The author does not condone violence against civilians, nor does the author condone apartheid.
Recent Developments
On October 7th, 2023, Hamas, a Palestinian political party organized in 1987 launched a surprise assault on Israel. The group has been identified by some as a unilateral terrorist organization, specifying the label is only applicable to the military wing, while other countries have designated the organization in its entirety as a terrorist organization. Israel responded by declaring war against Hamas and has since dropped over 6,000 bombs on Gaza, which has over 2 million civilians with an average age of just 18 years old. In a recent development, Israel warned Palestinians living in northern Gaza to evacuate south, which has led to several different anticipated possibilities, such as an Israeli ground invasion or heavier bombing campaigns.
Palestinian Authority vs. Hamas
Palestine is broken into two regions and two governing bodies: the West Bank governed by the Palestinian Authority and Gaza governed by Hamas. The Palestinian Authority, headed by President Mahmoud Abbas, has been known for its corruption and collusion with Israel and the United States. Mahmoud Abbas was elected in 2005, however, when his four-year term ended in 2009 he remained in position, ruling by decree still to this current day. Roughly a year later, Hamas challenged the Palestinian Authorities’ power after winning parliamentary (general) elections in Gaza and in turn took control of Gaza after a brief civil war, referred to as the 2007 Battle of Gaza.
Which party is more supported by Palestinians? Two surveys, both facilitated by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PCPSR) highlight just that:
In a poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in March, 63 percent of respondents in the West Bank and Gaza viewed the PA as a burden on the Palestinian people.
The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PCPSR) unveiled that 58% in Gaza and 42% in the West Bank favor Hamas.
It is worth noting that younger Palestinians and those residing in Gaza display the strongest support for Hamas, “especially those viewing Hamas as Palestine’s ideal representative and resistor against Israel.”
Pro-Palestine is Not Pro-Hamas
Some may be taken aback by the previous paragraph, but it is crucial to differentiate between being pro-Palestine concerning advocating for the removal of the apartheid and being pro-Hamas concerning advocating for terrorism. While the majority of both Palestinians and those who empathize with Palestinians condemn the vicious acts carried out by Hamas, they can also understand how that isn’t the focus. Both sides have participated in breaking international laws of war, but what will be the result of this conflict? Will the world forget about it, and it will continue with dwindling support for Palestine until they are once again left on their own, to face the Goliath which is Israel backed by the European Union and the United States? Rather than allowing these two sides which were designed to take away from the complex underlying historical and current landscapes to effectively serve their goal, spend time learning and understanding the significance of the situation in its entirety. By taking a humanitarian stance, this conflict can slowly restructure itself into solutions, as opposed to leading to what may turn into a much more devastating conflict.
Taking Sides
Individuals all around the globe have been either consciously or unconsciously advocating for more violence in the region. This situation does not have a clear antagonist or protagonist, despite how many people wish for that to be the case. A common stance has been: “I am pro-Palestine but anti-Hamas, and pro-Jewish but anti-Israel.” While one should not discount that opinion, it is hard to see that as anything more than noise. The only stance illustrated by such an effortless opinion is that one lacks knowledge of the historical significance of this conflict. This mindless take on the situation fuels what is now almost a century-long conflict, as Palestinians have faced the same response from Israel without violent provocation.
Key Figures
Mahmoud Abbas, a prominent Palestinian politician, has played a significant role in Palestinian politics for decades, notably serving as President of the Palestinian Authority since 2005, succeeding Yasser Arafat. Abbas is associated with the Fatah party and has been a central figure in peace negotiations, such as the Oslo Accords in the 1990s. However, his presidency has also faced criticism for a stalled peace process, internal division between the West Bank and Gaza, allegations of corruption, a perceived authoritarian approach, and growing frustration among Palestinian youth.
Ismail Haniyeh is a Palestinian politician who has played a significant role in Palestinian politics, particularly in the Gaza Strip. Born in the Gaza Strip, Haniyeh is a prominent figure associated with the Hamas organization. Haniyeh is best known for his leadership within Hamas and his role in governing the Gaza Strip. He served as the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority from 2006 to 2014 after Hamas won parliamentary elections in 2006. However, his leadership in Gaza has been marked by several notable aspects. These include persistent political and, at times, violent conflicts with the Fatah party and its leader, Mahmoud Abbas. Additionally, due to Hamas being designated as a terrorist organization by several countries and international bodies, there has been significant economic and political isolation in Gaza.
Mohammed Deif is a senior military leader within the Palestinian organization Hamas. He is best known for his role as the head of Hamas’s military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. Deif has been a prominent figure in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and has been involved in planning and executing numerous attacks against Israel. He is considered a high-value target by the Israeli government, which has attempted to assassinate him multiple times, coming close once but failing and killing Deif’s wife and child instead.
Benjamin Netanyahu, a prominent figure in Israeli politics, has served multiple terms as the Prime Minister of Israel, most notably from 1996 to 1999 and a subsequent term from 2009 to 2021. Associated with the right-wing Likud Party, Netanyahu is known for his conservative and security-oriented policies. He often takes a resolute stance on issues like Iran’s nuclear program and vigorously advocates for a robust Israeli defense. Beyond his policy positions, Netanyahu has been deeply involved in high-stakes negotiations and conflicts related to Israel, notably playing a key role in the United States-brokered Abraham Accords. These accords resulted in groundbreaking normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab nations, reshaping the geopolitical landscape in the region. Throughout his political career, both in the past and during his recent tenure, Netanyahu’s leadership has been marked by numerous domestic and international controversies and debates. These contentious issues include matters related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the expansion of Israeli settlements, and the ever-evolving dynamics of Israel’s relations with the United States.
Why You Should Care:
No matter what political, religious, moral, or racial background you have, this conflict should have personal significance for the sake of humanity. The lack of humanity has led to a very violent ideology developing on both sides, whether you are pro-Palestine, pro-Israel, or simply on the sidelines. You should be informed of this situation because a population of several million live under colonial apartheid, and have been suffering from a humanitarian crisis for decades. This is not new, Hamas did not act strictly based on radicalized ideology but rather acted based on being victim to years and years of Israeli-sponsored discrimination and violence. The Palestinian population does not have a military-backed by one of the strongest nations in the world, the United States. The Palestinians have been caught in a war that cannot be won, and the consequences of October 7th are a result of the desperation to finally be free. This is not meant to support or defend terrorism, but it is meant to advocate for the fact that this attack was not unprovoked. This is meant to display the very real idea that you can only dehumanize and push a large population of people for so long until they will inevitably see themselves backed into a corner and have no choice but to fight back.