Hamas, an Islamist resistance group that governs the Gaza Strip, carried out “Operation al-Aqsa Flood” with coordinated air and land attacks on Israel on Saturday, October 7. Various events have transpired since the October attack, and understanding the truth amidst misinformation holds the utmost importance, especially as RV students learn about and react to the ongoing conflict. 

The Holly Spirit covered the conflict between Israel and Palestine including their history and events leading up to the ceasefire in May of 2021 to contextualize events unfolding now.

More than 1,400 civilians and soldiers were killed by the initial attack and 200 hostages were also taken. A conflict of this magnitude between Israel and Palestine had not occurred since the Arab-Israeli War in 1948. In response to the attack by Hamas, Israeli forces launched airstrikes into Gaza. 

“Citizens of Israel, we are at war,” Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. “Not an operation, not a round [of fighting,] at war. This morning Hamas initiated a murderous surprise attack against the state of Israel and its citizens.” 

Armed battles continued, and in the process, an Israeli hospital was damaged by missiles launched from the Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported. 

According to AP News, an announcement was played over the loudspeaker of a mosque in Gaza urging citizens to evacuate following the continued retaliation attacks from Israel that damaged multiple buildings, apartments and offices. 

A ground invasion into Palestine and the Gaza Strip is anticipated as the Israeli Defence Minister told soldiers to “get organized, be ready.” There is currently no information about when the order for the ground invasion will be given. 

President Biden visited Israel on October 20 and met with Israel’s Prime Minister and citizens as well. He then delivered a statement condemning the actions of Hamas and the devastation of the loss of innocent Palestinians and Israelis.

“You know, earlier this morning, I returned from Israel,” Biden said. “They tell me I’m the first American president to travel there during a war…The terrorist group Hamas unleashed pure, unadulterated evil in the world…We mourn every innocent life lost…Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people.”

Information about the ongoing conflict has circulated on social media since the initial attack on October 7, garnering attention and controversy around the world. RV students are educating themselves about the conflict and reacting as events unfold. 

“I’m worried for the people in Palestine currently,” said one freshman, who wished to remain anonymous. “I think the media is very biased towards Israel…and instead of fact-checking what is currently happening…they’re making it seem like Israel is oppressed when really they’ve been doing the oppressing for the past 75 years.”

“I honestly don’t know why we’re supporting Israel because what they’re doing is an ethnic cleansing, and the more stories I read about Palestinian kids being killed and the more stories I read about atrocities that are happening, it’s just really sad,” senior AJ Mitchell said. “I want [the U.S] to take out support for Israel and start supporting Palestinians and the Gaza Strip. I also want to see more global solidarity for Palestinians.”

With such accessibility to video and photo content from Israel and Palestine on social media, people are also exposed to the hardships faced by both communities. 

“I had to take a break from posting or watching or listening to absolutely any news,” Senior Ronit Hizgiaev said. “This was hard to do but it was necessary for my mental health.”

Solidarity has also amassed for Israel and support for emergency relief resources for Israelis impacted by recent events. 

“My Jewish community has felt strong sadness and grief for the thousands of Israeli Jewish people that have either been killed or held hostage,” Hizgiaev said. “My family and friends are all cried out. We initially felt helpless, knowing that while we are able to live our lives, our family in Israel cannot.”

People around the world are also affected by ongoing conflict as members of their religious and ethnic communities experience attacks firsthand. 

“My family has been scared to speak out about it because we are from a minority Arab and Muslim group,” said the anonymous freshman. “They’re afraid about what happened to the 6-year-old kid from Illinois who was stabbed, and the person who did it…was influenced by the media. He saw that all Muslims or all Arabs were a certain way–that they were monsters.”

As of this morning, National Public Radio reports that the death toll in Gaza is approaching 7,000, as more and more regions are running out of food, water and fuel. Despite the fact that over 60 trucks carrying food and water have been permitted to enter the Gaza Strip, doctors are reportedly conducting surgeries by flashlight and food is spoiling from the lack of refrigeration. The fuel shortage is becoming dire in many neighborhoods.

The Israeli Defense Forces responded to requests for fuel from the UNRWA, the United Nations agency that provides relief to Palestinians, by insisting that groups can “ask Hamas if [they] can have some,” pointing to alleged images of fuel tanks located in Gaza.

The conflict in Israel and Palestine will likely continue for several weeks, if not longer, and national news outlets continue to cover breaking news, despite the flood of misinformation.