In Israel, the nonstop threats from Palestine create an atmosphere based on tension and survival, where people need to stay determined just to keep normalcy. On October 9th, the two conflicting states agreed on a ceasefire deal negotiated by the United States. Ever since the massive rocket attack on Israel by the militant group Hamas in 2023, the conflict has escalated, with both sides attempting to claim the Israeli-controlled Gaza Strip. The Palestinians are trying to establish a recognizable Palestinian state with Jerusalem as the capital, leaving the Israeli government behind. With this, Palestinians would be able to return to their ancestral home after the displacement that took place in the 1900s. Furthermore, Israel is purely fighting just to remain in control of their territories that have a mainly Palestinian demographic, which includes the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Despite efforts made to achieve peace, concerns involving hostages and alleged attacks have gotten in the way.
In order to oversee the treaty, President Donald Trump, alongside his son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff, travelled to Israel to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The group intended to work with other Israeli officials to discuss the incidents that have occurred and how they affect the ceasefire. Involvement in the conflict leaves no benefit for the country, which leads many to question Trump’s motives.
“It’s definitely a move to gain political leverage. He may even lose some political support because of it, but he’s funded by AIPAC — the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee — and supporting Israel helps him gain funding from them. So yes, it’s very biased,” Orlando Jackson said.
International involvement by the United States in the Gaza-Israel conflict includes monitoring and mediation efforts by external parties. Various agreements require coordination to manage troop movements and enforce boundaries.
“I think the U.S. should be involved, but only if they actually understand the issue and aren’t acting on bias,” Michelle Borton said.
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has faced other more relevant challenges, with both sides accusing each other of violations. Israeli forces carried out airstrikes in Gaza after alleged attacks by Hamas near the “yellow line,” a boundary established under the ceasefire agreement. Hamas denied involvement in these incidents, while Israel warned that any militants beyond the designated area would be considered targets.
“The challenge with the ceasefire will be the two sides honoring it, because with this immense violence that has been seemingly constant between the two, it is only inevitable that it is broken in the coming months, and violence will break out again,” Zach Downing said.
by SIMON ARAGOZA & SAMUEL DALMAU
