The war between Israel and Hamas has lasted for more than a month now and at this point it seems unlikely that it will end soon. The conflict has seen some of the most intense fighting in the region in years, with both sides exchanging heavy artillery fire, air strikes and rockets.
It all began on May 10th, when Hamas, a Palestinian militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, launched rockets into Israel in response to a police raid on the Al- Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and the eviction of Palestinian families from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem. Since then, Israel has carried out a relentless air campaign against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, while Hamas has fired rockets into Israel.
So far, over 200 people in Israel have been killed in the conflict – the majority of them civilians – while at least 1,200 have been killed in Gaza. More than 64,000 people have also been displaced from their homes in Gaza due to the destruction caused by the Israeli air campaign.
The international community has condemned the violence and has called for a cease-fire, but neither side has yet agreed to it. Hamas is demanding an end to the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip and a recognition of Palestinian rights to self-determination, while Israel has said it will not negotiate with Hamas and insists on a complete end to hostilities.
The war has also exposed tensions between Israel and its closest allies in the region, including Egypt, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates. These countries have condemned the Israeli air strikes and urged both sides to exercise restraint.
As the conflict continues, it remains to be seen how it will ultimately be resolved. Ultimately, it’s up to the two sides to come to an agreement through negotiations, and it’s up to the international community to support an agreement that is just and lasting. In the meantime, the war continues to take its toll on civilians on both sides of the conflict.
