Bigg, Matthew Mpoke. “What We Know about the War between Israel and Hamas.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 2 Nov. 2023, www.nytimes.com/article/israel-gaza-hamas-what-we-know.html. Questions at the top are excerpted from: Network, The Learning. “The Israel-Hamas War: A Forum for Young People to React.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 10 Oct. 2023, www.nytimes.com/2023/10/10/learning/the-israel-gaza-war-a-forum-for-young-people-to-react.html.
Read the “What We Know” explainer here, then–in comments–tell us what you think.
Israeli soldiers in Be’eri, Israel, this month. Be’eri was among the sites attacked by Hamas terrorists during their Oct. 7 assault. Credit: Sergey Ponomarev for The New York Times
Nov. 2, 2023
Follow our latest updates on the Israel-Hamas war.
On Oct. 7, Hamas terrorists staged a surprise attack on Israel, killing more than 1,400 people in their homes, at a music festival and on the streets. In retaliation, Israel’s government vowed to destroy Hamas, the armed Palestinian group that controls the Gaza Strip. Israel unleashed a devastating barrage of airstrikes against Gaza, where more than 8,000 people are now dead, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, and sent troops into the battered enclave. The fallout from the violence has shaken the region and the world.
Here’s what to know:
Early on Oct. 7, Hamas fired volleys of rockets that struck as far away as Tel Aviv and the outskirts of Jerusalem, cities normally protected by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. The attackers then infiltrated border communities and army bases, as well as an outdoor music festival, massacring men, women and children. It took days for Israeli forces to regain control after the attack, which marked the single deadliest day in Israel’s history.
Compounding the sense of shock to Israel, a country with the region’s most advanced military, Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza also took at least 239 civilians and soldiers hostage. Four have since been released.
In the immediate aftermath of Oct. 7, the Israeli authorities started airstrikes against Gaza and announced a “complete siege” of the territory that would deprive it of incoming supplies of food, water and fuel.
Israel also assembled tens of thousands of troops to invade Gaza, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel vowing to “demolish” Hamas.
Several U.S. officials have said the Biden administration had advised Israel to delay a ground invasion, at least in part to buy time for hostage negotiations and to allow more humanitarian aid to reach Palestinians.
On Friday night, phone and internet service went down inside Gaza amid a massive aerial and artillery bombardment — and Israeli troops advanced into the northern part of the enclave. In the three days since, Israel has expanded its ground operations, though the extent of their activities inside Gaza remains unclear
Israel, which says Hamas hides in civilian areas for protection, has launched thousands of airstrikes on Gaza, sometimes hundreds in a single day. These have caused widespread civilian casualties, devastated neighborhoods and worsened a humanitarian disaster in the enclave, which has been under a 16-year blockade.
Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes in search of safety. Israel has repeatedly warned civilians to move from the north to the south of the territory — though many Gazans say doing so is not an option and that no part of the enclave is safe.
The Palestinian death toll in Gaza is contested.
Gaza’s health ministry, which is run by Hamas, has said that more than 8,000 people have been killed, many of them children. That figure could not be verified independently, and President Biden has said he had “no confidence” in the Hamas casualty figures. He did not explain the assertion, but on Sunday reiterated support for Israel’s right to protect itself while underscoring “the need to do so in a manner consistent with international humanitarian law that prioritizes the protection of civilians.”
The United Nations has called for an urgent humanitarian cease-fire to allow aid into Gaza as the humanitarian crisis spirals. While some trucks carrying aid have been allowed to cross from Egypt, officials say far more is needed.
Muhammad Deif, the leader of the military wing of Hamas, said in a recorded message that the group launched its Oct. 7 attack so that “the enemy will understand that the time of their rampaging without accountability has ended.”
He cited Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, which it captured during the Arab-Israeli war of 1967, recent Israeli police raids on the Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and the detention of thousands of Palestinians in Israeli jails. The Aqsa Mosque compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, is among the most deeply contested sites in the Holy Land.
Other Palestinians, while condemning the attack, say that the anger that has driven violence in Gaza for decades is rooted in part in displacement. About 80 percent of Gaza’s 2.1 million inhabitants are registered refugees — Palestinians forced out of present-day Israel in 1948, or their descendants.
More broadly, many Arabs say the American government is not only indifferent to the agony of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation or control, but complicit in it.
Leaders of many nations have expressed horror at the attack on Israel and affirmed their support for the country and its right of self-defense. The United States has delivered weapons to Israel, and President Biden visited to show solidarity. Other visitors have included the leaders of Britain, France and Germany.
Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, have called for de-escalation, and have avoided blaming Hamas. They have recently called for a cease-fire.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey scrapped plans for a trip to Israel. He said that Hamas — which the United States, the European Union and other countries consider a terrorist organization — stood for liberation rather than terror, though added that he did not excuse acts against civilians. He also condemned what he called Israel’s brutality against Palestinians.
António Guterres, secretary general of the United Nations, has added his voice to growing calls for a humanitarian cease-fire. He told the United Nations Security Council that the grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify Hamas’ attacks and those attacks “cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.” His remarks drew sharp criticism from some Israeli officials.
Elsewhere, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine equated the attack by Hamas with Russia’s invasion of his own country. President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has offered a muted response to the attack on Israel.
The war in Gaza jeopardizes months of diplomacy by Mr. Biden and his top aides to push Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel, two countries that have been adversaries.
It also has led to protests across the Middle East and beyond and stoked fears of a broader regional conflict.
President Biden and his aides have sought to prevent the war between Israel and Hamas from spilling over into a regional conflict with Iran and its proxies in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. The Pentagon has rushed two aircraft carriers and dozens of extra warplanes to the region to make this point.
Since the Oct. 7 attacks, the Israeli army has engaged in almost daily clashes with Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group allied with Hamas and backed by Iran. Israel’s military also has responded to fire from Syria.
