The Gaza Strip, or more commonly known as Gaza, is a place that borders Mediterranean Sea and sits between Egypt and Israel. It’s only about twice the size of Washington D.C., but the history of Gaza is one of war and severe unrest among the residents for many years, long before the more recent conflict with Israel.  

In 1948, Egypt was given control of Gaza. Before the war that established Israel, Gaza was one of the many territories under British control. Then war broke out, the First Arab–Israeli War, among various Middle eastern countries, including Egypt, and Israel became an independent state while Egypt took control of Gaza.  

It was harsh times for the Palestinians living in Gaza and for the 700,000 who went to Israel because of the war. The ones who were not able to escape during the war were stuck inside the territory; the ones who did leave tried to come back to their homes after the war were not allowed. From both sides of the border, they were isolated and forced to live under the rule of harsh militant rule.  

Neither Egypt nor Israel considered the Palestinians as citizens. Julia Frankel, from AP News commented, “Under Egyptian military control, Palestinian refugees in Gaza were stuck, homeless and stateless.” Unfortunately, it did not get better for the Palestinians.  

In the Mideast war of 1967, Israel took control of Gaza as well as more territory like Jerusalem. Israel built over 20 settlements in Gaza as well as sign a peace treaty with Egypt. In 1987, the Palestinians had their first uprising against Israel in attempt to become separate from them. There had been some resistance in the year leading up to the uprising as discord between the two groups escalated.  

The open discontent and willingness to do something about the militant control lasted around five years, from 1987 to 1991, and this is also the time when Hamas was formed. They are a Muslin-based militant group based in Gaza, with the goal of destruction of Israel and creating a Islamic Palestinian governing state.  

Fast forward to the Gaza Strip today, they have been under a Israel-induced blockade for 16 years. They have been limited in their everyday life from travel to food and Medicare assistance. Israel enforces this blockade through violence and daily bombings and firings are common to the residents.  

On Oct. 7, Hamas attacked Israel and killed 1,400 Israelis and injured 6,900; Israel did not see it coming, but they reacted heavily back on Gaza. “The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry says at least 10,800 people have been killed in Gaza amid Israel’s retaliatory campaign and effort to root out Hamas,” explains ABC News Reporter, Bill Hutchinson.  

Israel is using planes to bomb Gaza as troops make their way into the territory. Soldiers have infiltrated the Al-Shifa hospital; this is one of the largest hospitals in Gaza and one of the main Hamas command centers. There are over 4,000 patients inside and forced off treatment; patients are taken off dialysis and premature newborns no longer have access to their incubators.  

“’Hamas called the operation targeting Al-Shifa a “war crime” and a “crime against humanity,’” a BBC article writes.  

Hamas and the other residents of Gaza are being targeted and killed, and they have been at the mercy of strong militant groups for many years. The United Nations wants the Hamas to release the hostages they took during their attack on Israel and for Israel to help Gaza by giving them necessities Gaza is severely lacking.  

It is clear the war between Israel and Gaza is far from over.