Hamas and Israel clash amid ongoing struggle

Editor’s Note: The Israel-Hamas war is an ongoing event that continues to develop as we go to press. The following information was gathered from current news sources as of Sunday, Oct. 22.

In retaliation for the Hamas-initiated atrocities that killed over 1,400 Israeli civilians Oct. 7, Israel has intensified its offensive strategy after Hamas seized an estimated 200 civilian hostages. Residents of Gaza are caught in the cross fire of Israeli counterattacks and Hamas cruelty. 

A child’s backpack was found Oct. 22, filled with 7 kilograms of remote-activated Hamas explosives meant to detonate upon being picked up, according to the New York Post. Additionally, Israeli President Isaac Herzog confirmed that Hamas militants were found carrying instructions for deploying cyanide-based chemical weapons. Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Hamas of blocking American citizens from leaving Gaza after the original attacks. 

“To date, at least, Hamas has blocked (U.S. citizens) from leaving, showing once again its total disregard for civilians of any kind who are stuck in Gaza,” Blinken said. 

Hamas is yet to back down, causing Israel to continue its mission to destroy Hamas entirely.

As Israel continues to strike Hamas-ruled locations like the Gaza Strip, many casualties have occurred. The death toll has risen to an estimated 1,400 Israelis and 4,651 Palestinians as of Oct. 19. Israel has notified citizens of areas they plan to attack to allow residents to vacate with Israel’s promise that they may return afterwards.

“We want to make sure that we have sustained delivery of food, medicine, water, the things people need,” Blinken said, according to EUToday. “Israel has to do everything it can to make sure this doesn’t happen again. Freezing in place where they are now would allow Hamas to remain where it is and to repeat what it’s done sometime in the future. No country could accept that.”

Hamas militants clashed briefly with Israeli troops inside Gaza, one of the first battles since Oct. 7. Hamas claims to have destroyed two Israeli bulldozers and a tank, but the Israel Defense Forces refutes their claim, stating instead that only “shots were fired at IDF soldiers operating west of the Gaza Strip security fence, in the area of Kissufim.” 

Israel completed a strike on Oct. 22 in Northern Gaza, killing 143 people and wounding 262, but the attack resulted in the death of a high-ranking Hamas figure. The deputy chief of Hamas’ rocket force was one of many terrorists killed, according to IDF Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. An airstrike also damaged a mosque in the city of Jenin, but according to Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, the attack was carefully strategized to prevent “an imminent terror attack.”

Due to the closing of all border crossings, residents have lost access to food and water, leaving them in dire need of essential supplies. Likewise, all residents and hospitals are relying on gas generators for power, which are running out of fuel. On Sunday, the Egyptian Red Crescent and the U.N. unloaded 14 humanitarian aid trucks in Gaza through the Rafah Border Crossing — a fraction of the aid needed.

“No electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home. Humanitarian for humanitarian. And no one will preach us morals,” Israeli Minister of Energy Israel Katz said. 

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure and spoke about what solution might ease tensions.

“Israelis must see their legitimate needs for security realized, and Palestinians must see their legitimate aspirations for an independent state realized,” Guterres said. 

The situation is expected to escalate as Israel continues to strike Hamas-associated locations and 300,000 Israeli reservists move into position by the Gaza border. Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant indicated that Israel hopes to crush Hamas, relinquish Gaza and establish a “new security regime,” but he did not further elaborate.

This is not the first time that Palestinians have been evicted from their homes; rather, it is one of several instances throughout history. In 1948 and 1967, Palestinians were forced to flee to Egypt and Jordan, leaving an overflow of nearly 6 million refugees. Now, it seems history is about to repeat. 

“The whole Egyptian people won’t accept the liquidation of the Palestinian cause, and (it) will never happen on the expanse of Egypt,” Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said.

Egypt and Jordan, two countries sharing borders with Israel and Gaza, refuse to accept Palestinian refugees. Their refusal stems from fear that Hamas militants will migrate with civilians, making Egyptian cities an Israeli defense target and jeopardizing a 40-year-old treaty.

“No refugees in Jordan, no refugees in Egypt,” King Abdullah II of Jordan said. 

Jarnigan is the assistant news editor for the Liberty Champion