The Gaza Crisis has been ongoing since the start of the 21st Century. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have found themselves subject to extreme bombardment from the Israeli military in response to increasing transgressions made by Hamas. The latest episode of conflict has seen bombings and high-precision aerial attacks by both parties, with both sides unwilling to compromise.
This prolonged conflict has posed a humanitarian crisis for the Palestinians residing in the Gaza Strip. The past decade has seen a series of brief ceasefire moments, often followed by an unbalanced rejoinder by the Israelis to perceived or real acts of aggression from Hamas. It has been reported that the most recent Hamas attack included the launch of more than 30 rockets from the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Crisis has become increasingly more complex with the participation of other militant groups such as Islamic Jihad, the Palestinian Islamic Movement, and other regional countries including Qatar, Turkey, and Lebanon.
The bombardment by the Israeli Air Force has been relentless, particularly in the southern strip of the Gaza Strip. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more than 500 Gazan civilians have been killed since the start of this combat and over 24,000 have been injured. In addition to the immense physical damage inflicted, food and basic necessities continue to be difficult to obtain as new restrictions have been imposed on the Strip’s entryways.
In addition to the devastating physical destruction, the emotional and mental effects of this crisis have been worse. In a region where populations have been segregated and where access to opportunities is often denied, the Palestinian youth are facing the effects of this disaster. Traumatized by the persistent violence, children are growing up with mental and social scars that will remain long after this conflict has ended.
For a resolution to this conflict to become possible, both sides must come into a power sharing agreement. The question is if Israeli and Hamas will be willing to put aside ideological differences to deescalate the situation and work together for peace. Until that is realized, the Gaza crisis continues to grow to become more intense and dire with every day.