What’s Happening in Israel? A Question Guide
If you’ve been on the internet in the last couple of days, you might have seen various articles, infographics, and statements about the conflict in the Gaza Strip. While this may feel out of left field for those who don’t know the history of the area—tensions have been accumulating over the past several decades. But the bottom line is, what’s happening in Israel now, and what does it mean for the future?
Saturday, October 7th, 2023
Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, launched a coordinated attack on the Gaza Strip during Simchat Torah resulting in over 900 Israelis being killed or taken hostage, and leaving over 2,150 Israelis wounded due to airstrikes or gunmen.
Who is Hamas?
Classified as a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States, and the European Union—Hamas is a Palestinian militant group focused on taking control of Israel and replacing it with an Islamic State. Working together with Iran and Egypt, Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007 and claimed the land for Palestine.
When did this conflict begin?
Palestinians and Israelis have been fighting over claims to the “Holy Land” for decades. The “Holy Land,” refers to the Middle Eastern region with religious significance to Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
This land, comprised of The West Bank and Gaza, has been known to be Palestinian territories since Roman times. However, Israel declared this land mass as a part of their state in 1948.
Since then, hundreds of thousands of Jewish Israelis have migrated to this area, resulting in the displacement of Palestinian natives. “Palestinian Arabs say Jews have usurped their ancestral homeland with help from Western powers, including the United States and the United Kingdom,” The Council on Foreign Relations notes. “The Israeli-Palestinian dispute has continually flared into conflict, including multistate wars, armed uprisings (intifadas), and terrorist acts.”
Why now?
While the October 7th attack was unprecedented, the situation does not warrant surprise. BBC states, “This year has been the deadliest year on record for Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, which could have motivated Hamas to strike Israel with a spectacular attack.”
The Israeli captives taken were likely a move by Hamas to pressure Israel into releasing the Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, with the total count being over 4,500 prisoners.
The next steps
As of today, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have called for reinforcements in the area and are preparing for the potential of war. Israel has placed “Operation Swords of Iron” in motion, as they’ve declared war on Hamas.
With reporting of new military positions and war development possibilities coming to the media every hour—the conflict may turn at any moment, with hundreds of lives at stake for their country and their homes.