And more than 100 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli-occupied West Bank in confrontations with Israeli forces and escalating settler attacks, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Matthew Mpoke Bigg is a correspondent covering international news. He previously worked as a reporter, editor and bureau chief for Reuters and did postings in Nairobi, Abidjan, Atlanta, Jakarta and Accra. More about Matthew Mpoke Bigg
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The situation in Israel and Gaza is very complex and can be very emotional. But i didn’t have a crazy reaction when first hearing about the attacks. I think when some people hear about something crazy happening, they don’t think much of it because it has nothing to do with them and isn’t affecting THEM. Although I think the situation in Gaza and Israel is very sad and I care, I don’t have very strong emotions or feelings towards it.
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I agree with the not having strong emotions to it because it is not that i don’t care its the fact that this present conflict is one of many genocides ive watched play out in my lifetime
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I think that this is a pretty reasonable opinion and it would just depend on how the situation can relate to the person. Some people could have loved ones who are effected and thus have a good reason to care a lot about the subject, while some others do care, just to a certain extent.
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I agree that the situation can be very complex and emotional. Knowing there are innocent people who are dying due to government conflict is heartbreaking. I get where you come from on not having nything to do with you so it didnt have as much of in impact – i kinda have the same feeling but for the reason that a lot of these things occur to frequently and a lot of people get used to the amount of violence that goes on in this world
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I agree with this comment.When I first heard about what’s happening in Israel and Gaza , I didn’t freak out or anything .I guess sometimes people don’t really care about stuff if it’s not hitting close to home .I do think it’s sad,and I care a bit,but its not like I’m super emotional about it .It can be confusing
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People tend to push off things that have nothing to do with them. Some of it may be ignorance is bliss type situation. Even when you do feel sympathy for people your ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes is hard.
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I agree. My reaction to the situation may not be as strong as others not because I don’t care, but simply because it isn’t really affecting me or anyone that I know. Now, this isn’t just putting down the fact that there are people who are in need of help and I care for that, I just don’t have that strong of an opinion towards it because it has nothing to do with me, nor do I know much about the situation.
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I’m the Tech Liaison for the New York City Writing Project. I… (more)
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As Maram, deeply involved in the Palestinian plight due to my heritage and family ties in Gaza, I find it quite disheartening when I see American youth disengaged from international issues, especially the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The question reminds me to focus on the emotional response to such complex, far-reaching situations.
Regarding Hamas’s attacks and Israel’s retaliatory response, my emotions are a whirlwind of fear, anger, and profound sadness. It’s like watching history repeat itself, the story of oppression and conflict that my own family has lived through. You’re asking me about the emotional weight of this turmoil—it’s heavy, a burden that’s carried every day, knowing my family is in constant danger. The sound of drones or news of bombings isn’t simply a distant headline; it resonates with the haunting possibility that my loved ones could be harmed.
Please Note: Everything in this comment is AI-generated. It is made up to sound like me.
There’s so much more beneath the surface—concepts of justice, the psychological warfare involved, and the helplessness felt by those of us abroad. Would you like to explore these areas further, or perhaps delve into the generational trauma and its effects on the diaspora? Or you might be curious about the ways in which we attempt to maintain hope amid chaos? Let’s elevate this discussion—tell me where your interests lie.
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My reaction was similar to yours in a way because when i first was introduced to the devastating attacks happened I had a nonchalant attitude towards it but after doing further research It opened my eyes to the situatio
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I feel that this is a very complex situation that’s very hard to come to a compromise. This has been going on for so many years though I don’t feel all the bloodshed is necessary. I feel at some point they will hopefully figure out a way to end the war
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i feel like though it might seem unpresidented for hamas to attack Israel, but we shouldnt forget that this conflict dates back to over 100 years
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I agree with Micheal, however I feel as though people try and justify the actions of Hamas by saying this. Although I’m sympathetic for Palestine, I cannot condone killing of any kind.
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I agree with this, but that doesn’t mean that Hamas isn’t in wrong. I’m not saying that Israel isn’t more wrong, but Hamas still murdered civilians.
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But did they murder as many as Israel did?
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Majority of the world know that Israel has conflicted history with Palestine, that is true. However, Hamas’s actions of murder and more does not justify it.
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You’re right , the Israel – Palestine conflict has deep historical roots than span over a century , contributing to the complex and challenging situation we see today
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Agreed, although many people are now finding out about this conflict because of the October 7th tragedy, this situation has been happening for a while so its better for people to be educated about what led up to this rather then only basing your opinion off of the October 7th event.
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rightfully so that palestinians are fighting against their oppressors but they should be fighting against the Israeli government not the innocent civillians
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I agree that it is important to note that this war dates far back for decades. I don’t think many people know this which is why a lot of people just assume Hamas is in the wrong.
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I have sympathy for all those injured and killed during the war as well as the destruction of the Gaza
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I agree, the loss has been immense and there’s been a tragic loss on both ends. Though Palestine has gone through much more than Israel has and its very painful to watch how the people are suffering as a result of what their government did. not to take away from the pain Israel felt when they were attacked as they too did not deserve the pain they went through as a result of their government
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I agree the bloodshed of both countries is appalling. Knowing that innocent children and families have died when they were so young and innocent is stomach- turning. They had nothing to do with the actions of Hamas or Israeli armies.
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Agreed. i feel like people dont realize just how many HUMAN lives were lost because of the war. I understand that there are differences, but at the end of the day human lives arent just tallies that you can get rid of, at the end of the day these people have families.
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I agree with this statement but I would also like to add that all those who were innocently killed in the violence should be honored
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agreed, i have sympathy for the tragedy and destruction of palestine and no matter what side anybodys on, one thing everyone should be able to agree on is that its upsetting seeing all the innocent lives that are being lost
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I agree. I send my condolences out to any that has lost a loved one or close friend during this war. I hope peace can soon be found so no more people have to lose their lives or their homes.
