Additionally, the Yemeni Houthi movement have engaged in the attacks in the Red Sea on commercial vessels allegedly linked to Israel, incurring a US- led military response. The ongoing exchange of strikes between Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Isreal escalated into an Israeli invasion of Lebanon on 1 October 2024.
Israel-Hamas Tension
- Hamas, an Islamist militant group that has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007, has been in a state of conflict with Israel for many years. It does not recognize the legitimacy of the Israeli state and advocates for armed resistance to Israeli occupation of Palestine territories.
- In early October 2024, Hamas launched a major attack on Israel, using rockets, gunmen, and ground assaults, marking the escalation that spiraled into full-scale conflict. This attack followed a pattern of intermittent violence, but its scale was unprecedented in recent years.
The Gaza Blockade and Humanitarian Conditions
- The Gaza Strip has been under a blockade by Israel since 2007, when Hamas took control of the area. The blockade restricts the movement of goods and people, severely limiting access to basic necessities like food, medical supplies, and construction materials.
- The blockade has caused widespread economic hardship and suffering in Gaza, leading to resentment and anger among Palestine. Which Hamas capitalizes on. This has created a volatile environment, often leading to violet clashes between Israeli forces and militants.
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
- The broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has lasted for more than a century, centers on competing national aspirations and territorial claims. Palestinians seek the establishment of a state in territories Israel controls, particularly the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza.
- Over the years, there have been various peace efforts, but the situation has remained deadlocked, with significant disagreement over key issues like the status of Jerusalem, broader refugees, and security concerns.
The 2024 war is the latest chapter in a complex and deeply entrenched conflict. The situation is fueled by longstanding grievances, territorial disputes, political divides, and cycles of violence that seem to escalate whenever there is a breakdown in negotiations or a specific flashpoint, as seen in the 2024 escalation with Hamas.
