Gaza War: What is Happening?

Gaza is a small strip of land situated in Israel, approximately seventy-eight kilometres to the south of Jerusalem. Since the formation of Israel in the immediate aftermath of the First World War, this tiny and seemingly insignificant area of land, has seen a great deal of blood shed, with both Palestinians and Israelis claiming ownership. Gaza is currently Palestinian property, with Israel having relinquished it during the six-day war of 1967, yet still it remains a topic of dispute.

The problem seems to lie, with the Palestinian government, a rebel (and to some, terrorist) organisation. This is a group whose campaign poster depicts an armed man in a balaclava, and  whose name and actions are feared by many: Hamas. For a number of years now, Hamas has terrorised the Israeli cities within close proximity of the Gaza border, firing a number of missiles and killing hundreds of civilians. This is an attempt, so Hamas say, to gain the attention of the Israelis in order that they might lift the blockade current instigated upon Gaza. With their citizens at risk, the Israelis began Operation Cast Lead; an aerial bombardment of the strip. Gaza was left destroyed, and there are even suggestions that Israel committed a war crime, with the accusation that they employed the use of ‘white phosphorous’ ( a banned weapon). The fact remains however, that this war crime would not have affected the citizens of Gaza, if Hamas had not committed a war crime of their own, in situating their army bases in populated areas.

A number of truces have been made, although the problem remains, with Hamas publicly admitting that they used the truces, as a way of regrouping their army and sending their soldiers for training in the neighbouring Arabic country of Egypt. It is for this reason that Israel have not ended the blockade, and with Hamas continuing to bring in weapons through its porous border with Egypt, the circle of violence continues.