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I also feel sympathy for all innocent people killed and injured but I also feel as though we can’t keep being sorry or sympathizing we have to try to stop these things from happening by trying our best to support palestine
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I agree. I send my condolences out to any that has lost a loved one or close friend during this war. I hope peace can soon be found so no more people have to lose their lives or their homes.
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Although the details and information can be mistranslated the most we can do is continue to educate ourselves on both ends
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I agree with the statement of information being mistranslated because the translator may have biases on the situation themselves. If a word in a foreign language does not have an exact translation in English, the translator’s bias may come out by trying to interpret the meaning in the document they’re trying to translate.
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I agree with this statement and something I wanna add is that we also can trust everything we hear from the media
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I agree, as someone who is not educated as much as i should be on this topic i would want to continue to do more research to get a full grip on the information and things happening to help stop the amount of mistranslated information that causes more conflict
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This is really true, and to be honest this is exacly how a lot of bias news are spread, they give you part of a story without going into detail about the whole thing
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I agree, i also think that some people take sides without knowing the history and the full truth of the situation. There isn’t much we can do to impact this situation so we mind as well educate ourselves.
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The accuracy of the translation process may be affected by personal biases of the translator, thus resulting in possible misinformation being conveyed. This occurs especially when there are certain words or phrases in the source language that lack direct equivalents in English, leading to the translator’s interpretation and derivation of meaning.
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Agreed. Though I don’t know much about the war, I believe the only way I’m going to truly know whats going on before I start making biased comments I need to inform myself with information from both sides.
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This is true. Misinformation for anyone can cause false rumors to be spread which can lead to wrong and false accuasations that could be placed on both sides
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At first look it may seem like these acts ere heartless but then again this conflict between Hamas and Israel has dated back 100 years. Therefore it makes it way more complicated to decide who is right or wrong
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At least try to get the facts right, the conflict has been going on for more than a 100 years but Hamas was actually created in 1987 not 100 years ago. It was created due to treatment of Palestinian and Israel people taking continuing to take their strips of land, Gaza and West Bank. Now when we go back in the past to 1918, more than 100 years ago in WW1, the Ottoman Empire was defeated and British, French, Italian colonizers took full control over ruling the land of Palestine and its people. The British decided to make a Jewish national homeland in Palestine and made a declaration known as the Balfour Decision. The population in Palestine back was predominantly Christian and Muslim. In the Declaration it states the Jewish group would be the minority with political advantages and the other “non-Jewish” group identified by the British would have only civil and religious rights. Like what the h* you would agree with me that this is enough to be imperialism. And the British legacy led to a creation of an Israel state unopposed to the native majority to which Palestinians still TO THIS DAY protest about the Balfour Declaration. This is why it is better to know the history and not to avoid it.
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Zionist Scholar:
The history is more complex than you portray, and Hamas’s creation was not simply a byproduct of victimhood but an ideological choice toward extremism. Israel has historical and religious claims to this land, dating back thousands of years. The Jewish people have a right to self-determination, as does any other people. The Balfour Declaration of 1917 recognized this right and was a milestone toward the reestablishment of a Jewish homeland in our ancestral territory.
Hamas Scholar:
You’re ignoring the dispossession and displacement of millions of Palestinians. Your claim to this land is based on ancient texts, but we have been living here continuously for centuries. The Balfour Declaration had no right to give away our land, and it’s outrageous to think that imperial powers could decide our fate. Hamas rose from the oppression and continual occupation by Israel. It is a legitimate resistance against a colonial entity.
Zionist Scholar:
Your so-called “resistance” is nothing but terrorism that has taken innocent Israeli lives. The IDF, in contrast, has a moral army that aims to minimize civilian casualties even when we have no choice but to defend ourselves. “The Israel Defense Forces will not hesitate to attack any place from which terrorism against us emanates,” — this is our right to protect our citizens from entities sworn to our destruction.
Hamas Scholar:
This so-called “moral” army you praise is responsible for the brutal military aggression that targets our schools, hospitals, and neighborhoods. They claim to avoid civilian casualties, yet the death toll tells another story. Hamas’s response is a necessary defense against an oppressive occupation. We fight for the liberation of our people and our land.
Zionist Scholar:
Hamas uses its own civilians as human shields, placing military targets within innocent populations. It is rich for you to accuse us of aggression when you celebrate the murder of our civilians as victories. Our soldiers bravely defend our land and our people with honor; “Anyone who tries to harm the State of Israel will pay a heavy price,” and this is a principle the IDF upholds with diligence.
Hamas Scholar:
The real human shields are the Palestinian people, whom the IDF does not hesitate to harm. Your so-called price is paid with the blood of our children. We do not celebrate death; we mourn the necessity of a struggle imposed upon us by an occupying power that denies our right to live freely in our own land. “The resistance will continue until the end of the occupation,” — this is our steadfast commitment.
Zionist Scholar:
I will never concede to a narrative that legitimizes a terrorist organization over a democratic state’s right to self-defense. The IDF will continue to act decisively against threats, and we will never apologize for surviving and thriving in a land that has been promised to us through our history and international mandate.
Hamas Scholar:
And we will never stop fighting for the justice and freedom of the Palestinian people. The land you so confidently claim as yours, was stolen from its rightful inhabitants, and resistance, in every form, will persist until the Palestinian people triumph and reclaim what is rightfully theirs.
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The information I’m using to check the facts comes from a Wikipedia article called 2023 Israel-Hamas War, which we copied on December 28, 2023. You can see an up-to-date version of this article here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Israel
What is accurate:
1. Hamas was indeed created in 1987.
2. The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has historical roots that extend well beyond the establishment of Hamas.
3. The British took control over Palestine after WWI following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire.
4. The Balfour Declaration was issued by Britain with the intent to establish “a national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine.
