<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">Last strike</h2>

One was an "incredible father, husband, son and brother," another, a "kind, selfless and outstanding human being". All were killed while delivering food to people in need.

Seven international aid workers from the World Central Kitchen, an international food charity, have been killed in an Israeli air strike while returning from dropping 100 tonnes of food supplies in central Gaza.

UK charities have warned that Gaza is the "world's most dangerous place to deliver aid". The UN says that the war has killed almost 200 aid workers.¹

The World Central Kitchen has suspendedWhen a privilege or role is temporarily taken away from someone. its operations in Gaza following the air strike on its convoy.² There are concerns that this will exacerbateMake worse. famine in the Gaza Strip, where 2.2 million Palestinians are already facing malnutritionPoor nutrition - caused by not having enough to eat or not having the right foods. and starvation owing to severe food shortages.³

The World Central Kitchen said it has served 42 million meals over its 175 days operating in Gaza, which is around 240,000 meals a day. Many are concerned that its absence will be deeply felt among Palestinians, 90% of whom are getting just one meal per day.⁴

Almost 33,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli military operations which began after militant Palestinian group Hamas led a surprise attack on Israel on 7 October last year.

Despite the mounting horrors in Gaza, some people urge us to continue being optimistic about the prospect of peace, arguing that the two sides may yet reconcileTo restore friendly relations..

The Israeli writer, philosopher and public intellectual Yuval Noah Harari is one of these optimists. He argues that the conflict is fuelled by "the mutual horror of destruction", each side fearing that the other would exterminate it, given the chance.⁵

"There is enough land between the Jordan and the Mediterranean to build houses, schools, roads and hospitals for everyone," Harari urges. But many doubt that such coexistenceLiving at the same time in the same place. will ever be possible.

The two-state solutionA proposed solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, which imagines an independent State of Palestine as well as the State of Israel. has remained a stapleAn important part of. A "staple diet" means the food, such as potatoes, pasta, or rice, that someone mainly lives on. among diplomatsOfficials who represent their countries abroad., who hope to see Palestine and Israel established as peaceableTrying to avoid conflict or arguing. side-by-side states living in harmony on fairly distributed territory.

But many believe such a solution could never work.

Is there a way out of the horror?

Yes: If we do not believe in peace, it can never happen. Only extremists from both sides want to see any kind of eradication of the other. Most just want an end to the fighting.

No: Any peace talks would need to take place against the backdrop of an immediate ceasefire. Palestine and Israel cannot build peace while Palestinians are being bombed.

Or... New polls show that the majority of people in Britain want a ban on arms sales to Israel and a majority think that Israel is violating human rights in Gaza. The most immediate diplomatic solution is for a ban on arms sales.

Suspended - When a privilege or role is temporarily taken away from someone.

Exacerbate - Make worse.

Malnutrition - Poor nutrition - caused by not having enough to eat or not having the right foods.

Reconcile - To restore friendly relations.

Coexistence - Living at the same time in the same place.

Two-state solution - A proposed solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, which imagines an independent State of Palestine as well as the State of Israel.

Staple - An important part of. A "staple diet" means the food, such as potatoes, pasta, or rice, that someone mainly lives on.

Diplomats - Officials who represent their countries abroad.

Peaceable - Trying to avoid conflict or arguing.