Currently, we are living peaceful lives that we take for granted. However, somewhere on Earth, there are people who cannot live such ordinary lives. On October 7, 2023, the dawn in Jerusalem, Israel, was nothing short of hell. Hamas, the Islamic militant group controlling the Gaza Strip in Palestine, launched an unprecedented large-scale surprise attack on Israel. On that day, about 1,400 Israelis were killed, and around 240 people were taken hostage. Israel immediately stated its intention to annihilate Hamas, launching airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and imposing a full blockade, cutting off food and fuel supplies until Hamas releases all the hostages. Furthermore, on October 27, Israel declared a “Second War of Independence” and deployed ground forces to the Gaza Strip. After a month, the number of Palestinian civilian deaths exceeded 10,000, and the humanitarian crisis within the Gaza Strip intensified.

 So why has this prolonged conflict not been resolved? The reasons can largely be traced to religious issues between Judaism and Islam, as well as geographical issues that arose after World War I. The area currently occupied by Israel and Palestine was once the land of Canaan, which was promised by God to the Jewish patriarch Abraham. The Jews, who lived in Egypt, fled to the promised land of Canaan to escape being enslaved by the Egyptians and founded Israel. The newly founded Israel did not last long, and after periods of division and frequent invasions by neighboring countries, it ultimately fell. However, the Jews rebuilt their nation once more. This second period lasted for 600 years, but during a rebellion against Rome, Jerusalem, their holy city, was destroyed, and many Jews were massacred. This led to the Jewish diaspora, where Jews were scattered across the world. Facing persecution and oppression as foreigners in many countries, they maintained their ethnic identity with the belief that they would one day return to the promised land of Canaan.

 Most of this history dates back to several millennia B.C. During the Roman Empire, with the spread of Christianity in Rome, Jerusalem, where Jesus was crucified, became a holy city for Christians. However, after the Christian era, the current regions of Israel and Palestine were under Islamic rule. The Ottoman Empire in the late 16th century was also an Islamic power. Additionally, an Islamic mosque is located on the same site as the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. This is the main point of the issue. Jerusalem holds significant religious importance for both Judaism and Islam. While there are clear ancient historical records of Jews establishing and settling in Jerusalem, in the modern era, the region has been predominantly influenced by Islamic and Arab cultures.

 The severity of the Israel-Hamas war can be objectively verified by the number of casualties. According to Israeli authorities, at the onset of the war, there were 1,200 deaths and 253 people taken hostage. As of April 2024, about 130 of these hostages remain in Gaza, with at least 34 presumed dead. The toll on Palestinians in Gaza has also been immense. According to the UN, as of the 175th day of the war, 32,623 Palestinians have been killed and over 75,000 injured. Most of the casualties on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides are civilians, predominantly women and children. The seriousness of the situation is underscored when compared to the Russia-Ukraine war, which, after more than two years, has seen around 9,000 Ukrainian civilian deaths. The scale of suffering increases further when considering deaths due to food shortages and the loss of journalists and aid workers.

 Although the international community mediates the territorial dispute between Israel and Palestine, the conflict between the two sides shows no signs of resolution. From Israel's point of view, the land of Palestine is the land where their ancestors lived, and from the point of view of Palestine, it is the land where they have lived since they settled. It has been proven historically that there is no way to resolve the conflict. There is no way to know who settled in the land first, even in ancient history. Therefore, there is no sign that the conflict will be resolved unless Israel recognizes Palestinian independence or renounces Palestinian land. The biggest problem with this war is that there are too many civilian casualties. Both sides even use harm to civilians as a means of war. Israel's retaliation led to the bombing of the Palestinian command, which is deliberately located near schools and hospitals.

 The two countries think of each other only as enemies that must be defeated. But can there be a satisfactory solution between the two countries that is not mutually beneficial? It is not a simple question, so they should think of the relationship with the other person as a neighbor, not as a wartime enemy. Disputes can be resolved when both sides hold the mindset of being considerate and coexisting with each other. If both sides step back and understand each other in any conflict, they can save innocent civilians suffering from fear and death and restore peace. 

80th Reporter • CHOI JUN HONG • chloi0058@naver.com

81st Reporter • KIM TAE WOO • jerryfighter27@gmail.com