제 27 호 Israel-Hamas War: The Never-Ending Middle East Conflict
Kicker: WORLD
Israel-Hamas War:
The Never-Ending Middle East Conflict
By Ji-Won Choi, reporter
On August 17, a large-scale anti-government protest took place across Israel, opposing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “Gaza City occupation plan” and demanding an end to the Gaza war. The protest began at 6:29 a.m., the exact time when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. It was triggered after the Israeli cabinet approved the plan to occupy Gaza City, a major city in northern Gaza, on August 7. Protesters argued that the plan put the lives of hostages in even greater danger and insisted that they should be rescued without further military operations. These demonstrations were not merely domestic protests but a reflection of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. This war stems from the complex historical background of territorial disputes, refugee issues, and continued military clashes with Palestine that have persisted since the establishment of Israel in 1948.
Historical Background
After the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in the Middle East during World War I, Britain took control of the Palestinian territory. At that time, Palestine was home to a small Jewish minority, a large Arab population, and several other ethnic groups. In 1917, Britain issued a promise to the Jewish community known as the Balfour Declaration.
The Balfour Declaration granted permission for the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine. Later, the United Nations also gave its approval, and in 1948, the Jews occupied half of Palestinian land and declared the founding of Israel. While Palestine was historically the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people, Arabs had also lived there continuously, leading to strong opposition. The creation of Israel forced many Palestinians from their homes, turning them into refugees. In response, neighboring Islamic countries such as Jordan and Egypt attacked Israel in what became known as the First Arab- Israeli War. However, with support from Western powers, Israel emerged victorious.
Even after the First Arab Israeli War, conflict continued because Jerusalem, a city sacred to both Judaism and Islam, remained deeply contested. This led to the outbreak of the Second, Third, and Fourth Arab-Israeli Wars.
To ease ongoing tensions, the international community proposed the Oslo Accords, which called for a two-state solution allowing Israel and Palestine to share governance over the region. Under the agreement, Israel recognized the West Bank and Gaza Strip as Palestinian territory. However, the peace process collapsed after the assassination of the Israeli Prime Minister[FMB1] Yitzhak Rabin at the time, preventing the resolution of disputes between the two sides.
As a result of these conflicts, around 5.3 million Palestinians were displaced. Meanwhile, Israel established Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, relocating Israeli citizens into these areas and stationing its military forces there.
Outbreak of the War
The Palestinian militant group Hamas has long pursued its goal of eliminating Israel through armed struggle and establishing an Islamic state. Hamas opposed the Oslo Accords signed by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and carried out frequent bomb attacks. During this period, Benjamin Netanyahu, known for his far-right nationalist stance, came to power in Israel, intensifying repression against Palestinians. Jewish settlements expanded, and Palestinians were forcibly removed from Islamic mosques with police intervention. Amid such oppression, on October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, igniting the war in full scale.
Progress of the War
Hamas fired approximately 2,500 rockets and took more than 100 hostages. In response, Israel officially declared war and launched retaliatory strikes on the Palestinian territory of Gaza. At the same time, Israel cut off the supply of water, electricity, food, and fuel into Gaza, enforcing a blockade. By late October 2023, Israeli ground forces advanced into Gaza, escalating the conflict further.
Ceasefire Negotiations and Setbacks
As the war dragged on until the end of 2023, heavy civilian casualties and widespread destruction drew mounting international pressure. With mediation from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, a framework for possible ceasefire talks was established. The first round of negotiations resulted in a one-week ceasefire, followed by a 42-day truce in the second round. However, in March 2025, the ceasefire collapsed after renewed Israeli airstrikes, and subsequent talks failed to narrow the differences between Israel and Hamas.
Elimination of Hamas Leadership
On May 28, 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced the death of Mohammed Sinwar, Hamas’s leader in Gaza. While this marked a major turning point in the conflict, ceasefire talks mediated by the United States have so far failed to produce an agreement due to deep divisions between the two sides.
A Severe Humanitarian Crisis
Figure 1 The scene of people struggling to get food handed out by a charity group
With the war continuing, supplies of food, water, and medicine to Gaza have been nearly cut off, plunging residents into a dire humanitarian crisis. According to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), one-third of Gaza’s population has gone without food, while 470,000 people are experiencing the most severe phase of famine. Facing intensifying criticism from the international community, the Israeli military, in cooperation with international organizations, carried out an airdrop of humanitarian aid on July 26, 2025.
The war between Israel and Hamas is not merely a military conflict but a repetition of long-standing historical disputes and complex interests. Despite the heavy civilian casualties and deepening humanitarian crisis, the gap between the two sides remains unresolved. Although the international community is making efforts to mediate, a clear solution has yet to emerge. This war demonstrates that the issue is not confined to one region but is a global challenge of peace and human rights that require collective attention. As students, we should also pay attention to such international issues and reflect on the importance of peace.
Source:
https://www.bbc.com/korean/articles/crg1e8xl9v0o
https://www.chosun.com/video_photo/2025/04/30/KXUM7YPPEJEGBHE2PNNL4XMJ54/
https://newneek.co/@newneek/article/34384
[FMB1]Maybe add name:
Yitzhak Rabin
awarded Nobel Peace Prize
