October 7, 2023 - 6:30 AM: Palestinian militant group, Hamas, launched a surprise attack on southern and central Israel, including a barrage of over 2,200 missiles, and thousands of armed Hamas fighters that breached the southern border. Shortly after this incident, Hamas military commander, Mohammed Deif, claimed responsibility, and Israel declared war.

Air raid sirens wail throughout central Israeli towns in the early morning of October 7, as thousands of rockets are fired upon Israel. Simultaneously, at least 1,500 Hamas gunmen break through Israel’s southern border. During this assault, an all-night music festival is ambushed by Hamas fighters, resulting in at least 260 people killed, and 199 taken hostage.

Soon after declaring war, Israel led a counteroffensive, including several air strikes on targets in Gaza, and mobilizing tens of thousands of troops. The Israeli government has also cut off many essential supplies leading to Gaza, including water and electricity, to which they justify, declaring that “We will not allow humanitarian assistance in the form of food and medicines from our territory to the Gaza strip”.

The conflict between Israel and Palestine has been going on for many decades already, majorly revolving around land ownership and religious beliefs. Both sides believe that the land of nowaday Israel originally belonged to themselves, which has been the cause of many conflicts throughout the years. However, in the end, many Arab refugees became displaced, and were forced to settle in either the Gaza Strip, or West Bank. All of this ultimately caused an increase in tension between the Israeli and Palestinian citizens.

As of November 21, 2023, at least 1,400 Israelis and 14,000 Palestinians have been killed, which has led countries all around the world to request a ceasefire. Israel has agreed to negotiate under one condition, in which Hamas releases hostages from their control.

Just hours ago, Hamas negotiated to release 50 Israeli women and children from Gaza, in return for 150 Palestinian women and children currently being imprisoned in Israel. Both sides agreed, and organized a four-day ceasefire, in order for the hostages to be released, as well as allowing for well-deserved aid to enter Gaza.

Although there have been many victims of this war, there is still hope that this is only the beginning of hostages being freed, and a truce being reached between the two sides.