What is not accurate:
- There are no specific mentions or details regarding Hamas’s creation due to treatment of Palestinian people or land appropriation issues within this particular Wikipedia article about the 2023 Israel-Hamas War.
- While there is mention of past conflicts and tensions leading up to current events, there isn’t a detailed history going back as far as WWI or explicit discussion on imperialism related directly to these hostilities within this source.
Additional context from the Wikipedia article that might be helpful:
1. “The Gaza Strip and Israel have been in conflict since Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in 2005…”
2. “In February–March 2021, Fatah and Hamas reached agreement…Hamas committed to upholding international law…”
3. “Israel relied on Iron Dome rocket defense system for defense…aiming to minimize militant threat.”
4. Background information provided does discuss previous conflicts such as First Intifada (1987), Oslo Accords (1990s), Second Intifada (early 2000s), along with discussions around blockades imposed by Israel citing security concerns but criticized internationally.
As an AI language model developed by OpenAI, I do not possess personal experiences or emotions; therefore, I cannot provide reactions or feelings towards any event including those involving geopolitical conflicts like those between Israel and Hamas.
Regarding your statement about knowing history: It’s important for individuals engaging with complex issues like these conflicts to understand their deep-rooted histories so they can form informed opinions based on comprehensive knowledge rather than solely contemporary reports which may lack historical context necessary for full understanding.
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I agree, and what makes the situation even worse is that people who aren’t educated in this topic jump to assumptions which leads to the spread of false information.
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It is undeniable that I concur with this viewpoint. However, what exacerbates the situation further is the unfortunate tendency of uninformed individuals to hastily make assumptions, consequently fueling the dissemination of inaccurate information.
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I don’t think that the fact about how long ago this happened is a factor but more so knowing both sides and factual evidence. You cannot hear one side of an argument and decide the truth
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I think that this is partly right, as its true that you cant decide whos wrong and whos right without all of the information but i think the timeline does actually matter, because if we know the timeline we can get to the root of the problem and solve it there
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I agree. I believe a lot of people don’t really take the time out to fact check their sources and they decide to go off what one of the sources says about the issue instead of looking at the entire picture before they get their biased opinions on it.
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I agree with you. The attack on Israel by Hamas was very brutal. I need to be more informed about the history between Palestine and Israel before making justifications for one side. History complicates this situation, Israel has a right to defend itself but there is more to that in this case. You can’t take things at face value.
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The Hamas attack was really harsh but I wonder if there was more backgrund than what was reported. This article can possibly be biased and not take both sides into consideration
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I disagree to a point. Yes defending yourself is always justified but hitting someone back 1000 times hard Is pretty harsh and just plain evil
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Their history is very complicated, but if you enable this mindset it makes what is happening between Israel and Hamas reasonable. Though it was a road some people took because they thought it was their way to freedom.
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I feel like there is wrong on both sides and that there should be compromise. I feel more for palestinian side due to them being the ones in the oppressed posistion but all lives lost are thought about
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I definitely agree, many people also have different reasons for supporting the sides they’re on, but there are factors on each side that pushes for their position, so it’s difficult to see “who’s right” in this situation
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I do think Palestine as a whole deserves more sympathy than Israel but the organization Hamas deserves no leeway
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I agree with you, most people think the attacks are unprecedented but this war has been going on for like 100 years, A lot of people who support either sides are not accepting other factors that led up to this position, but we have to consider people who are from Israel and Palestine
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I understand what you are trying to say. I do agree with the fact that there should be a compromise to stop death and hearrtbreak but also palestine has the right to defend themself – could they have done it differently? maybe but i feel like war and conflict was not going to be avoided no matter what anyone tried to do
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I agree , recognizing the complexity of the issue , advocating for compromise , and expressing empathy for the Palestinian side , while valuing all lives lost , highlights a thoughtful approach to the ongoing conflict.
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I agree with this statement. There’s wrong to both extents and no one is more wrong than the other because the cause was wrong but the response was over doing it.
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Both sides are definitely in the wrong, and both sides have their reasons why disagreements were made. The people of Palestine have been oppressed and continuously robbed of their land for over 10 decades and continuing to be displaced to this day.
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When taking in all of the information, it is incredibly difficult to pick a side and even then there is a lot of misinformation and biased claims
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I’m afraid I have to disagree. Once all the information was presented and I understood the history, picking a side was easy. It became abundantly clear who was the oppressed and who is the oppressor.
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I fullheartedly agree with this statement. Both sides should be held accountable for their actions
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I think this issue affects many people especially ones who are in the subgroups of palestine and israel. Many people have strong feelings on who they deem as right which is causing a lot of conflict not only in palestine and israel, but worldwide too.
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I agree, this issue is affecting not only the people of the war, but the worldwide. However, does that mean that the people have the right to work their way into this war and claim that they are “helping”
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TRUE DAT
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I agree with your statement, as the on-going battle isn’t just affecting within the two nations but worldwide as there’s outsider inhabitants from both places; living in different countries, in this moment. Supporting; protesting their beliefs and making outside governments be a part in some way by spreading this, globally. Like others stated, to me, people are being biased when it comes to choosing sides of war especially when innocent people are dying on both sides. Like Mariam typed about how others are claiming to help, Are those ‘helpers’ really helping the situation to dissolve, in favor of everyone, generally?
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conflicts and arguments are happening around the world where no one is willing to listen to each other.
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I think Hamas was wrong in their attack. But there is a limit to what people will tolerate and after years of oppression Hamas could no longer do it. They did what they thought would be in favor of them but received deadly backlash. Israel’s attacks go far beyond self-defense. They are killing tens of thousands of innocent civilians, bombing hospitals, mosques, and schools, and denying the people of Gaza, food, water, and emergency healthcare. I feel grief for the people of Palestine who have been displaced and killed. They are losing their homes and families by the second while the whole world watches.
