
Image via Palestinian artist Mohammed Zaanoun from July 2, 2021. Used with permission.
On October 7, 2023, the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), the group that governs the Palestinian territory of Gaza, breached the barrier that has surrounded the densely-populated area for the last 16 years, preventing the free flow of people and goods. The militants then launched an attack on 22 nearby Israeli settlements, towns and military bases, killing at least 1,400 civilians and soldiers, and taking at least 199 hostages.
Many governments around the world have condemned the attack as a war crime and act of terror, while other governments expressed their concern and called for calm, or blamed Israel for setting the stage for these attacks to take place.
In response, Israel launched a large-scale aerial attack on Gaza, and on October 8, 2023, the Israeli cabinet issued an official declaration of war against Hamas. One day later, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a “complete siege” of Gaza, stating, “there will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed.”
Israeli army attacks in the first week of aggression killed over 2,700 and injured over 10,850. Israeli bombing campaigns in Gaza are ongoing, while Hamas continues to fire rockets into Israel.
The human toll of this conflict has been immense and continues to climb. In addition to the tragic loss of life and the staggering number of injuries, the conflict has resulted in widespread displacement and a profound disruption of daily life. With the supply of vital life resources brought to a halt, Gaza’s population of more than 2.5 million find themselves trapped and in grave danger. Israel has also ordered more than 1.1 million of Gaza’s residents to flee northern Gaza in anticipation of a ground invasion, a move the UN says could breach international law.
The siege has been condemned by peace activists on all sides of the conflict, international humanitarian organizations, and many governments, some of which have characterized it as collective punishment.
What started this cycle of violence?
Gaza, an enclave on the eastern Mediterranean coast, is bordered by Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the east and north.
Since 2007, Hamas has de facto governed the enclave following its legislative election victory, much to the discomfort of the international community. No elections have occurred since, leading to frustration among Gaza's Palestinians who are denied the right to vote locally.
Since Hamas took control of Gaza, Israel, with the support of Egypt, has imposed a continuous land, air, and sea blockade on Gaza. Human rights organizations including the Israeli B’Tselem, refer to the prevailing situation as “the largest prison on earth.”
Israel exercises absolute control over crucial aspects of life in Gaza, including the movement of food, water, medical supplies, and people, through land crossings connecting Gaza to the outside world, and has consistently bombed the area since 2006, showing little regard for the lives of civilians, who are trapped there with nowhere to go.
Moreover, Israel has played a pivotal role in imposing a siege, displacing, killing, and imprisoning Palestinians by supporting the ongoing aggression of settlers and the military. This is coupled with discriminatory laws and actions, forming what Human Rights Watch characterizes as an apartheid system that directly affects Palestinians’ everyday life.
According to the Associated Press, Hamas cited several motivations for the attack, including Israel’s 16-year blockade of Gaza, increased incidents of violence at the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, Israeli raids in the Occupied West Bank, escalating Israeli settler assaults against Palestinians, and the expansion of illegal settlements.
Since its inception in 1988, Hamas, has conducted numerous rocket attacks on Israel, as well as bus bombings and suicide attacks on Israelis. These acts have contributed to the group’s designation by the United States, the European Union and others as a terrorist organization.
Israel’s aerial bombardment of Gaza has led to the devastation of entire neighborhoods, and whole generations of families. Adding to their plight, Israel has sealed off all the crossings from Gaza, and repeatedly targeted the Rafah crossing — the sole exit connecting Gaza to Egypt.
As Gaza runs out of drinking water and food, its residents endure darkness and an information blackout. Talks of a ground invasion loom, threatening to exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation.
Global Voices and our partners will cover the current developments of the situation in the region and provide analyses of the scene on the ground. If you have any suggestions or would like to contribute a story, please contact Mariam A., Global Voices’ Middle East and North Africa Editor.
Stories about Israel's war on Gaza from October, 2023
Human rights organizations call for an immediate physical and digital ceasefire in Gaza
Global Voices aligns with human rights organizations in urging an immediate ceasefire, stressing the urgent necessity to stop the loss of innocent lives in Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, and beyond.
Jamaicans express disappointment over their country’s ‘no-show’ UN Gaza vote
Jamaica was the only Caribbean nation to not vote on the UN resolution calling for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce” between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in Gaza.
Deconstructing the ‘beheaded babies’ misinformation in Israel’s war on Gaza
"We have seen journalists, in particular, spread unverified information that is being used to justify Israeli and even American calls and actions to annihilate an entire population.”
Decoding Chinese views on Palestine-Israel: Interview with independent journalist Vivian Wu
Global Voices interviewed US-based Chinese journalist Vivian Wu to explore how Israel's war on Gaza conflict is perceived in the Sinophone world.
Interview with Israeli-American journalist Joel Schalit: ‘Israel's government wants to put a formal end to democracy’
Global Voices interviewed Joël Schalit, co-founder of The Battleground, about Israel's war on Gaza. Schalit is an Israeli–American journalist who covers European and Middle Eastern politics, including for Israeli media.
South American presidents react to the Israel-Gaza war
Chile and Argentina have the largest Palestinian and Israeli communities in the region. How have their presidents reacted to the war in the Middle East?
‘Am I dead?': A witness's testimony from Gaza
'I returned home with the weight of the painful images etched into my mind, a haunting memory that will remain with me for a lifetime.'
Civil society organizations call on tech companies to respect Palestinian digital rights in times of crisis
Tech companies must acknowledge their vital role and responsibility and adhere to business and human rights principles, along with international human rights laws, in upholding and protecting freedom of expression
Still fighting the natives: A march for Palestine in London
The National March for Palestine began at the BBC’s London headquarters. Activists sprayed the doors with blood-red paint.
Malaysia and Indonesia throw support behind Palestinian cause
Thousands of people in Indonesia and Malaysia rallied over the weekend to show their support for Palestinians amid Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza.
The roots of the war on Gaza explained
In addition to the tragic loss of life and the staggering number of injuries, the conflict has also resulted in widespread displacement and a profound disruption of daily life.
In the shadows of destruction and despair: Voices from Gaza's devastation
Voices from Gaza: "The house where nearly 30 people lived is now gone, and we find ourselves displaced and homeless, uncertain of our fate or what lies ahead for us. "
Gaza’s unyielding reality: Sparrows, sirens, and survival
"This is Gaza, a bitter existence, where each day brings us closer to the brink. We face the specter of death daily, under the weight of an unjust oppressor."
Israel's latest conflict with Hamas: A geopolitical perspective
Achieving a lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict entails recognizing Palestinians' historical rights, ending apartheid practices, and stopping illegal settlement activities.
Nepali students based in Israel confirmed killed in Hamas attack
The students were living on a kibbutz near the Gaza border participating in the Israeli government's 'learn and earn' program.
Israel swings between democracy and the religious far-right
“Israel has been often branded as the only democracy in the Middle East, but that idea is crumbling fast”