The Horrors of Modern Day Warfare
The inhumane treatment of civilians in the Israel-Palestine War raises calls for peace.
Palestinian News & Information Agency (Wafa) in contract with APAimages, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A loud bang echoes across the civilian-lined streets as screams are heard in all surroundings. A woman runs by with blood streaming down her face; a child is standing paralyzed and blinded by the flash. The houses many have called home were destroyed and formed the rubble that one will call a grave. The soldiers haven’t even touched the ground they claim in a ruthless tug of war. But this fight is already very real to the residents of the Middle East who are unlucky enough to be there. This brutal fight between Israel and Palestine is already one felt by its citizens.
“Civilians have different kinds of thinking when it comes to this conflict,” sophomore Kylie Zheng said. “It all depends on the person […] some could be scared and didn’t want this in the first place.
The war between the two states has prompted many calls for a ceasefire. Even before the most recent conflict between Israel and Palestine, coalitions formed demanding peace between the two countries. Women Wage Peace in Israel and Women of The Sun in Palestine are two organizations that both push for the stop in this conflict.
“Every mother, Jewish and Arab, gives birth to her children to see them grow and flourish and not to bury them,” @womenwagepeace said on Instagram. “That’s why […] we extend a hand in peace to the mothers of Gaza and the West Bank.”
Tasnim News Agency, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
With 47% of Gaza being children, the attempts to weed out Hamas are much more fatal than expected. More than a third of all fatalities in Gaza are from the children being caught in the crossfire between Israel’s firepower and Hamas’s soldiers, according to Catherine Russell, Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). These fatalities have prompted many organizations to speak on the matter, like Save The Children.
“One child’s death is one too many, but these are grave violations of epic proportions,” Save the Children's country director for the occupied Palestinian territory Jason Lee said. “A ceasefire is the only way to ensure their safety. The international community must put people before politics - every day spent debating is leaving children killed and injured. Children must be protected at all times, especially when they are seeking safety in schools and hospitals.”
With the reported bombing of hospitals, a ceasefire is emphasized by organizations and citizens alike. As of Nov. 3, women and children combined make up the majority of the death toll at 67% of all casualties, according to several U.N. agencies. The restriction of humanitarian aid and hostages has increased the death toll with tense relations that surround them.
“Basic humanitarian needs should never be restricted to civilians ever,” sophomore Anthony Zurvalec said. “It’s unforgivable to take food from the mouths of children.”
The situation’s cruelty towards civilians is one sparked by proxy tensions. Iran, Egypt, and many other Middle Eastern countries continue to support Palestine. Israel is consistently supported by global superpowers like America which provide it with funding and other supplies for war. This continuous funding from other nations continues to keep the flames of war burning on both sides.
“We want peace,” Palestinian and Israeli demonstrators chanted at a joint rally in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, according to tbsnews.net. “We want our kids to be alive rather than dead.”