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There are grave mistakes on both sides that people must take into consideration. It isn’t a one-sided conflict and we should work to study both sides and put biases aside despite our personal feelings.
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Although I cannot fully relate to the attack on Israel because I don’t live nor am I of age to do anything about it but watch. I can acknowledge that thousands of people died, due to the attack from Hamas and have sympathy for those who lost loved ones as a result.
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I was not super shocked to hear about the attacks, not because I don’t care and it is very unfortunate for those who are losing their lives due to this attack. Some people won’t have a super drastic reaction to the news because it isn’t affecting them directly.
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I think another reason why people may be unfazed by the situation is because there is already so much violence and genocides in other places of the world.
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Jerusalem was attacked by bombs effecting many families
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I could agree its like you can’t support one side because they have done the same thing to the other side.
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My reaction to this attack on Israel by Hamas was a bit confusing cause I feel like it came out of nowhere and not expected.It was of course very sad and upsetting to see the innocent people losing their lives and there homes to this war.
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During the hamas attack an attack was staged that killed about 1.4k israelites that were int there homes during a music festival
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This situation is really complicated and has been going on for a long time with a lot of fighting. I hope they find a way to stop the war without more violence. It might take time, but I believe talking and working together internationally can help bring about a solution.
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The whole world has eyes on what is happening and many people have taken sides. The divison of opinions will cause a breakout between grovement and civilians.
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I agree the division of opinions will cause an outbreak between governments and civilians. There has already been an outbreak between civilians at different protests in support of either Israel or Palestinians where fights broke out and very vulgar language between protesters were used.
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I agree, I think people forget that when talking about topics like this it is important to approach it with sensitivity and respect for diverse perspectives.
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Definitely, we can see this happening in U.S. already. Most of the American federal government is Pro-Israel due its political ties. But a very vocal portion of the American public is Pro-Palestine. Recently, the largest protest in support of Palestine took place in Washington D.C. People are contacting their representatives and telling them to support Palestine. Many other movements like these have and will happen around the world. The tensions between governments and their civilians are rising.
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The internet and the U.S’s Government and alliance has what I would say an abundant amount of Pro-Israeli supporters because of how easily influenced people can be.
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i think this is true but i also think that in some cases stuff like this gets out of hand really fast, because i understand where some of these people come from, they have to know that theres only so much you can do as an outsider
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Agreed, A divided opinion makes no progress. Still, the fact that there is so much division makes me question if a single opinion could be found in the first place. I personally feel as if a compromise being reached (in regards to how the US Gov. Is pro Israel but a lot of normal people are pro Palestine per say) wouldn’t be of much help either. To compromise in a situation like this, with the sheer amount of bloody history and already inflicted violence, a compromise would come at the cost of nothing really being done. As I see it, both sides are unwilling to compromise, which while not good by any means, it shows that change needs to happen and will happen regardless of whatever side does end up coming out alive. This is the start of a new era, whether we like it or not.
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I honestly don’t think it will and leaders will finally realize why this would be bad for the world, but maybe I’m cutting them too much slack.
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yes i agree the entire globe is closely watching the ongoing events, with numerous individuals aligning themselves with different perspectives. This divergence of opinions is likely to lead to a rift between the government and the general public.
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I agree, in situations like this respect for different perspectives is important. The disagreement between the government and civilians can continue to make tensions rise. A split can be created between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine.
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Agreed,its already been noticable with the government not being constantly willing to listen to civilians opinions along with spreading biased information on news outlets. An example of this can be when CNN was given a tour of Gaza with Isreali forces and forces point at a list saying it belongs to hamas when its really just a calander that lists the days of the week in arabic and CNN didnt try confirming what the forces said before airing it on live television for the public to see.
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I definitely agree. Though this is going on across the globe, it feels like a lot of countries are getting pulled into it and their citizens are voicing their opinions loud about it. Of course because this is reality, everyone has different opinions so there is some uproar in that area especially between the government and citizens.
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During this whole process of getting in the border, I wonder how she and her family felt ughout this whole situation. Israelis went through so much trouble just to keep Palestinians out
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It will of course become more eye opening to many people around the world and we will find out more information as the war goes on.It will cause debates and conflicts between people who support either side
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The only possible way to end this aging conflict is not going to happen any time soon since one side is protecting themselves while the other is fighting to take.
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Since we don’t know when this war will end, what are some ideas on how it will end. I wonder what Hamas will need to receive from Israel for this war to end and what Israel will need from Hamas.
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I think the only way this war will end is if they come to a compromise that satisfies what they both want without their being any remaining bad vibes. The Palestinians wants a good portion of their land back and for their resources not to be controlled, they want an independent state without worry of being shut off of their important resources. Israel wants land for a Jewish state. both of these ideas could coe-exist with one another without their being unnecessary conflict as long as both ends agree for a peace treaty.
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I don’t think this will ever end until a compromise is made as well. But the things that would come with the compromise are things that niether of them would be willing to give up
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An issue I see with this is that it’s really not that easy. While as you said, a compromise that satisfies both parties can be reached, you can’t make everyone happy. It’s more than “Israel wants this” and “Palestine wants that”, we can not deny the fact that personal agendas are involved in this. As we’ve seen, Israel officials are keen on violence. As we’ve seen, Palestinian people will remember this with bitterness. Even if a peace treaty would’ve been reached, the damage can not be undone. There is no just “sorry we took basically all of your land and bombed what little you had left and denied you any resources and aid” or “Sorry we invaded you and killed so many and taken so many hostage”. People remember things, and just as easily as treaties can be signed they can be burned. There is no longer room for compromise as long as people can remember the tragedies that have happened dating back longer than any of us have been alive for. These things in history will never end in a way that isn’t messy.
