By Aliya Janeo

Who wins in war?

Is it the side who surrenders last? Or the side that bounces back faster? Since the first Arab-Israeli war in 1948, the conflict between Palestine and Israel has yet to cease, and takes more and more lives every day.

Behind the 75-year war

On October 7, 2023, Palestinian Militant Movement Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages. But this war is a fire that has been burning since the mid-20th century—a fire that is far from being put out. To say that Israel is currently fueling that flame would be an understatement, with Israel proceeding with ground invasions to fight back against Hamas. 

The first Israeli-Arab war was won by Israel, displacing over 700,000 Palestinians and dividing the territory into three parts: the State of Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. Israel has had its share of conflicts with Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, but unlike with Palestine, has since resolved them. Although attempts at peace have been made, none have pushed through. However, with Hamas at large, it’s not hard to find a reason why peace efforts haven’t been successful. 

Established in December of 1987, Hamas is short for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya, which translates to ‘Islamic Resistance Movement.’ It’s an organization founded by Palestinian cleric Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, an activist in the local brotherhood who preached and practiced charity in Israel-occupied areas. Hamas has its own set of masterminds who run their day-to-day activities and military operations, with the organization overall governing over Gaza with an iron fist.

The group is funded by either private donors or channeled money through charities. But with the current state of Palestine’s economy, the ongoing war has left the country in an even more dire economic situation. Being at odds with bordering countries, Israel and Egypt, puts Gazan Palestinians at a big disadvantage. 

For the citizens of Gaza, Hamas’ place in power has set them back farther than the rest of the world by miles. Whether it’s relying on international aid for resources or having to abide by Hamas’ strict laws, Hamas has done more harm than good for the people of Gaza. Now with the escalation of the war, Palestine’s handicap is clear, especially when you compare the amount of Palestinian casualties as opposed to Israeli ones. While Gaza remains a pool of hellfire, its citizens are caught in the crossfire—with the only thing gained from the war being a chapter in their history that should have never been written in the first place. 

The UN’s Response

The most recent United Nations General Assembly ended with a passed resolution of 145-7, in favor of condemning Israeli settlement activity in Gaza. This vote was vetoed by the United States, who voted in favor of not ceasing settlements, with President Joe Biden even vouching for ‘no chance’ of Gaza Ceasefire. A veto is any member of the five permanent (P5) countries on the United Nations (UN) votes ‘no’ on a resolution. This power is held by Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States. 

As much as a majority of the UN have the best interests of the Palestinian people in mind, as long as any of the P5 disagree, there’s no chance of UN intervention in the conflict anytime soon. This shows a lack in response, and a question in character of the country leaders voting in favor of an all-out war. 

Prominent allies like the US give Israel an upperhand. In return for being Israel’s number one partnership in trading and great historical ties, thousands of dollars have been given by the US in aid of the Israeli people in hopes of stopping Hamas in its tracks. 

The Profit of War

Maintaining connections also goes for big companies. In a profit-driven society, if these organizations make a big profit in Israel, then that gives them little to no reason to cease their operations and support. Now, different countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Turkey have started to boycott Israeli products, and any other products under companies that support Israel. 

Some companies have openly expressed their support for Israel, such as McDonald’s, which has come under fire for giving out free food to Israeli soldiers, even going as far as to open a number of branches just for this purpose. Other brands like Puma have been boycotted for sponsoring the Israeli Football Association, and Starbucks for suing its workers for expressing support for Palestine. 

Tens of thousands dead and a hundred more injured and displaced. Was there really a winner in war to begin with? 

The lives lost in the Israel-Palestine war are more than just a statistic, and are more than just collateral for the ‘causes’ being fought for. They were people just trying to survive something they never signed up for. Power and territory are nothing if you don’t have anyone else left to lead or land to sow. There is no war to win, there’s only a war to stop.