A humanitarian crisis, an act of terrorism, hostages, war crimes; these are just a few phrases that commonly appear in constant media coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas, a militant organization in Gaza, launched an attack on Israel brutally killing over 1,000 people and taking Israeli citizens hostage. The Israeli government responded by blocking food, water, and fuel from entering Gaza. A ground invasion of the Gaza Strip was launched, and the territory was bombed indiscriminately, resulting in thousands of civilian deaths.
According to The Hill, a $14.3 billion aid package was passed in November 2023 by House Republicans in support of the Israeli military amidst a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The United States government must stop funding this attack on civilians to break this cycle of violence and focus its efforts on restoring peace in the region.
As stated in an article by PBS, the Biden Administration has bypassed Congressional approval twice to approve an emergency weapons sale to Israel. Additionally, fragments of American-made bombs (Joint Direct Attack Munitions) have been found in Gaza. According to PBS, the explosion of these bombs will instantly kill anyone within approximately 33 yards, and lethal fragmentation can occur up to 400 yards from the source.
By sending weapons that are contributing to the destruction in Palestine, the United States is participating in the displacement of thousands of innocent people who have lost homes, relatives, and lives. The dehumanization of Palestinians is also made abundantly clear in this process.
The siege in Gaza has reached a level of severity that is comparable to some of the most destructive conflicts in history. According to an article by PBS, the United States led an assault to expel an Islamic State group from the city of Mosul in Iraq in 2017 killing 10,000 civilians over the course of nine months. During that conflict, 15,000 air strikes were conducted throughout Iraq in comparison to the 22,000 strikes that have already been carried out in Gaza since October 7.
Participating in conflicts that contribute to destabilization in the Middle East is a concept the U.S. knows all too well. Disheartening statistics displayed in an article by National Public Radio (NPR) reveal that approximately two million people have been displaced in Gaza and at least 10,000 children have been killed.
Finally, according to PBS, neighborhoods, schools, and mosques have been destroyed by airstrikes. Aid issued by the United States has contributed to the destruction of hospitals, churches, and universities.
According to NPR, the Great Omari Mosque, as well as the Saint Porphyrius Church, considered to be the third oldest church in the world, have been bombed.
Israa University (an important institution of higher education in Gaza), was intentionally demolished. According to ABC News, only 16 of the 36 hospitals that were operational in Gaza prior to October 7 are still functional.
The most fundamental aspects of an entire society are being wiped out with the United State’s funds. Military aid from the U.S. has impacted a significant percentage of this population, many of whom aren’t in any way affiliated with Hamas. Furthermore, the situation in Gaza only worsens with the complicity of American leaders.
The careless actions of the United States government to fund this war plainly displays that Palestinian lives are not attributed equal value in the eyes of the U.S. government. This incredibly flawed response adds Gaza to the long list of territories that have been destabilized with the aid of the U.S.
While President Joe Biden has had talks with Israeli leaders in recent weeks about scaling down this operation, there has been no accountability. The United States, through its funding and weapons, has already contributed to a significant loss of civilian life.
Leaders have chosen to remain silent regardless of the suffering on both sides of this conflict. Because of this, Palestinian civilians are left without access to basic resources and the families of hostages have no choice but to watch on as the location of their loved ones is bombed.
Viewing war as the only option will not lead to a peaceful resolution. The most impactful action the United States could take would be to stop funding this war, and call for an immediate ceasefire to halt the loss of innocent lives.
It is imperative to ensure safety of all civilians prior to addressing the snapping tensions between these two territories. The United States must break the violence cycle and have equal treatment of all human lives.
