On October 7, the terrorist organization Hamas led an invasion of Israel from the Gaza Strip. Hamas began their attacks by land, sea, and air. Wind of their attacks reached globally as they attacked the Nova Music Festival in Israel, kidnapping and killing approximately 260 attendees. The attack on the festival was only the beginning of what has now become the bloodiest time the region has seen in several years.
With over four thousand rockets fired from Gaza, hundreds murdered and kidnapped, and thousands injured, Israelis are scrambling to find safety in the commotion. Children continue to be murdered, and families continue to be separated. As Hamas claims ownership over the destruction that is occurring in Israel, they believe it is their right to resist due to feelings of oppression and expansion of Israeli settlements.
The commander in chief of Hamas’s Al Qassam, Mohammed Deif, said "The Zionist colonial occupation occupied our Palestinian homeland and displaced our people, destroyed our towns and villages, committed hundreds of massacres against our people, killing children, women and elderly people and demolishing homes with their inhabitants inside in violation of all international norms, laws and human rights conventions." Land disputes have occurred between Israel and Palestine since Israel was deemed a country in 1948. Members of both countries claim ownership due to long historical occupations dating back thousands of years.
Israel swiftly responded to the bloodshed caused by Hamas by officially declaring war immediately after the attacks. Israel has sent out air strikes and increased their on-ground military presence, mobilizing 360,000 reserved soldiers. Their attacks, like Hamas, have been brutal, killing over 800 Palestinian civilians. Alongside injuries and deaths, Israel has intensified their sanctions by cutting water, power, and food supplies from Gaza. Palestinian civilians have further relied on United Nations resources, which have begun to diminish as Israel blocks aid.
Enhanced social media usage has expanded the conflict globally, with people of all ages sharing their support or disdain. The world continues finding first-person sources on these platforms that show how deadly this destruction is. One notable example is the video of a German citizen, Shani Louk, whose lifeless body was paraded around and spat on by Hamas militants. This and many other videos have caused outrage and further responses from high-ranking political actors.
Several countries have begun to vocalize their support for Israel through words and action. President Joe Biden and allies of the U.S. released a joint statement reading, “President Macron of France, Chancellor Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Meloni of Italy, Prime Minister Sunak of the United Kingdom, and President Biden of the United States — express our steadfast and united support to the State of Israel, and our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism.”
The United States has been a long-time supporter of Israel. Their support has been further amplified by sending the USS Gerald R. Ford, a new and advanced aircraft carrier, to Israel. As Biden says, “There is never any justification for terrorism.”