On the 21st of October, 2023, a cease-fire was declared in the most recent conflict between the countries of Israel and Palestine. The root of this conflict can be traced back over a hundred years.
The first significant act of violence in the region between the two groups was the Jaffa riots, which occurred in May 1921 and led to the death of 43 Jews and 48 Palestinians. These riots happened for several reasons, but the ones cited in the Haycraft Commission sent to assess the root cause of these riots from Great Britain were, “the feelings among the Arabs of discontent with, and hostility to, the Jews, due to political and economic causes, and connected with Jewish immigration.” Since then, the violence has only escalated.
The current conflict alone has caused more than 14,000 deaths on both sides and many more injured in the most significant conflict the region has seen in years. Due to the recent cease-fire, humanitarian aid is now being allowed into both countries, allowing 1129 trucks to enter since the 21st of October. The aid will help reduce the suffering of civilians caught in the middle of the conflict. Along with the humanitarian aid, hostages from both sides are starting to be released. On Friday, the 24th of November, Palestine released 24 hostages, according to the Red Cross, and in return, Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners.
These important steps being made to end the conflict are only small but could lead to long-lasting peace in the region and an end to over one hundred years of hostility.
