As tensions increase with the Israel and Gaza war, more and more people are having their lives taken away. Day after day, the Israeli military is sending airstrikes all over Gaza, killing innocent people. As of the 29 of October 2024, over 44,000 people have been reported as killed in the Israel – Hamas war.
Of the 44,000 people killed (43,061 Palestinian and 1,706 Israeli), 134-146 journalists and media workers, 120 academics, and over 224 humanitarian aid workers, including 179 employees of UNRWA, were killed. All of these people who have died have been innocent citizens that have no problem in the war. Mohammed, a Lebanon citizen, says “We are not military,” he says, “We are not terrorists. Why are we being hit? The areas that are being hit are all civilian areas.”
The Israel and Gaza war has a history, believe it or not, dating all the way back to 1948. This war originally broke out with the culmination of 30 years of friction between Jews and Arabs. Since then, militants in Gaza have fought several wars with Israel, which along, with Egypt has maintained a partial blockade on the strip to isolate Hamas and try to stop attacks, particularly the indiscriminate firing of rockets toward Israeli cities.
People are being left in their homes, not being able to go anywhere for fear of dying outside because of the dangerous factors of the war. “It is impossible for me to leave my house because I do not want to die out there. There are many people who lost their lives away from their homes, even in the south. Death is everywhere,” said Ramadan, a 19-year-old in Beit Lahiya, whose family has been displaced seven times over the course of the 13-month war. Even if people wanted to leave, it was most likely impossible because of the conditions of the roads from the airstrikes.
When talking about the problems of this war, one of the biggest problems talked about is the hostage situation and the people being taken hostage by Hamas in Gaza. Since October 7, 2023, over 97 hostages out of 251 remain unaccounted for. Israel is trying to do their best to rescue all of the hostages that have been taken. The prime minister said he will “continue to do everything to bring all of the hostages home.” There have been confirmed deaths of 34 hostages so far. Which is something that no one wants to see. Also, there have been releases of some hostages, but it has come in small numbers.
During this war, multiple countries have sent aid to Gaza, such as Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, and Tunisia have sent at least eight planes of aid to Gaza. India has also sent medical and disaster relief. More than 200 trucks carrying around 3,000 tonnes of aid have been positioned near the crossing on the Egyptian side, waiting for Israeli approval to drive into Gaza to deliver the aid.
Overall, the people of Gaza and Israel are being injured and or dying from their country’s actions in fighting each other. Innocent people are being taken hostage and people killed, and innocent people are being hit by airstrikes while sitting in their living rooms. People are being left with no support in their cities because they are being torn down. Young children are having to live their early lives in fear of dying from war and airstrikes.
