, CNN News reports that displacement has also been high in Israel, with more than 100,000 Israelis internally displaced. The numbers of deaths, injuries, and displacement continue to grow higher and higher as the war continues.

With this, Gaza is also currently under a blockade by Israel and Egypt, and has been for several years, which restricts the movement of people and goods. This blockade has had a significant impact on the economy and living conditions. It has restricted the import and export of goods, which has intensely crippled local industries, as they cannot access the necessary raw materials or export their products. Since these industries are unable to function properly, unemployment rates have drastically increased, and many people in Gaza are left without a stable income. The blockade has also restricted the amount of medical supplies and equipment that can be brought into the country, which has severely impacted the healthcare system. 

Buildings and towns in Gaza have been seriously affected as well. Bombardments and ground operations have caused widespread demolition, destroying residential buildings, schools, hospitals, and infrastructure like roads, water, and electricity networks. This makes jobs and schooling almost impossible in Gaza right now, and Palestinians are losing huge amounts of money.

Many individuals are completely unaware of the tragedies occurring in Gaza. News coverage of the war tends to only be covered during times of conflict or significant political developments. Otherwise, the day-to-day life and ongoing humanitarian situation often receive less attention. Sometimes reporters lack historical and political context about Gaza, which makes it difficult for audiences to understand the complexities of the situation. The crisis in Gaza is not getting nearly enough media coverage because most media outlets prioritize other global events based on international interests and accessibility of information from the region.

International efforts to resolve the conflict have included peace talks, ceasefire agreements, and humanitarian aid, but the conflict remains unsolved. Many countries including The United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey are throwing out peace talks as part of trying to resolve the war in Gaza. The main actions being taken to resolve the conflict are ongoing ceasefire agreements as well as some humanitarian aid, although it is all sporadic. The current plan in place for peace in Gaza is a multi-step agreement arranged by the previously mentioned nations which consists of a multiple stage ceasefire.

The war in Gaza has also extended past international deliberation and onto streets across the world in the form of protests. These protesters are calling for a permanent ceasefire, a drastic improvement in humanitarian conditions which include support for getting medical and basic living necessities. Young people have participated in a great number of these protests at schools and on college campuses, as well as on city streets by people of every background.

According to the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, The United States has been a particularly key player in the war in Gaza, providing Israel with over 21 billion dollars in military support including weapons, fighter jets, and other equipment. The U.S. has also shared intelligence with Israeli troops by performing reconnaissance missions to aid them. America has also been one of the largest powers in discussions for peace. However, the Trump administration has had decisive impacts on the conflict by brokering the current ceasefire. They are also working with other nations on the early plans for lasting peace and being an enforcer on both the ceasefire and deal for peace. The situation in Gaza remains urgent, demanding global attention and action to support the peace and protect innocent lives.