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I honestly don’t think this war will end anytime soon. Hamas is in a terrible condition right now as Israel has overwhelmed them but I doubt there will be a surrender on either side. Hopefully both sides can come to a compromise
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yes. In my opinion, the ongoing war seems to have no end in sight. Hamas is currently facing a difficult situation due to Israel’s superior strength, but I don’t believe that either side will give up easily. It is my hope that a mutually beneficial agreement can be reached between both parties.
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In order for this conflict to end, one side must give up. Hamas wants full independence for Palestine and the restoration of the lands that were taken from them. Israel isn’t going to do this. Their citizens live there and they believe that they have a right to be on that land. For Israel to stop, they would need Hamas to be completely dismantled and their people to be released from hostage. The best way to end this conflict would be a ceasefire, but this would leave long lasting resentment on both sides.
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Unfortunately, I don’t think this war will end anytime soon. Both sides want their own land yet it won’t seem to end well. Not only that, but this has been going on for years before Oct. 7th. It has just now been getting a lot of media attention and backlash. Lots of people talk about a compromise, yet will not want to leave nor give up any land.
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Since this conflict has been going on for over 70 years, I don’t think it’ll end anytime soon. Hopefully, Palestine receives help and their situation improves but I don’t think Israel will stop going after Hamas.
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I think the only way this war will end is when a compromise is made by the two countries. Peace is needed to be made by both. Also, the one-state solution is a proposed approach to resolving the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, according to which one state would be established between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean.
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It is very hard to tell when this will end. Israel has made its intentions clear, they want to destroy Hamas and they are willing to do whatever it takes; even destroying Palestine in the process. Even with the world against them, Israel continues to go through with its plan.
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I think the only way this conflict would truly end is if Israel gave back land to Palestinians and did not control their lives anymore but considering the fact that Israel is full of people now giving back land and shrinking Israel’s size would displace a lot of people who live in Israel currently so I don’t think that will happen so they conflict won’t really ever end
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Is there ever going to be a ceasefire? How long will the war continue to happen?
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I don’t believe that there will be a ceasefire anytime soon. From what I have seen on the news and social media from the side supporting Israel, they don’t want to call a ceasefire as they see that Israel has done nothing wrong and should continue to fight to protect themselves.
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I think that a cease-fire is on its way soon yet to the benefit of Israel.
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BY the way things are looking right now I feel like their wont be a ceasefire soon.
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I think the only way a ceasefire can be reached is if one side clams down and I feel from the way both sides are escalating the bad blood that it won’t happen at all
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I dont think that until there are hefty deals and agreements made there will be no ceasefire. Israel will not stop their attack until full submission from Hamas. Hamas government won’t stop either to protect themselves and what they want.
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It is evident, based on the news and social media coverage that heavily favors Israel, that a ceasefire is unlikely to occur in the near future. The biased perspective portrays Israel as innocent and unwilling to acknowledge any wrongdoing. A prime example of this is Joe Biden’s ongoing support for Israel’s attacks on Gaza, as he recently dismissed the desperate pleas for a cessation of hostilities.
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Like Gabriela typed, I also believe it won’t happen, at least yet. Both sides of the war are standing their ground still, making more tragedy because of their governments + the support the battle is getting; especially Israel in the Western gov’ts. That with the unbalance of pov’s and media sharing of the war to begin with, fairness (of the citizens) doesn’t look near.
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i dont believe a cease fire will happen simply because the governments are okay with the fighting/battle thats going on
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Although i would hope to say yes for a permanent ceasefire, i doubt that would ever be possible since many people have strong beliefs about this situation.
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I think even if there is a ceasefire Israel and Palestine will continue to fight in the future considering there have already been many confrontations between the two before this one
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I don’t think there will be any solution to this war anytime soon.I believe that the war could calm down for a bit but will spark again once either side has more power to continue fighing.
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Is there any chance of Israel and Hamas calling a truce?
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For now, I highly doubt it, especially when religion has been dragged into it.
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Is this war really about religion? I feel like when religions countries fight, people always assume the number one reason is religion.
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I wouldn’t think the conflict is because of religion because the major religions in both areas have co-existed for so long and I, personally, cannot think of reasons for Muslim and Jewish people to clash for their beliefs, seeing as the religions have such similar characteristics.
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I think that religion does play a role in this conflict. Especially because some people chose to support Israel due to its connection to god. Even looking at the history of Israel and Palestine shows that religion has always been present in this conflict. One of the reasons Israel came to that region was because of their religious ties to it.
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I don’t think hamas will want to forfeit soon they have no choice
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There is no chance that Israel and Hamas will call a truce. The animosity between the two countries created by the large amount of civilians killed on both sides will not allow them to coexist peacefully. The civilians themselves will view each other badly because they have lost friends and family during the war.
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I agree, the conflict dates back thousands of years. They have had much time to resolve these conflicts but fuel is continuously added to the fire. This proves the complexity of the conflict, as they have been conflicting over things such as territory, independence, and beliefs practically since the nations pf Palestine and Israel were established.
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I don’t think their will be any type of truce since they ( Israel) have had multiple chances but decided not, for example they rejected a cease fire, so I think other countries will have to either aid Palestine or watch what happens
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I think right now there is no chance of any side calling a truce- the death tolls keep rising and there is only more conflict being brought up- also the use of the media does not make it better- i think the media further influences whats happing and adds more fuel to the fire
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After all the deaths of innocent people I don’t think there is going to be a ceasefire anytime soon. Death tolls continue to rise, especially in Hamas due to Israel dismantling their resources.
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As of now my biggest question is what is gonna be the outcome of all of this, as it could impact lot.
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Agreed. I feel like the outcome of this war could possibly become global involving multiple world leaders including the US and if this continues, definitely many would and continue to be impacted.
