In the midst of the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, Israel's defense minister made a statement that caused a lot of controversies. He referred to Palestinians as "human animals" and declared that Israel would treat them accordingly. This statement came as Israeli fighter jets launched a massive bombing campaign on the Gaza Strip.
The Siege on Gaza Strip
The defence minister also announced a complete siege on the Gaza Strip, which is a small area home to 2.3 million Palestinians. This siege means that there will be no electricity, food, or fuel available to the people living there. Everything will be closed off. The defence minister justified this action by saying that they are fighting against "human animals."
The Ongoing Bombardment
The Israeli air force has dropped thousands of munitions and tons of bombs on Gaza in the past 20 hours. They have targeted residential buildings, mosques, hospitals, banks, and other civilian infrastructure. This bombardment has resulted in the deaths of at least 500 Palestinians, including 91 children, and thousands of others have been injured.
The Palestinian Armed Groups
While the bombardment continues, Palestinian armed groups are also fighting against Israeli troops inside Israeli territory. This conflict started with a surprise attack by Palestinians, which has led to the deaths of at least 700 Israelis and thousands more wounded.
The Historical Background
Gaza was originally part of historic Palestine before the state of Israel was created in 1948. During that time, around 750,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes in what is known as Al-Nakba or The Catastrophe. Today, more than 60 percent of Palestinians in Gaza are refugees who were forced to leave their homes in other parts of Palestine in 1948.
The Situation in Gaza Strip
The Gaza Strip is a small area bordered by Israel and Egypt on the Mediterranean coast. It is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Gaza was under Egyptian control until the 1967 Arab-Israeli War when it was seized and occupied by Israel along with the West Bank and East Jerusalem. In 2005, Israel claimed to have pulled out of Gaza, but in 2007, they imposed a blockade on the territory in response to the Hamas movement's election victory.
The Impact of the Blockade
The blockade imposed by Israel has had severe consequences for the people of Gaza. Palestinians living there face a shortage of clean water, electricity, and medical supplies. The drinking water is contaminated, and power outages are common due to repeated Israeli attacks on the power grid. Additionally, close to 60 percent of Palestinians in Gaza live in poverty, and youth unemployment is at a staggering 63 percent. Around 80 percent of the population relies on international assistance for their basic needs.
