The Israel-Hamas conflict has escalated in the past week, with both sides launching airstrikes and rockets at each other. The Israeli army has surrounded Gaza City, the largest and most densely populated area in the Gaza Strip, and has warned of a possible ground invasion. The United Nations has called for an immediate ceasefire, saying the situation is “utterly appalling” and “spiraling toward a full-scale war”.
According to the Gaza health ministry, at least 197 Palestinians, including 58 children and 34 women, have been killed since the violence erupted on May 10. More than 1,200 people have been wounded. Israel says it has killed at least 130 militants and that most of the casualties are caused by Hamas rockets falling short or being intercepted by its Iron Dome defense system. It also says it is doing everything possible to avoid civilian casualties and that it targets only military sites and infrastructure.
Israel-Hamas War: Hamas fighting to defend Jerusalem
Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza, says it is fighting to defend Jerusalem and the rights of Palestinians. It accuses Israel of violating international law and committing war crimes by bombing residential areas, schools, hospitals and media offices. It also says it will not stop firing rockets until Israel lifts its blockade on Gaza, which has been in place since 2007.
The international community has expressed alarm and concern over the escalating Israel-Hamas violence and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The US, which is a close ally of Israel, has sent an envoy to the region to try to broker a truce. However, it has also blocked a UN Security Council statement calling for an end to the hostilities. The US says it supports Israel’s right to self-defense and that it is working behind the scenes to de-escalate the situation.
The current round of Israel-Hamas fighting is the worst since 2014, when a 50-day war killed more than 2,200 Palestinians and 73 Israelis. The root causes of the conflict remain unresolved, such as the status of Jerusalem, the fate of Palestinian refugees, the Israeli settlements in the occupied territories and the blockade on Gaza. Analysts warn that without a political solution, the cycle of violence will continue to repeat itself.