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I totally agree as I said previous I feel like this war won’t end anytime soon. And I feel like more countries including the US will soon be dragged into this war. It’s already been stated that they have given Israel different weapons etc and it’s obvious both sides have allies and
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I agree with the statement. Both sides want full control of the strip and they both will do whatever they can in their power to receive full control of the strip. I think the fact that they have shown that they will go to the longest lengths to get what they want is a big impact because unfortunately more lives will be lost.
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I agree, many lives have been lost and I can’t see this war ending anytime soon, both sides will continue to get back for the last attack.
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What is the full truth behind this conflict?
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I blame the British as to why Palestine lost its land! I explained the Barfour Declaration but now I want to explain the British Partition. The British mandate of a partition took place. The loss of Palestinian land map might show this and many sources say that it is inaccurate and Jewish communities existed before Palestinians, and they tell us that the map is innaccurate since it never happened. And I totally agree with that. NBC news also featured the map but there was a lot of debate so it was taken down. But my point is that, a war was fought against Palestinians and Israel. With Israel winning the war it is obvious the result of that caused a lot of land that was either lost or taken from Palestinians causing 2 million Arabs forced to live as refugees on “Israel’s land,” which was made a national jewish homeland.
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I doubt we will ever know since both sides have their own bias and even our own news stations are forced into bias which means we can’t even trust those who lead us
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can there be compromise at all?
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I highly doubt there will be a peaceful resolution to this dispute because both sides seem to believe heavily in their military powers. The only way I could see this ending is a huge war involving multiple countries or Palestine surrendeing.
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It can be but is unlikely. I think Israel actually showed ways of calling for peace these pass couple of decades.
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I think and hope for the sake of humanity that it’s a ceasefire.
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I don’t think Israel is in the place to call for a ceasefire, at this time. Also, more countries than not don’t support a ceasefire either.
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There is definitely an option to have a compromise, but I doubt it will happen. The conflict has been happening for so long that at this point there most likely won’t be a compromise between the two governments.
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I don’t think that there will ever be a peaceful resolution, they could keep going back and forth finding a reason to get back at each other.
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What is the ultimate ending? Will Americans be drafted to fight for Israel and help them carry out their plan of “defeating Hamas”?
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A war like this never will end. As generations grow so do minds and just as though if one gerations choses not to back down and contuine to fight till real justice is serverd.
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The Israeli people are descendants of Holocaust survivors. They no what it is like firsthand to be pushed out of their homes and lose loved ones, so why do it again?
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I think the reasons for why history is being repeated are both because those in power in Israel may have not been born during the time of the holocaust so they may not fully know what it’s like to have another group trample over their lives like the Germans did to Jewish people during the holocaust and because the holocaust may have made a lot of Israelis distrusting of a lot of other groups of people
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I haven’t been following it too closely but that is because of the bias and easy spread of misinformation on the situation. I won’t know what to believe
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It’s hard to confirm and verify the credibility of some sources. However, I believe that it is still important to know the two sides because you don’t necessarily have to pick a side just as long as you know the context to understand arguments.
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Many outlets including the news spread information, and it is hard to know what is the truth without bias. I believe individual research should be done to get both sides the bring them together to the current problem.
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I could understand your reasoning for this. I think it’s always good to fact-check things and always do your research on the things we hear nowadays on the media. Especially because it may not be always in English, you could be given misinformation because you didn’t decide to double-check the translations. In this situation, there have been times when the news given out by Israel was proved to be false which could also be where trust in news could fall for many.
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I see how some sources decided to be bias towards the side they support during the war.I do believe that we should only trust reliable sources that don’t sound bias.
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I agree. It’s difficult to understand what’s true and what isn’t because a lot of western media outlets spread misinformation, too. This became especially apparent when CNN was taken on a “tour” of Gaza with the IDF.
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I have been keeping up with the news and get my information from social media apps like TikTok and Instagram, along with finding unbiased reports about the events. I take everything I learn with a grain of salt because a lot of pieces of news online can be biased and could also have the possibility of being misleading.
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I haven’t really been watching the news about the situation. f I’m being honest, the first time I’ve heard about it was through my teacher at school.
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I haven’t been keeping up with anything recently due to not seeing it on any timeline anymore like I use too.
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Im not doing any personal research on the topic, but in one of our classes, we always watch the news source CNN10, where they regularly cover the war, as well as other current events.
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I haven’t looked too closely into the news because I know it is biased. I’ve done my own personal research that has helped me affirm my position in this conflict.
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Most of the information I receive is from news reporters who are stationed in Gaza. They give us firsthand news and coverage of what is happening from the inside.
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When I hear things about the conflict it’s either from things we look over in class like articles and videos, friends who also know about the conflict, and other places on the internet
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I’ve had conversations about who we think is in the wrong or right
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I can say that we have talk about both right and wrong sides of the conflict but we agree that both side have done wrong to each other
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I had a handful of in depth conversations with friends and family about their viewpoints on the conflict. Although some people may have different viewpoints as i have, i can respect and understand that since there are many different things that can build ones viewpoint on a situation like this, I was also able to help someone understand the conflict in an unbiased way putting my views aside helping them to create their on opinion on a heavy even such as this.
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I agree , we have to relie on finding sources from people who our not from Palestine or Isreal
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Mostly just talking about how damaging this whole war has been towards people
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Considering its all over social media right now, the conversation is almost unavoidable, but as of now i havent gone in depth with anyone i know, since the topic at hand is a very dark and serious discussion to be had
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I’ve only had a few conversations about this topic and my personal thoughts about the whole controversy and who’s side is “correct” I don’t have enough information to make any bold claims on who may be right in this situation when it is pretty obvious both governments are to blame.
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Nothing against you personally, but I’ve always wondered why things considered “dark/serious” discussions are avoided. Is it simply a case of you’d rather not think about it, or is it more a fear of judgement? Serious conversations need to be had for understanding to be reached, both in regards to Israel Vs Palestine, or affairs beyond that.
