One of the many political news topics in the country right now is the Israeli-Hamas war.
The conflict between Palestine and Israel is a century-long issue that is rooted in religious territory disputes over the Holy Land. The Holy Land is an area that has important religious significance for the Jews, Christians and Muslims.
The current war is between Hamas and Israel, who are fighting over the Gaza Strip territory.
According to The White House, the U.S. is providing 100 million in humanitarian assistance. This will help support those civilians who have been affected by the war.
So, what is really going on in the Middle East? It’s hard to get the facts straight with the media in this day and age. So many people have a false understanding of the war that is taking place. This can especially be seen in teenagers who gain most of their information from social media sources.
According to the BBC, on Oct. 7, a Hamas gunman launched an assault on Israel from the Gaza Strip, resulting in the death of 1,200 people and 240 hostages being taken. Israel’s response to the attack was an airstrike on Gaza and launched a ground offensive. According to the Hamas-run government in Gaza, 17,000 people have died.
After a seven-day truce, where hostages and prisoners on both sides of the war were released, the fighting resumed. During this week-long truce, 240 Palestinian prisoners were released, and 100 Israeli hostages were released.
Israel Defense Forces’ plan of action is to continue with airstrikes on the Gaza Strip reinforced with troops moving throughout the territory.
Israel has also enlisted 300,000 reservists to add to their prior 160,000 troops.
Hospitals have been attacked, tunnel systems destroyed, and after the ceasefire ended, Israel has pushed aggressive attacks on the southern part of Gaza.
The gravity of the war is felt with the fighting taking place around the Jabalia and Shejaiya refugee camps in northern Gaza. This area is housing hundreds of thousands of civilians. With all the issues going on in the Middle East, there is the conversation of whether America should go to war. We have been strong allies with Israel, so support would be a given, but is the conflict necessary for America to enter wartime?
Students at Lakeland High School are aware of this situation and have their own opinions on whether the U.S. should go to war.
Frank Ferriola, a junior and member of the KTEC welding program at LHS, is a politically informed young individual. He thinks that going to war right now would be an extensive risk for our country.
“We have to help because they’re our ally, but I don’t think we should go to war for them,” Ferriola said. “I think the US has more pressing issues that they should deal with before engaging in this war.”
Mason Kirk, also a junior at LHS, thinks it’s inevitable that we will go to war at some point in the near future.
“I don’t think we can avoid a conflict if things keep going the way they are,” Kirk said.
The conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas is devastating for the people living in the Gaza Strip and, hopefully, will peacefully come to an end soon.
