Update On The War Between Israel and Gaza
The one-year mark of the war in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, recently passed. Over the span of the year, there have been over 42,000 casualties in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. On October 7, protests, demonstrations, and vigils were held to commemorate those who have lost their lives in the past year. Although protests have been frequent, Prime Minister Netanyahu has maintained he is not looking for a ceasefire deal. Additionally, the Israeli Defense Forces have begun to make moves on countries such as Lebanon and Yemen to eliminate threats posed to Israel.
As of September 30, Israel began targeted ground raids in Lebanon, as a means of eliminating specific Hezbollah targets. The ground raid is taking place in villages close to the border, so as to protect communities in northern Israel. After the killing of Hasan Nasrallah, there has been a plea of international appeal to restraint; Prime Minister Netanyahu, however, is determined to eliminate any organizations he deems a threat to Israel’s democracy (The Washington Post).
In the Gaza strip, a humanitarian crisis persists as bombings and ground raids continue. There are over a million people displaced, living in encampments in both the Gaza Strip and West Bank. Netanyahu has been urged by multiple countries including the U.S. to limit the amounts of civilian deaths. There has been a confirmed outbreak of Poliovirus cases as well as over 40,000 confirmed cases of Hepatitis A – typically contracted after the ingestion of contaminated water (BBC).
The UN General Assembly officially passed a resolution that calls for Israel to withdraw its presence in the occupied Palestinian territories within a twelve-month period. The resolution passed 124-14 and 43 abstentions; the U.S. and Israel both voted against the resolution. The Palestinian UN ambassador called the vote a turning point for the country’s efforts of justice. Netanyahu claimed it as “diplomatic terrorism,” (BBC).
The Israeli Defense Minister planned to travel to DC on October 9, for talks in the Pentagon relating to the death toll in Gaza. However, with the start of their ground campaign in Lebanon the trip was postponed to October 12. During the talks, the Israel and U.S. Defense Ministers discussed Israel’s growing conflict with Lebanon. The U.S. sent about 100 troops and an antimissile defense system to Israel. There is currently no resolution in sight as the war continues to persist and expand. There are consistent protests internationally, each calling for a ceasefire deal along with the release of the rest of the hostages.
