As violence across the Gaza Strip continues, tensions between Hamas and Israel have mounted in the region.
On Friday, the Israeli military carried out a series of airstrikes to respond to a series of rocket and mortar fire that had been launched from Gaza earlier in the day. Additionally, Hamas and other militants responded with more rocket fire, both in the form of rockets and mortars, on Israeli settlements and military forces in the area. In response, Israeli troops have launched significant retaliatory strikes against Gaza.
In response to the rising violence, international calls for restraint have been made. However, these calls have thus far had little impact. According to Defense Minister Benny Gantz, the Israeli military will not be stopping its strikes “until the aggressions by Hamas stop and terror attacks against Israeli citizens are halted.”
As the fighting has escalated, there has also been a spike in civilian losses in the Palestinian Territory. With the amount of now-destroyed infrastructure, and the lack of access to medical care, the amount of people who have been killed and wounded has reached levels not seen in 12 years.
On the other hand, Israel has also suffered losses due to Hamas rocket fire, with the most recent death of an Israeli soldier at the hands of a rocket fired from Gaza.
With both sides now entrenched in their positions, and the number of lost lives continuing to grow, the focus now must turn to finding a diplomatic solution. The international community in particular must step up and help to address the underlying causes of the conflict and to prevent any further escalation of violence.
The current tensions are both the result of long-running grievances on both sides, and a sign of the desperation in Gaza. In the pursuit of a lasting peace, all sides must be willing to mutually agree to a solution that will provide all the people of the region with the safety, security, and economic stability that will ensure a place in the Middle East for both Israel and Palestine.