Two months ago Hamas first targeted Israel on October 7th, 2023. Although there was a brief ceasefire, war now continues in Gaza as millions are displaced from their homes, buisnesses, and families. The Palistinean death toll as of December 9, was 17,700 with over two-thirds of the casualties being women and children.
The humanitarian crisis is still at the forefront of people’s minds especially after the brief ceasefire from November 24th-30th. During that time over 100 hostages that Hamas had taken from Israel were returned home. In return for every 1 hostage returned by Hamas, the Israeli government would release approximately 3 prisoners from Israel’s Ofer prison in the West Bank. The releases were in small clusters, about 10-20 hostages were returned at a time. The prisoners getting released were accused of an array of different crimes anywhere from rock throwing to attempted murder.
During the ceasefire, humanitarian aid trucks were able to enter Gaza and provide food, water, and shelter for displaced people. One of the most important resources provided was fuel. Hospitals, shelters, and water desalination plants all needed fuel to operate and with Israel cutting off the power going into Gaza, there was slim to none prior to the pause. With the war not close to an end, the people in Gaza are in need for a more permanant solution to provide for their basic necessities for any non- combatants.
Now fighting has resumed, both sides are still dedicated to their goals. Hamas calls for an “intafada” which is an Arabic word meaning “uprising” or “shaking off, “ clearly indicating that their mission to eliminate the Jewish State of Israel. Similarly, Israel’s goal remains to eliminate Hamas and take over governance of the Gaza strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Security Committee that post war Gaza will not be run by the Palestinian Authority (PA). He stated that both Hamas and the PA have the same goals, the PA just wants to execute their plan in stages whereas Hamas’ plan is more immediate.
In the world’s eyes there are many possibilities on how the war will end in Gaza but two concrete one’s have formed. 1. Gaza will be ruled by the PA which also has control over the West Bank and Arab countries around the world will put money into the region to help rebuild and restore a new sense of normality. 2. Israel regains control over the region for the first time since 2005 when they withdrew before Hamas was elected. The first solution is unlikely as Israel has stated they have no intention of withdrawing from Gaza and allowing the PA to take over. But, some Israel allies, such as the United States, are pushing Israel to return Gaza to some form of Palistinean leadership.
The world will face a serious and dividing issue when the rubble settles in Gaza and the search for a new normal arises.
