NEWS EDITOR – ASHTON JEFFERS
ORIGINALLY PUBLISEHD ON OCT 25 2023
On Oct. 7, attention focused on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas (a militant and political Islamist organization that governs the Gaza Strip of the Palestinian territories) when an onslaught of surprise attacks by Hamas killed at least 1,400 individuals in Israel and injured over 4,12 according to the Washington Post. In response, Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu formally declared war on Hamas. In turn, Israel launched further attacks on Gaza over the weekend of Oct. 7 and 8. Palestinian officials report 2,778 people in Gaza have been killed in these attacks and 9,938 people injured. An estimated 600,000 people have been displaced north of the Gaza area according to international aid agencies, which leaves fleeing individuals with limited and depleting supplies of food, water, shelter and medical services.
At the time of writing, the most recent attack was a deadly attack on the AlAhli Baptist Hospital in Gaza, which left hundreds killed, according to Palestinian officials and National Public Radio (NPR). This only added to the destruction of the densely populated area. The hospital was used as a shelter for civilians and patients alike who hoped to hide from airstrikes, which included families and children. Civilians believed the hospital to be one of the few safe locations in the area to turn to. According to sources at NPR, civilians seeking refuge at the hospital thought it would be safe because the hospital is led by a Christian group and is known as the oldest hospital in Gaza. Claims and counterclaims on social media have left the situation unclear as to which forces were specifically behind these attacks, for the influx of footage and eyewitness reports have given multiple interpretations on how the attack occurred.
Before the incident, conflict had risen between Israeli and Palestinian groups, one that is steeped in complexities and claims that generated nearly a century, and the other with sources of historical, political and religious debate spanning at least two centuries. Social media and news outlets provided different responses and perspectives to the conflict and consistently updated civilians on the leadership’s responses to the international stage in response to the outbreak of conflict. It’s difficult to engage with this situation through news sources because the situation asks the question of who is responsible for the increase in violent responses.
Ian Smith, Ph.D., Program Director for International Relations and Visiting Assistant Professor, shared how this moment in time is a turning point for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The constant attacks between the two groups have mostly been contained in years past. Hamas has become an interesting case due to its unique formation as a militant organization rather than a post-rebel party. “There’s a lot we’re going to learn in the next couple weeks,” stated Smith, Ph.D., on the development of the situation in Gaza. “It’s also hard to avoid mass casualties in Gaza, and there aren’t many options for Palestinians in this area.” Since Gaza is a densely populated area, individuals fleeing the area don’t have much support from the surrounding nations. The nations surrounding Gaza such as Egypt and Jordan have leaders who are worried that the influx of Palestinian refugees could destabilize the political environment resulting in unclear humanitarian outreach. According to Smith, Ph.D., when asked about understanding the origins and transitioning of this conflict, the historical pattern of state formation is visible in this case, though the process has not often been met with peace, but rather steeped in violence and obtained through force. Since World War II, the ambition to resolve international conflicts through negotiation and diplomacy has been a tough goal when dealing with so many nations involved on the global stage.
During this time, it is important when dealing with a troubling conflict that has existed and continued for decades to recognize the human toll and trauma that civilians and individuals involved are experiencing in Gaza and the surrounding areas. Social media is infamous for leaving out context while providing easy access to a multitude of opinions and voices. “Our own identity does guide what side has a more valid position,” stated Smith when asked how and why individuals on social media form such quick responses to the developing situation. “Few are undecided on the issue.” It’s important to educate oneself on the complexities of this topic and it is crucial to have compassion for the human lives at stake in this conflict.
Consuming media with a critical eye, encouraging the use of educational resources and having empathy is part of what we can do as witnesses as these events continue to unfold.