Gaza Strip

• Gaza is situated between Israel to the north and east, Egypt to the south, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. during 1948 war approximately 250,000 Palestinians driven out of their homes. israel denied them their right of return to their homes afterward. Currently, nearly 70% of the population in Gaza comprises refugees from the 1948 war. Gaza is known for having the "second-highest proportion of people aged 0 to 14 globally." This region, often cited as one of the most densely populated populated areas on the planet, spans 41 kilometers (25 miles) in length and 6 to 12 kilometers (3.7 to 7.5 miles) in width, covering a total area of 365 square kilometers. It is home to approximately 2 million people.

• In 1948, following the Arab-Israeli war, Gaza came under Egyptian administration, and a significant population of Palestinian refugees found refuge in the region after being forced out of their homes. In 1956, the Suez Crisis occurred, during which Israel, along with the United Kingdom and France, invaded Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula after Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal. The conflict concluded under international pressure in 1957, and Gaza continued to be under Egyptian administration. At the conclusion of the conflict, over a thousand individuals from Gaza lost their lives.

• In the 1967 war, Israel gained control over Gaza and maintained occupation until 2005. Similar to the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Israel established Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip. By 2005, around 7,000 Israeli settlers resided in 16 settlements there.

• In 2005, Israeli settlers and troops withdrew from the Gaza Strip under international pressure. However, Israel continued its military occupation by exerting control externally and enforcing a land, sea, and air blockade after the 2006 Palestinian legislative election. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967 has condemned Israel's persistent blockade of the Gaza Strip as an unlawful form of collective punishment.

"Human Rights"

• In 2005, Israel said it wasn't in charge of Gaza anymore. But many human rights groups and global organizations disagreed. They argued that Israel still had a lot of control over Gaza, whether its military was inside or around the borders. According to Human Rights Watch, Israel continued to have power over the area.

• Due to Israel's blockade of Gaza, Life for Palestinians there became really hard. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Israel delayed or said no to 37% of requests for Palestinians to leave for medical reasons. Palestinians had only 80% of the minimum water recommended by WHO. Many Palestinians bought lower-quality food because of food insecurity. They had electricity for only 13 hours a day. 9,000 Palestinians who lost their homes in previous Israeli attacks still need help. The Israeli government's policies caused this humanitarian crisis. A government adviser even said they wanted to "put the Palestinians on a diet."

• israel has significantly restricted the movement of Palestinians and goods in and out of Gaza. Students in Gaza are unable to travel to universities in the West Bank, which offer unique fields of study not available locally. Essential materials like steel and cement, crucial for construction and rebuilding homes destroyed in recent and past Israeli military attacks, are strictly prohibited.

• Additionally, items essential for daily life, including food items, sanitary products, school supplies, fuel, agricultural supplies, and other everyday items, are also limited to some extent. The restrictions imposed by Israel have created significant challenges for the people of Gaza in various aspects of their daily lives.

West Bank

• The West Bank, situated to the east of israel, the West Bank has witnessed the establishment of multiple settlements by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem and the Syrian Golan Heights. Regarded as illegal under international law, these settlements have become a cause of tension and a significant impediment to the creation of a workable Palestinian state.

• In the West Bank, there are a lot of Israeli soldiers who set up checkpoints and barriers. They use cameras and technology to watch and follow Palestinians, especially at the checkpoints in the West Bank. These security actions make life hard for Palestinians every day, causing more problems and making things tense.

• Even though there is no 'Hamas' in West Bank. israeli aggression persists, similar to the situation in the Gaza Strip. This includes actions such as harming civilians and violating human rights. Organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have raised concerns about these human rights abuses, including detentions, demolitions, and restrictions on movement in the West Bank.

"Genocide" or "Ethnic Cleansing"

• This war is not started yet. The war has been ongoing since 1948, long before the creation of Hamas, with the Palestinian civilians including innocent children.

• Since World War II up to the present day, Israel has expelled millions of people from their land and occupied Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem illegitimately.

• Israel often invokes the 'right to defend itself' argument, using it as a justification to target civilians, their war is not with Hamas. Their primary goal is to expel non-Jewish people from the Palestine land, leading them to attack civilian homes, schools, and hospitals (including ambulances).

• Under the pretext of security, Israel is engaging in war crimes, such as depriving civilians of essential resources like electricity, water, and food, as well as blocking humanitarian aid. Additionally, they are employing airstrikes and using White Phosphorus in densely populated areas which is illegal in international law.

Ongoing Israeli Aggression

• Since 1949, millions have faced forced displacement from their homes, and numerous lives, particularly those of children, have been lost due to Israeli aggression, constituting a series of catastrophes and wars. Additionally, a significant number have been abducted and turned into hostages.

• In just a few days, israeli military has killed over 10,000 Palestinians in Gaza, the majority (4,100) of whom are under 14. Whole neighborhoods have been destroyed by Israeli warplanes. Scared children are looking for their parents in the wreckage. Additionally, thousands remain trapped beneath the rubble, desperate for help.

• Israel has cut off water supplies, fuel supplies, electricity supplies and even food and has prevented virtually all supplies from countries around the world from reaching the besieged Gaza Strip. It's the worst disaster ever. Many children have died because hospitals can't use electricity. The people in Gaza are running out of food and clean water.

• It's not just with Hamas. Israel is bombing places where regular people live, like homes and hospitals, with the goal of hurting civilians. Israel's plan is to create a second Nakba("Catastrophe") so that they can occupy the Gaza Strip.

"Self Defense"

• Violating human rights or causing harm to civilians is not 'self-defense'. In the guise of 'self-defense', Israel caused harm to numerous civilians, including women and children, by violating human rights. They targeted hospitals, schools, and civilian residences.

• israel's actions, purportedly in self-defense, have faced criticism for using disproportionate force. The extensive use of military power, including airstrikes in densely populated areas, has resulted in a high number of civilian casualties. This disproportionate response raises ethical concerns and questions about adherence to international law, emphasizing the impact on innocent lives and contributing to the broader discussion on Israel's military actions.

• Israel is not a blameless entity being attacked and safeguarding itself, as it presents itself in the global media. It is a colonial, settler-based apartheid system formed on the remains of Palestine, resulting from the displacement and forced removal of the Palestinian people after their catastrophe (al-Nakba) in 1948.

"Human Shield"

• Israel is employing Palestinians, including children, as human shields, committing an act of war by endangering these individuals.

• This conflict is not just targeted at Hamas; it affects the entire Palestinian population. Israel puts Palestinian lives at risk by compelling them to stay in or near homes that are used as military positions.

• Many pro-Israel individuals claim, "Hamas is using human shields" But, they don't have any evidence. Several reports, including one titled Operation “Cast Lead”: 22 days of death and destruction, indicate that there is no proof of 'human shielding' from the Palestinian side or Hamas.

Also See

• The history.

• Israel’s History of Spreading Disinformation.

• This is Palestine

• 5 Things You Need to Know About the Latest Violence in Palestine/Israel.

• 6 Things to Remember When Covering Israeli Settler Violence.