“We are currently engaged in a war, not a smaller operation or round of fighting,” stated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the people of Israel on October 7, after a surprise attack by the Palestinian armed group Hamas killed around 1,200 people in Israel.
The United States, Israel’s closest ally, condemned the attacks as “unconscionable” and affirmed that “Israel has the right to defend itself,” following the President Joe Biden.
Over the next seven weeks, Israel dropped more than 40,000 tonnes of explosives on Gaza, killing over 15,000 people and leveling entire neighborhoods.
After diplomatic efforts and United Nations resolutions, a four-day Gaza truce was agreed upon by Hamas and Israel on November 24 and later extended.
Throughout the conflict, world leaders have exchanged words on the world stage. Many countries have called for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, while Israel’s allies have called for a pause in fighting, with the US administration rejecting demands for a ceasefire until Israel achieves its goal of eliminating Hamas.
The majority of countries calling for a pause are European states as well as the US and Canada, while the majority calling for a ceasefire are those in the Global South, with the exception of a handful of European states.
Tala Herzallah, a 21-year-old student in Gaza, emphasized that the conflict with Israel extends beyond the tragic events of October 7, as Gaza has been under siege for more than 16 years.