In early October 2023, a Palestinian political and militant group, Hamas, launched an attack on Israel. The initial attack left over one thousand civilians dead as well as thousands more injured. Israel fought back and launched attacks on Hamas; since the beginning of October, these two nations have been launching attacks and fighting each other. Many civilians have been caught in the middle of this war, resulting in lives lost, people injured, and families torn apart..
Due to how many people have been caught in the crosshairs of this war, some were taken by Hamas as hostages. Hamas has an estimated 200 hostages in their custody. However, on November 24, 2023, a ceasefire was agreed upon. This truce was initially decided for a few days but ended up being negotiated. As the initial truce ended, an extension of the initial one was agreed to on November 30 for an additional 24 hours. However, this ceasefire ended on December 1, with Israel resuming airstrikes on Gaza, a Hamas-controlled territory.
When looking at this temporary truce, it is crucial to look at it with a positive mindset. Many media outlets and individuals have agreed that this truce brings light into a dark situation. Dr. Astorian agrees, stating, “It’s good that people were released, and it shows that a truce is possible.” However, when looking at the larger picture, it isn’t easy to see how a ceasefire for a more extended period is plausible, given the situation and its history.
The larger picture of this situation goes back decades, even centuries. Post WWII, the two nations have gone back and forth butting heads for decades until October. Israel’s main request has been to be recognized as a Jewish state. However, Palestine refuses to accept the state of Israel. After WWII, Israel was formed from part of Palestinian land, and this has upset Palestine for decades. This conflict has been the source of much of the dispute that has flared over the years, especially in the past two months. When looking at the history of the conflict and how it relates to the current and future of the ongoing dispute, it is hard to see how an end could be possible.
Many people are trying to educate themselves on the conflict and keep updated with the events as they unfold. But as people learn more and more, it becomes harder and harder to see an end to the current situation. Student L Arrowood (11) states, “I would like to say that the ceasefire is working towards peace, but based on the current situation, I think it isn’t and that it is going to be a long fight.” Another student, Sadie Crowder (11), agrees, “There is no winning right now.”
In the future, staying in the loop with daily events is vital. However, ensure you get information from various sources to understand the situation best. No one knows what will happen next, but as we look to the future, something needs to change to see any real change.
