Israel’s War with Hamas Enters Ninth Month: Protesters Demand Ceasefire and Release of Hostages

As the war between Israel and Hamas enters its ninth month, Israeli protesters have taken to the streets, blocking highways and demanding a ceasefire to bring back the hostages held by Hamas. The protests come as international mediators have intensified their efforts to broker a deal, with Hamas appearing to have dropped a key demand for an Israeli commitment to end the war.

The war began on October 7, 2022, after Hamas carried out a cross-border attack, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of 250 others. In response, Israel launched a retaliatory air and ground offensive, which has killed over 38,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count.

On July 7, protesters blocked main roads and demonstrated outside the homes of Israeli parliament members, releasing 1,500 black and yellow balloons to symbolize the 1,500 Palestinians who were killed and abducted. Hannah Golan, a protester, expressed her frustration, saying, “It’s nine months today, and still nobody in our government takes responsibility.” She added, “We’re calling for a ceasefire to bring back our hostages and end this devastating war.”

The Israeli Prime Minister has previously stated that he is open to pausing the war as part of a hostage deal, but Israel will continue to fight until it achieves its goals of destroying Hamas’ military and governing capabilities and bringing home all those held captive. However, the war has taken a heavy toll on the people of Gaza, with widespread damage, hunger, and fears of famine.

The Israeli military has been targeting Hamas militants, but civilian casualties have been reported. On Saturday, an Israeli airstrike killed at least 16 people and wounded at least 50 others in a school-turned-shelter in the Nuseirat refugee camp. The Gaza Health Ministry has reported nine Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes overnight and into the early hours of Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah launched dozens of projectiles toward northern Israel, targeting areas more than 30 kilometers from the border. A 28-year-old Israeli man was seriously wounded in the attack.

International mediators from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar have been working to reach an agreement, and a compromise by Hamas could deliver the first pause in fighting since November. The proposed deal would involve a six-week ceasefire, during which older, sick, and female hostages would be released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. However, all sides have warned that a deal is not yet guaranteed.

War-weary Palestinians in Gaza are skeptical about the possibility of a ceasefire, with one displaced woman saying, “The cease-fire has become a distant dream.” Another woman, Zakia Hasanein, appealed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh to agree on a ceasefire, saying, “We’ve lived like the dead.”

The Israel-Hamas war has caused widespread damage in Gaza, and the breakdown of law and order has curtailed humanitarian aid efforts. The top U.N. court has concluded that there is a “plausible risk of genocide” in Gaza, a charge Israel strongly denies.

Historical Context:

The conflict between Israel and Hamas has a long and complex history, dating back to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist group, was founded in 1987 and has been involved in various conflicts with Israel since the 1990s. The current war began on October 7, 2022, after Hamas carried out a cross-border attack, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of 250 others. This marks the ninth month of the conflict, which has seen significant destruction and loss of life on both sides.

Summary in Bullet Points:

• The war between Israel and Hamas has entered its ninth month, with Israeli protesters demanding a ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas. • The conflict began on October 7, 2022, after Hamas carried out a cross-border attack, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of 250 others. • Israel has launched a retaliatory air and ground offensive, killing over 38,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. • Protesters have blocked highways and demonstrated outside the homes of Israeli parliament members, releasing 1,500 black and yellow balloons to symbolize the 1,500 Palestinians who were killed and abducted. • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that he is open to pausing the war as part of a hostage deal, but Israel will continue to fight until it achieves its goals of destroying Hamas’ military and governing capabilities and bringing home all those held captive. • The war has taken a heavy toll on the people of Gaza, with widespread damage, hunger, and fears of famine. • International mediators from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar have been working to reach an agreement, and a compromise by Hamas could deliver the first pause in fighting since November. • The proposed deal would involve a six-week ceasefire, during which older, sick, and female hostages would be released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. • War-weary Palestinians in Gaza are skeptical about the possibility of a ceasefire, with many feeling that it has become a distant dream. • The Israel-Hamas war has caused widespread damage in Gaza, and the breakdown of law and order has curtailed humanitarian aid efforts. • The top U.N. court has concluded that there is a “plausible risk of genocide” in Gaza, a charge Israel strongly denies.