What’s going on?
Israel officially declared war Sunday, October 8th, as it bombarded the Gaza Strip with airstrikes in retaliation of the persistent Hamas attacks. The declaration was made a day after an unexpected incursion by Hamas’ militia who blew through a fortified border fence and mercilessly gunned down civilians and soldiers in Israeli communities occupied along the Gaza frontier during the celebration of the Jewish holiday Simchat Torah.
This war is fueled by religious motivations as well as geo-political discrepancies, so history repeats itself once again.
What is the Gaza Strip and why is it important?
The Gaza Strip-– located on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean sea, and the Western coast of Israel— is a 25 miles by 10km section of land which is heavily monitored by the Israeli government on its borders, but also stands as part of the territory of Palestine.
Israel also occupies the West Bank, although that land too is considered to be a part of the territory of Palestine.
The issue is that Palestine wants to acquire more land, and therefore, wants to eradicate the presence of the Israelis from their territory as well as extend its borders.
Who is Hamas?
HAMAS–the acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya (meaning: Islamic Resistance Movement)—is the largest and most capable militant group in the Palestinian territories and one of the two major political parties of Palestine.
The United States and European Union has designated Hamas as a terrorist organization from as early as 1997.
What did Hamas do?
Prior to the declaration of war, Hamas sent thousands of missiles into the Gaza strip. After days of unthinkable crimes such as the killing of babies, and elderly people, the burning of homes/public facilities, and general masacres, the Israeli army hastily made arrangements for retaliation. The Israeli government sent a warning to any occupants in the Gaza strip, for both Israelis and Palestinians, to evacuate the area within 24-hours. After this period, the Israeli military force effectively leveled Gaza in an attempt to weaken and destroy Hamas.
Historical Timeline of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
