The tension between Palestine and Israel

By: Stephanie Ibarra

Side note: The situation between Palestine and Israel has been an ongoing thing for years and every now and then it gets covered by the media. However, we at H.C. think it's important to talk about what is happening outside of America.

Disclaimer: we are not a news source nor should we be treated like one. The author of this article is a high school student writing about an issue that is upsetting and if you want to go further on understanding this topic there are links within the article that can help.

Background

Palestine is a small region of land that has played an important role in the Middle East’s history. Accompanied by multiple political issues and violence induced taking of their land. The country of Palestine is located in Western Asia which is composed of parts of modern Israel and their territories of the Gaza Strip. First established as a country in 1923.

What is currently happening?

Currently, Palestine and Israel are enduring most likely the worst violence between the two states. The issues arose due to Israeli officials which blocked Palestinian gatherings at the beginning of the Muslim holy month. As Israel continues to try to obtain its goal, Israel continues to do so through violent acts. Explosives were also launched from Gaza, which caused even more tension to be created. There are multiple reasons for the tension between the two states, religious sites and religion, politics, and nationalism are just a few factors that have initiated the gruesome acts. With continuous airstrikes, the violence continues to spread all overtaking with it multiple lives.

What's going on with Israel and Hamas?

The tension between Israel and Hamas heightens as with the number of attacks and destruction. Israel claimed to have taken the lives of 14 senior Hamas commanders and officials. This absurd dispute intensified when Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip back in 2007 due to Hama's strict and hostile management. However recently Hamas has been firing rockets at Israel on Monday, the first rockets were targeted at Jerusalem. Which caused Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad to proceed and launch about 1,750 rockets to Israel.

What about Gaza and the West Bank...

Gaza stretches for about 25 miles and is located between Egypt, Israel, and is along the coast of the Mediterranean. The West Bank, however, is west of the Jordan River. As for both the West Bank (a landlocked territory) and Gaza being a piece of land blocking borders under the control of Hamas, the ethnic cleansing has risen.

How has the U.S. responded?

The Biden administration has been asking for both sides to de-escalate tensions and talk it out with Israeli and Palestinian officials. However, the U.S. has been providing aid to Israel which has been very contradicting to what the Biden administration has been saying which has been very criticized due to its lack of speed in urgent diplomacy. The administration dispatched an emergency envoy to the Middle East. The President contacted the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to

end the Israel attacks which have come with

the killing of many Palestinian lives.

Wriiten by: Stephanie Ibarra

Website: Human Central:

Published: 15 May 2021