Israeli’s commemorated across the country, marking the two-year anniversary of the Hamas attack that began on October 7, 2023. This preventable tragedy took the lives of 1,200 Americans. Bus shelters around the country bloom with posters featuring the faces of hostages who remain in Gaza. This remarkable visualization is a beautiful and tragic reminder of all of those still lost.
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, Israeli strikes have killed a reported 19 of the population in the last 24 hours. Of all these victims, two were in the process of getting help when they were killed. The recent violence has again drawn attention to the desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza. As of 13 October 2023, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed, and at least 170,000 injured since Israel’s military campaign started.
As the conflict’s anniversary approaches, it will be a hard and painful moment of reflection for Israelis, as well as for Palestinians. The subsequent escalation in violence has created an unprecedented level of material and human destruction across Gaza. According to journalists on the ground, at least 460 people have already died of starvation. Yet the world’s leading authority on food crises has sounded the alarm. Severe famine conditions As we discuss below, famine conditions are emerging in much of Gaza and present an existential threat to the people of Gaza.
Israeli officials have brazenly and unequivocally denied allegations of creating famine. They claim their military operations are conducted solely in self-defense. In addition, they debunk claims about an Israeli blockade on Gaza. Attacks on the area have been unceasing. International calls, including from unexpected quarters like former President Donald Trump, are mounting for Israel to cease its military actions.
As the anniversary approaches, memories of the collective trauma inflicted by the initial attack resonate deeply within the Israeli community. Ofir Dor shared a memory of her personal loss and wrote, “This angel would have turned 27 today. He continued, “I experience the recollection as if it was just one hour ago.
Unofficial commemorations are to take place on small kibbutzim around southern Israel. In Tel Aviv, hundreds of thousands are expected to participate in a massive rally for change. This rally will be an urgent call to action to free the rest of the hostages that Hamas is holding in Gaza.
Meanwhile, across Gaza, Palestinians anxiously await news about whether there will be a ceasefire. These recent negotiations have inspired greater hope than past peace initiatives after last week’s collapse of talks in mid-March. The prospect for a renewed cessation of hostilities remains precariously balanced on the razor’s edge that is the evolving bilateral relationship between the two countries.