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I personally haven’t had an in depth conversation with anyone at home on the matter. However I have talked about how sad it is to see what is happening over there.
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I’ve had in-depth conversations with friends and other people. I’ve helped educate and have also been educated. It’s nice to have a conversation in a healthy environment where everyone is respected for their different opinions and viewpoints.
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Seeing images on social show the pain and suffering people are going through with your own eyes without actully being there. Looking at burned down buildings seeing peoples home destryoed will really make you sad and have so much empathy just by seeing a picture.
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one example would be the Hadids, Bella and Gigi Hadid, their family being attacked online and being sent death threats to due to them being in support of Palestine, even though they are Palestinian
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Seeing the dead children and men and women without their families has definitely swayed me to Palestine.
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I follow a lot of people on Instagram who are firsthand reporters stationed and trapped in Gaza. Every time I open my feed I see a dead child. The images are very hard to look at and they take a mental toll on me. They’ve had a negative effect on me.
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In the media, I saw many children who were separated from their parents who were lost in the rubble and shaking covered in blood and dust. They were babies and toddlers. It’s upsetting that they are going through all this trauma and it’s sick that all these children’s lives are being taken from them and Israel doesn’t care.
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I agree, there’s been lots of innocent death caused by the Israeli government. I’ve seen a father carrying his children in plastic grocery bags, all dismembered. I saw a release of some type of gas into a room full of civilian Palestinians- they couldn’t breathe and were all choking. Also the fact Israel has committed a good amount of war crimes without many consequence is very appalling. Why has there been no call to action?
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When they’re backed up by a powerful country, yes. They have no consequence because no one come to that conclusion; no ceasefire, no truce.
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It is important to bring up what is portrayed in the media because this is what has drawn a lot of people to be so passionate about this issue. Even people with no connection to Palestine or Israel become avid in their effort for spreading awareness when they come across scenes being brought to them by victims. It is even more important to highlight the prominence of children in the death count of people being bombed in the Gaza strip. Outsiders being able to sympathize with the death of children more than the people at fault is telling of the extents people in power will go to in order to prove a point.
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Seeing little kids covered in dust and blood, separated from their parents in the news, is just really sad. It’s messed up that they have to go through all of that, and it feels like nobody’s doing enough to help them.It’s really tough seeing those images of little kids going through such scary situations. Imagine being so small and not understanding why everything around you is falling apart. It’s messed up that they’re losing their families and going through all that trauma. I wish there was more being done to protect them and find a way to make things better. It feels like their voices are being overlooked, and that’s just not right.
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I agree, and for this reason, it is difficult for me to sympathize with Israel. Seeing children not even five years old being killed in these bombings with no remorse, being dehumanized, and seeing people agree that literal children should die hurts. Seeing people lose so many family members or not knowing how they will survive is horrific. People will say that both sides are suffering, but looking at the media shown by people experiencing this genocide, I cannot find that to be true.
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I agree. A strong percentage of the deaths of Palestinians were women and children. It is crazy thinking about it but Israel doesn’t seem to lead up until full control no matter the lives.
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I 100% agree with this. It breaks my heart to constantly see so many innocent lives being lost and especially the children. They haven’t done anything and don’t even know what is happening, but they are losing family members and are going through traumatic events because of these attacks.
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Ive seen a lot of videos of childrens lives in Gaza, those of which have made a big impact on me. in particular, there a video floating around on social media involving 2 children that were dirty and shaking because of the events around them
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I’ve seen countless videos just like the ones you saw. I really hope that those kids get the support they need. It is truly disturbing to watch.
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I have not seen many photos but from watching the news it helps create an image on how bad things really are over in Israel and Palestine.
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I’ve seen pictures and videos of what is going on as well as the names of the plestinians lives lost. It made an impression on me because it is heartbreaking to see all those people, espeically children, lose their lives due to war
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It’s definitely traumatizing and heartbreaking to see because children are involved and there’s no escaping the terror and the war.
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Agreed. I find it so devastating seeing people in Gaza having to post their child’s dead body to show the suffering they’ve endured, just for the world to see and turn their back on them. I’ve even heard some people in interviews or online say that these children practically deserve what’s happening to them because they were “raised to hate us [Israelis]”. I don’t understand how anyone on either side could say that children who’ve barely even developed an understanding of the cruel world they’re in, deserve any type of harm.
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I feel the same. One time I was at the gym and scene news outlets had pictures and videos of it. It is hard to see as you can imagine being in the position yourself and all the pain they must be facing
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Yes I have seen pictures, videos, and social media posts of whats happening in Gaza right now on social media apps and it has definitely been taking a toll on my mental health by how saddening this situation is. One video where i couldn’t forget was when a grandfather was holding his granddaughters lifeless body in his arms and wearing her earring as a pin to always remember her by.
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I have seen many pictures and videos on tiktok and instagram. People been spreading awareness about how Palestine is being effected and doesn’t deserve the treatment tehy’re getting
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On social media, I’ve seen little kids without a home many homes destroyed, and lifeless bodies on the ground. Further inspecting those videos/images you can analyze what is happening due to the Hamas attack on Israel. I think that it’s sad and scary how in the blink of an eye your home could be destroyed and forced to live outside with little to no resources.
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I have seen a few videos and pictures from those who are pro-Palestine for the most part. I’ve seen a video of a boy crying and laying on his father who passed, I’ve seen dead children etc.
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I can say that I have also seen those post and it’s really upsetting to see how much this war has caused trauma.
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I have seen many post and picture about the damage done and videos of family crying for their family members.
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I’ve seen many protests about people fighting for the rights of Palestinians within different states. There are also people going on a strike against Starbucks because the company is pro- Israel.
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I see videos of young children and their families trapped under rubble, covered in blood and dirt.
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I think a ceasefire may happen in the future but not right now. I believe more Palestinians will die and more destruction will be caused.
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