What is happening in Israel and what does it mean for the rest of the world?

After two years of conflict, the war in Israel and Gaza is still going on. Many news outlets consider the start of the war to be Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas bombed nine Israeli cities killing 1,200 Israeli citizens and taking 250 as hostages. However, the conflict dates back farther than this. In response to the events on Oct. 7,  Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu ordered an invasion of the Gaza Strip which has resulted in 67 thousand Palestinian deaths and two million displacements as of Oct. 14 according to Reuters. 

Further attacks have fuelled the war even further. At least 44 aid flotillas sailed by people from over 50 countries carrying humanitarian supplies such as food and clothing were set on course to the civilians of Gaza on Aug. 23 according to Al Jazeera. On Sept. 8, the Freedom Flotilla passed Tunisia where ships were attacked by drones that were suspected to be from the Israel Defense Force (IDF). Israel later denied that the drones were theirs and insisted the flotilla turn around and not arrive at Gaza. On Sept. 23  as the flotilla passed by Greece, more ships were attacked by the IDF. Israel has intercepted all vessels as of Oct. 8 and people including activist Gretta Thunberg were on board said the Israeli navy had purposefully damaged ship communications to block distress signals. American involvement is also adding to the war. According to ABC, the US has sent over $21.7 billion to Israel since the start of the war. “I think Israel should have a right to exist but I don’t think we should keep funding them if they continue to refuse a ceasefire,” said Henry Oesterle ‘27. 

Other students such as Wesley Lehman ‘29 said, “[It is essential that] the United States work to promote an end to the conflict.”

The war also has impacts on the outside world. IDF bombings have occurred in other countries such as Tunisia, Yemen, Qatar, Lebanon and Iran. According to NBC, “While most of Israel’s longtime allies supported its actions in the immediate aftermath of Oct. 7, over time the war’s toll on civilians has prompted outrage and condemnation..” 

Other than direct conflict, the war impacts the lives of Jews and Muslims across the United States and Europe. There has been a dramatic 344% increase in Jewish hate crimes in America over the past five years, many of which occurring around anti-Israeli Protests. In 2024, the UK experienced a record high amount of religious hate crimes. There has been a large increase in Muslim hate crimes too, with civil rights organization CAIR reporting that there was the highest amount of Anti-Muslim violence last year since 1996. 

The war has caused the death of tens of thousands of people and has destroyed the lives of millions. “I’ve seen the videos online, it clearly affects a lot of people and it’s very hard to watch… we need to pursue a ceasefire as quickly as possible,” said Myles Gonzales ‘27. US president Donald Trump is talking of possibly heading to Israel to negotiate a peace treaty between the two sides.