It would be impossible to give a concise summary of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in one short article. The conflict is long and complex, with broad ramifications for the two parties and nations across the globe. But to talk about the conflict at all requires, at a minimum, a brief overview of what has happened. The conflict is rooted in the 20th century, particularly around World War II. Displaced Jews were directed toward Palestinian land largely occupied by Arabs. The modern Israeli state was formed in 1948, causing the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians as Israel pushed them to the periphery of the land. Despite multiple attempts in diplomatic discussions to create a separate Israeli and Palestinian state, Israel continues to control Palestine, suppressing Palestinian autonomy. Outside powers in the Middle East and Western world have intervened throughout the conflict, either fueling the fire by backing a particular side or by attempting to encourage peace.
Today, Palestinians have been pushed to Israeli-occupied lands in the Gaza Strip, a four-by-23 mile strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea, and the West Bank. Gaza is home to 1.6 million Palestinians, the majority of whom are refugees or descendents of refugees that were forced from their homes when Israel was officially founded. Hamas is the controlling party of Gaza. They came into power in 2007 after a democratic election encouraged by the United States, but the U.S. wasn’t expecting Hamas to win. It is recognized by the U.S. and other nations as a terrorist organization.
This month marked another escalation in violence in Israel and the Gaza Strip. It began officially with the assassination of Ahmed Jabari, the chief of the Gaza military wing of Hamas. Israel claims the operation was executed in retaliation for recent Gaza militant strikes against Israel.
When analyzing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it is important to look at the numbers. This most recent eruption of violence resulted in the death of two and wounding of 20 Israeli solders. The number of Palestinian militants dead is unclear, but it is most likely between 50 and 120.
The civilian numbers are more important. Four Israeli civilians have been killed, and another 219 injured. In Gaza, 105 Palestinian civilians have been killed, and another 971 injured. At least 30 of the 105 killed were children.
One reason for these disproportionate casualties is Israel’s support from the United States. With funding from the US, Israel has been able to build a missile defense system called the “Iron Dome” that shoots down rockets with incredible accuracy and emits warning sirens of incoming danger. Gaza has no such system and no such support. Gaza is so crowded and so under-supported, partly thanks to an Israeli-enforced blockade, that military action by Israel does incredible damage.
Greater Palestinian casualties even predate the Iron Dome. From 1987 to 2012, there have been about 8,000 Palestinian civilian casualties, with about 1,600 of those being children. Israel has had about 1,500 casualties, including 150 children.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a major humanitarian issue. It does not take much to see that Palestinians are suffering in greater numbers than the Israelis. Like any oppressed group, they will require more economic and political support in order to enter this game with Israel on a fair playing field. Israel certainly has reasons to be angry with Hamas, but that doesn’t mean that an indiscriminate beat-down of an entire people is in any way justified. It doesn’t mean that oppressive occupation of an entire people is justified. It is time for Israel to open its eyes to the moral issue at hand. And the U.S. should, too.
–Lindsay Lee is a junior in mathematics. She can be reached at [email protected].
