By: Ayah Rizk, 2027 and Jana Safieddine, 2027
The war in Gaza has been ongoing since October 7, 2023, however the initial conflict started in 1948. Unfortunately the situation has not improved, but we have a few updates to address.
So far, at least 69,843 Gazanas have been killed since October 7th, 2023, but this number does not include the countless missing or killed after May of 2024, when the health ministry collapsed due to Israel’s incessant bombing. This number also does not include the countless people wounded and killed before October 7th, as October 7th was not the start of the conflict, it simply marks when the situation became much worse for Gazans. Additionally, there are thousands who have been lost and are not included in the amount of people killed. But these people are not just numbers. They are human beings who deserve justice and peace for all of the troubles and torture that they have been through. Currently, the damage in Gaza is extensive, and authorities reported the need for at least 300,000 shelters to help Gazans even make it through the winter as almost all have lost their homes.
A Path Forward?
As part of the recent peace deal between Israel and Hamas brokered by the United States, The United Nations Security Council (UNSC), one of the six main parts of the UN, was tasked with putting forward a resolution on the active steps they want to take in order to stabilize the Gaza Strip. They approved of the United States’ peace resolution between Israel and Hamas, which includes sending international troops to Gaza to maintain peace. Hamas, the militant group in the Gaza Strip is rejecting the involvement of any troops other than the militia itself expressing that international involvement is exchanging the Israeli occupation for something of equal value.
At this time, no treaty has been signed between the two parties involved, Israel and Hamas. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority agreed to be willing to cooperate with the Trump administration in their resolution, yet there is a concern that Palestinians will lose the right to self-determination with the signing of this treaty. Additionally, Russia and China, two key members of the UN, both abstained from the voting of this resolution, expressing concern over the lack of Palestinian participation in the UN, both now as well as in the future.
As of right now, there is still no peace in Gaza. Just earlier today (11/20) Israel sent another airstrike on Gaza, killing 28 people. Hopefully, the new peace resolutions will be more successful than those of the past and will result in lasting peace, stability, and happiness for all living within the Gaza Strip.
