Palestine and Israel
By Donny Chen
February 21, 2024
Israel and Palestine, or is it just Israel, or just Palestine? Such is a matter of contest among people. The Islamic group known as Hamas, which currently controls the Gaza Strip, launched an attack on Israel on October 7th, 2023. This act took the lives of 1400 people, both civilians and soldiers, while also injuring and kidnapping hundreds of others. Israel responded to Hamas' attack by launching an attack of their own, killing tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians and injuring more.
Who is in the right? Hamas? Israel?
One could argue that Hamas is the one in the wrong, as Hamas, the group that currently controls Gaza, launched an attack first – so isn’t it undeniable that they’re the ones in the wrong? However, it is also true Israel obtained battle plans for this ambush a year before it actually took place.
One, however, could also argue that Israel is in the wrong as there was no need to launch such an aggressive attack against Palestine, especially against civilians.
I respect opinions on both sides. Especially, if those opinions are shaped from unbiased sources that are not twisting the truth.
Some people have points of view that agree Hamas was definitely the one in the wrong when they launched an attack on Israel, but Israel's response was also heavily unnecessary. In such a situation, where both sides have killed so many people, it is an undeniable fact that both sides are in the wrong. However, some still say that just because Israel has killed more people, Hamas is the one in the right. Some also still say that Hamas is the one in the right since Israel previously killed more people and that this justifies their killing. Killing so many people regardless of which side they are on is something you cannot justify.
Some of us in America are not personally affected by the war. Some of us are merely spectators and are not affected in any shape, way, or form. We should not be deciding who is wrong and right when so many people on both sides have been killed.
Is peace truly not the best option here?
Yes, historically, peace between Palestine and Israel has been nearly impossible.
But nearly impossible does not mean that it is truly impossible.
Some peace negotiations between Palestine and Israel have happened before this. What can people who feel strongly about this terrible situation do to make things better? We need to be more knowledgeable about politics so that we can elect those people who feel the way we do. We can change the outcomes of our situation if we know how to work within our political systems. Voting is one of our most powerful weapons to fight problems in our world.