Israel and Hamas: A timeline of the war
Treasure Hardwick, News and Feature Editor
Photo Courtesy of Lucija Ros On Unsplash
The war between Israel and Hamas that erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, shocked the world, but the conflict dates back more than a century.
According to an article published by BBC titled “Israel and the Palestinians: History of the conflict explained,” the conflict began in the early 1900s when Jewish and Arab movements both claimed the same land. Tensions deepened between the two groups when the UK established a “national home” in Palestine for Jewish people. This was known as the Balfour Declaration.
While Jews had historical links to the land, Palestinian Arabs claimed the land centuries ago and refused to move.
Between the 1920s and 1940s, more Jews arrived in the land as they fled from persecution in Europe due to the Holocaust. With the Jewish population at an all-time peak and an increasing amount of violence, the United Nations split Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states.
In 1948, the state of Israel was established. While the Jewish people celebrated this, Palestinian people were forced from their homes and fled to the Gaza strip, a small territory that became a symbol of resistance for the Palestinians.
The day after the state of Israel was established, armies from five Arab nations attacked and surrounded it. This was known in Israel as the War of Independence. By the time the fighting ended, Israel controlled most of the territory.
In 1967, the Six-Day War erupted as Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem from Arab countries. For years after this, Gaza remained under Israeli occupation until Israel withdrew its troops and settlers in 2005. However, it still maintained control over Gaza’s borders.
Two years later, Hamas seized control of Gaza after winning Palestinian elections. In return, Israel responded with a blockage, restricting movement. Since then, Gaza has experienced repeated wars between Hamas and Israel.
On Oct. 7, 2023, the conflict exploded when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing 1,200 and taking 250 hostages. The next day, Israel declared war and began an attempt to destroy Hamas and take back the hostages.
Amid the conflict, the 2.1 million population in Gaza has suffered catastrophic losses, as well as limited food, water and electricity.
Furthermore, more than 68,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed. Moreover, 1.9 million have been displaced.
On the other side, around 2,000 Israeli soldiers have died. Because of this, international concern of the humanitarian situation has grown increasingly.
Jong Eun Lee, Political Science professor at North Greenville University, explained that the people who have suffered the most in the conflict are the innocent civilians of Israel and Gaza.
He explained that because of this suffering, President Donald Trump stepped into the conflict and successfully pressured both sides into a ceasefire agreement. However, both Israel and Hamas have reported the other breaching the ceasefire and peace agreement.
Lee explained that despite the ceasefire, mistrust remains high on both sides. In attempt to maintain peace, a governing body called Gaza International Transition Authority (GITA) is being formed to oversee Gaza, provide aid and potentially pave the way to independence and peace. However, there is skepticism about whether GITA can successfully maintain authority.
Looking ahead, Lee suspects that peace may be only temporary, as Israel and Hamas may continue in engaging small fights while avoiding a full-blown war. Lee explained that the Trump administration will most likely continue using pressure to keep the peace rather than military intervention.
For those who have been following the war closely or who have been wanting to know more about it, Lee offered three takeaways.
First, he said to acknowledge the region’s historical and biblical significance, remembering the scars of conflict from over the years.
Next, he reminded readers to recognize that in this war, civilians have suffered the most. Families from both Israel and Gaza have endured immense suffering and pain.
Lastly, he encouraged readers to approach thinking about this war with humility, patience and a moral compass. Even if solutions for the conflict seem unclear, Christians should act ethically and avoid making decisions that harm innocent lives.
