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Is the Israeli government partly to blame? Fury broke out on the streets of Tel Aviv after the deaths of six more hostages. Palestinians say the world still only cares about Israeli deaths, not theirs.
No-one knows how many bodies lie under the rubble in GazaThe smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt. . We may never know the exact figure.1 But in the end it was just six bodies that brought the war to a crisis point.
They were hostages taken by the militant group HamasA militant Palestinian organisation, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007. It is listed as a terrorist organisation in the UK. during its 7 OctoberOn 7 October 2023, the Palestinian group Hamas, which controls Gaza, carried out a series of surprise attacks on Israel, killing more than 1,000 people and taking more than one hundred hostages. attacks on Israel last year. And their deaths have caused a wave of outrage.
The six were slated to be released in July under a draft deal with Hamas, but the agreement fell through, protesters say, because prime minister Benjamin NetanyahuThe prime minister of Israel. wanted to continue the war.
Netanyahu’s defenders retort that Hamas is to blame for their deaths. They say the Israeli government cannot afford to show weakness in its negotiations, or Hamas will only feel emboldened to attack again in future.
It just goes to show the outsized proportions that a tiny strip of land, no bigger than East London, has come to play in this conflict and around the world.
In 1948, Israeli forces conquered most of what had been the British colony of Mandatory PalestineA British colony, which included modern-day Israel and Palestinian territories, that existed between 1920 and 1948..2 Only two territories were left: the West BankA landlocked territory bordered by Israel, Jordan and the Dead Sea. It is the largest of the Palestinian territories. , including East Jerusalem, which came to be controlled by JordanA country that exists today in the Middle East. , and Gaza, under Egyptian rule.
Around 700,000 Palestinians were forced from the towns and villages of their birth by Israeli soldiers and fled to the West BankA landlocked territory bordered by Israel, Jordan and the Dead Sea. It is the largest of the Palestinian territories. and Gaza, still under Arab control.3
This event, known as the “Nakba”, or “catastrophe” by Palestinians, was traumatic for all Palestinians, but for those in Gaza it was especially poignantCausing sharp feelings of sadness., because they mostly came from very nearby. From their refugee camps in the strip they could see Israelis building houses and farms on the very land they had been forced to give up.
Those who attempted to return to their former homes, flocks, and crops were shot on sight by Israeli soldiers.4
Many Palestinians took up arms and tried to take their lands back by force, attacking both military and civilianA person who is not in the armed services or the police force. targets in Israel. In turn the IDFIsrael Defence Forces, Israel’s national military. launched raids, killing still more Palestinians.
Then in 1967, Israel launched the Six-Day WarA 1967 conflict lasting six days between Israel and its Arab neighbours. Israel won, capturing large amounts of land. and conquered both the West Bank and Gaza, putting them under military occupation. It began building settlements in both, which is banned under international law.5 Many feared its long-term aim was to annex them.
Since the 1990s, the official position of the international community has been that the West Bank and Gaza should ultimately become a Palestinian state. However, this process has been fraught with difficulty. Each side accuses the other of sinking peace negotiations.
In 2006, Hamas won elections in the Palestinian territories, but was blocked from forming the government by the PLOThe Palestine Liberation Organisation, an umbrella political organisation.. In response it took over the Gaza strip.
Israel imposed a blockade on the strip, claiming it needed to stop Hamas from acquiring weapons. However, it also banned the import of many foods and medicines.6
Palestinians, the UNUnited Nations. An intergovernmental organisation based in New York that aims to maintain international peace and security. and World Bank say this created a humanitarian crisis.7 Israel says the crisis was caused by Hamas, which spent money on weapons and underground tunnels rather than the needs of Gazans.
The two have frequently fought wars since then, with Israel launching devastating airstrikes on densely-populated Gaza, and Hamas firing rockets that hit civilian areas in Israel.
Hamas says as an occupied people they have the right to resist oppression. Israel says it must defend itself by any means necessary.
It may seem like peace has never been further away. But some are hopeful. They say if the protests bring Netanyahu down and end the war, there may be a chance to build peace out of the ruins.
Is Israeli government partly to blame?
Blame game
Yes: Israel’s leaders failed to make a deal to release the hostages. Thousands of Israelis took part in protests after the deaths were announced, including outside the prime minister’s residence.
No: The hostages’ executioners are the only ones who should be blamed. Israel has done what any country would: advanced the interests of its own citizens and protected them from harm. The Palestinians could have focused on building up what they still had, instead of fighting Israel.
Or… The chain of fault and grievance goes back a long way. The only path to peace may be to give up all thought of blame.
Keywords
Gaza – The smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt.
Hamas – A militant Palestinian organisation, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007. It is listed as a terrorist organisation in the UK.
7 October – On 7 October 2023, the Palestinian group Hamas, which controls Gaza, carried out a series of surprise attacks on Israel, killing more than 1,000 people and taking more than one hundred hostages.
Benjamin Netanyahu – The prime minister of Israel.
Mandatory Palestine – A British colony, which included modern-day Israel and Palestinian territories, that existed between 1920 and 1948.
West Bank – A landlocked territory bordered by Israel, Jordan and the Dead Sea. It is the largest of the Palestinian territories.
Jordan – A country that exists today in the Middle East.
Poignant – Causing sharp feelings of sadness.
Civilian – A person who is not in the armed services or the police force.
IDF – Israel Defence Forces, Israel’s national military.
Six-Day War – A 1967 conflict lasting six days between Israel and its Arab neighbours. Israel won, capturing large amounts of land.
PLO – The Palestine Liberation Organisation, an umbrella political organisation.
UN – United Nations. An intergovernmental organisation based in New York that aims to maintain international peace and security.
- According to researchers writing for medical journal the Lancet, who have tried to estimate the number of dead.
- According to this UN report.
- According to the United Nations.
- According to Israeli academic Meron Benvenisti in his book Sacred Landscape.
- According to Amnesty International.
- In 2009, the UN found that it had restricted the import of lentils, pasta, tomato paste, and juice.
- For example, in a 2015 report by the World Bank.
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