The Israel-Hamas War has begun once again after 16 years, with Palestine’s recent attack on the Israeli state. Despite being on the other side of the world, these recent events have increasingly caused fear within the United States.
Over the past few months of the war, Hamas, a terrorist organization in Palestine, has taken many Israeli women and children hostage, oftentimes torturing and killing them. With the most recent surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, around 1,200 Israeli citizens were killed and roughly 240 were held hostage; many hospitals were bombarded and some went into a threat of collapse. Ultimately, the Israeli state took action on Nov. 17 as they moved troops into the Gaza Strip in an attempt to stop the terrorist attacks from Hamas.
“It is a horrible thing that is going on, and it is not because of which side is right or wrong. It is because innocents on both sides are being killed, and it is really the dispute among the people in power that is causing such carnage,” Connor Pearson, senior, said.
For many years, Palestine has wanted to take down the Israeli state due to the desire to control Israel’s land. Palestine has attacked the Jewish state six times since 1948, with the 2023 Israel-Hamas War becoming the seventh. Even though the longtime feud remains, Hamas recently released many of their hostages on Nov. 27, as a short-term truce was put into place across the Gaza Strip.
“My father, [Oded Lifshitz, a hostage], is there, and so many other people we know are waiting for good news about everyone. We do not know what is going on with them. Not even knowing if they are alive or what their situation is,” Lifshitz’s daughter, said.
With many Americans frightened with the possibility of the United States joining the war, Vice President Kamala Harris has informed the citizens that there is no intention of sending United States troops to fight on the Gaza Strip. Since the crisis, many celebrities have begun to speak out in support of either side; however, this has led to the spread of misinformation throughout the nation.
“We have absolutely no intention, nor do we have any plans, to send combat troops into Israel or Gaza, period,” Harris said.
As the war continues to rage on, many are worried for the safety of those in the Gaza Strip, and Americans are increasingly concerned of future United States involvement.
