Palestinian gunmen continued to clash with Israeli forces on Sunday in the Gaza Strip’s two largest cities, Gaza City and Khan Younis, despite being surrounded and outnumbered by the invading army.
The ongoing resistance by Hamas, the Islamist group that rules Gaza, showed that it still had some capacity to fight back and challenge Israel’s military superiority, even as the prospects of a ceasefire remained uncertain.
The war, which began on Oct. 7, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel with rockets and tunnels, has killed more than 27,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and 3000 Israelis, mostly soldiers, according to official sources. The war has also displaced more than half a million Palestinians, who have sought refuge in schools, mosques, and other facilities run by the United Nations and other aid agencies.
Israel, which says its operation is aimed at restoring its security and destroying Hamas’ infrastructure, has intensified its assault on Gaza in the past week, focusing on the southern city of Rafah, which borders Egypt. Israel says Rafah is a key smuggling route for weapons and fighters, and that it wants to cut off Hamas’ supply lines and prevent any reinforcements from entering Gaza.
However, the Israeli offensive on Rafah has also increased the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as many Palestinians who had fled from other parts of the strip have found themselves trapped and under fire in the crowded city. The UN and other organizations have warned of a looming catastrophe, as the people of Gaza face shortages of food, water, medicine, and electricity.
The UN has also accused both sides of violating international law and human rights, and has called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. The UN Security Council has failed to adopt a resolution on the conflict, due to the veto power of the United States, which is Israel’s main ally and supporter.
No Peace
The US, along with Egypt and other regional and international actors, has been trying to mediate a truce between Israel and Hamas, but so far without success. The main obstacles include Israel’s demand for the disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization of Gaza, and Hamas’ demand for the lifting of the blockade and the opening of the crossings that have isolated Gaza from the outside world for years.
The war in Gaza, which is the third and deadliest in the past six years, has also sparked protests and solidarity movements around the world, especially in Muslim countries, where many people have expressed their anger and frustration at Israel’s actions and the lack of international intervention. Some of the protests have turned violent, resulting in clashes with police and attacks on Jewish targets.
The war has also exposed the divisions and weaknesses of the Palestinian leadership, as the rival factions of Hamas and Fatah, which controls the West Bank, have failed to present a united front and a common vision for the future of their people. The war has also raised questions about the viability and relevance of the peace process, which has been stalled for years, and the prospects of a two-state solution, which has been the official goal of the international community.
The war in Gaza, which has shown no signs of ending soon, has become a humanitarian tragedy, a political deadlock, and a moral dilemma for the world, as the people of Gaza and Israel continue to suffer and die, while the rest of the world watches and waits.
