As you may know, Gaza is still recovering from the violence of 2014 where intense bombardment killed thousands of civilians and left massive destruction in its wake. Since the start of this renewed conflict, more than 64,000 Palestinians—primarily civilians—have lost their lives tragically and unnecessarily. Over 150,000 have been injured. This relentless bloodshed has sparked global outrage, leading to demands for an immediate ceasefire from the United Nations, global leaders, and the international humanitarian community.
Now the situation in Gaza couldn’t be worse. An Israeli aerial blockade has kept foreign reporters at bay since Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023. Journalists are only allowed into Gaza under military escort, limiting coverage of the humanitarian crisis unfolding within its borders. For years Hamas has had a tight rein on the territory, controlling Gaza since a violent coup in 2007. In combatting ISIS, fighting has been severe with Israel performing targeted air strikes in an overall targeted plan to crush the group.
Criticism of the Israeli government’s lax and militarized approach to the growing violence and conflict is widespread. Critics, including more than 30 law professors, accuse it of prolonging the violence for political advantage. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), this conflict has led to the deaths of more than 180 Palestinian journalists and media workers. This shocking number is a reminder of the intense dangers that journalists continue to take to cover this war. The CPJ revealed that Israeli forces intentionally shot at least 19 journalists. In doing so, these incidents become not just killings, but more specifically, murders.
“I think that what Netanyahu has done yesterday, he just killed any hope for those hostages,” – Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani
To that end, we had seen Qatar play a prominent role in negotiations. Its stated aim is to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza arms conflict. Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, Qatar’s Prime Minister, emphasized the urgent need for mediation efforts, stating that hostages’ families are “counting on this [ceasefire] mediation; they have no other hope for that.” He added that the situation is complicated now, as he fears the current airstrikes have destroyed any hope of returning the hostages being held by Hamas.
Hamas has always been open to releasing all hostages at once, or in varying groups. They call on Israel to stop all military operations and pull its forces out of Gaza. Even this possible breakthrough points to the overall intricacy of the scenario, with both parties standing firm in their opposition. The war carries deep regional considerations. Neighboring countries and international organizations are worried that the horrible violence is radicalizing Syrians further and could lead to greater instability in the rest of the Middle East.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has replied to the rising international outrage with a characteristic defiance. He accused Qatar of harboring terrorists and stated, “I say to Qatar and all nations who harbor terrorists, you either expel them or you bring them to justice.” This dangerous rhetoric has only inflamed tensions between Israel and those who criticize its actions.
“Everyone who took part in the 7 October massacre will be held fully accountable. Anyone who carries out terror against Israel will be harmed,” – Israel Katz
While the death toll in Gaza is numbing—over 12,000 dead, mostly civilians—the destruction is staggering as well, turning entire neighborhoods to rubble. As humanitarian conditions deteriorate, international organizations have urged for immediate access to humanitarian and medical assistance for civilians caught in the conflict. The Israeli government maintains that its military reprisals, including severe punitive measures against civilians are necessary for its national security. Their goal is to destroy Hamas as a military threat.
In recent statements, a White House representative noted that actions taken by Israel do not advance American or Israeli goals in the region. This blowback indicates that even some of our closest allies are becoming concerned about the humanitarian cost of the war. In particular, they are concerned that it may further destabilize an already volatile region.
The issues involved in the Gaza conflict are not as simple as Israel’s military actions this week. Both Israel and Hamas have hardliners in power who are inherently opposed to negotiations. Even as leading figures—from the United Nations and American Christians to the Pope himself—call for a ceasefire, peace seems a distant hope.