The Gaza crisis has reached extreme levels as Israel continues its intense retaliatory bombardment on Gaza amidst a sharp increase of violence in the region. Hamas, the rulers of Gaza, continue to launch rockets into Israeli territory and hold Israeli citizens hostage. In response, Israel has responded by launching air strikes on the Gaza Strip and ground forces over the past few days.
The most current escalation began several days ago when an Israeli air strike killed Abu al-Ata, a senior Hamas commander and a leader of the militant group in the Gaza Strip. This prompted Hamas to retaliate by launching rockets and mortar shells into Israeli strongholds, resulting in 28 Israelis injured and more than 160 Palestinians killed.
Schools in Gaza and the surrounding areas have been closed and thousands of residents have been left without power due to the bombardment. The United Nations and international aid workers continue to call for an immediate end to the bloodshed, however, the Israeli Defense Forces announce no sign of ending the offensive.
Palestinian civilians in the Gaza strip are in danger with the continued bombardment and a lack of resources. Hospitals, power plants, and schools have been targeted by the Israeli bombardment, prompting the shutdown of medical services and the displacement of citizens.
The conflict over the Gaza Strip is decades old and the current escalation is a testament to the continued cycle of violence between Palestine and Israel. The United Nations has called for a cessation of hostilities and diplomatic negotiations between the two countries, however, there appears to be no end in sight to the conflict. The Gaza crisis continues to be an issue of extreme urgency, prompting a growing humanitarian crisis as the violence escalates.
