by Riley Blankenship

On October 7, the world woke up to the horrific news that Hamas, an Iranian-backed terrorist group in Palestine, had launched a surprise attack against Israel. According to PBS news, Hamas has killed over 1,400 civilians and has taken at least 200 captives.  

This issue between the two countries is not new; Israel and Palestine have been in conflict against each other for decades. According to The Washington Post, the issue between the two countries dates back all the way to 1948, when Israel was officially established as an independent country. Hamas specifically formed in 1987 after the first Palestinian uprising, though it is important to note that this group does not represent the country of Palestine as a whole or its citizens. Furthermore, the goal of Hamas is to obliterate the country of Israel and to create an Islamic Palestinian state in replace of Israel. 

It has been almost two weeks since the attacks by Hamas and neither country has backed down. While all of this is enduring, innocent citizens are unfortunately suffering on both sides. It is very easy to pick sides in this issue. As part of a tight-knit college community, we need to thoroughly inform ourselves on the ongoing matter before making accusations against either country. This issue is very complex and has very deep roots, so being educated before making any decisions is crucial. Moreover, with misleading information everywhere, it can be very easy to be swayed one way or the other.  

The complexity of this matter requires us to consider the perspectives of both sides. We as a community need to advocate for empathy along with a commitment to peace. We all need to come into this matter with an open mind, listen to each other’s thoughts and have informed discussions on the matter at hand. Hopefully, a solution to this seemingly never-ending conflict will soon come and Israelis and Palestinians can live together in peace.