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Israeli airstrikes have destroyed over 30 buildings in the Gaza Strip in recent days (25-26 March 2019), leaving tens of families homeless. The current bombing campaign began Monday (25 March) following a Hamas rocket fired toward Tel Aviv a day prior. Though Hamas announced an Egypt-mediated ceasefire Monday night, Israel has continued to conduct airstrikes and Hamas to launch projectiles, with Israeli cabinet members expressing disapproval of any end to airstrikes. Though the situation has calmed (March 27) and lasting ceasefire talks continue, results are unclear as Israel is asking for certain preconditions. These hostilities are not isolated to a specific exchange, but one of numerous “flare-ups” since Israel’s 2014 assault on Gaza and the ongoing twelve-year blockade on the occupied Strip. This escalation in hostilities also comes as the one year anniversary approaches of the March for Return, and Palestinians across the occupied West Bank are facing an increase in Israeli arrests and fatal shootings. Additionally, these events coincide with AIPAC’s annual meeting in Washington, DC, President Trump’s recognition Israeli sovereignty of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights (in contravention to international law), and upcoming Israeli national elections. Palestinians in Gaza, with the highest unemployment in the world (over 50 percent), power shortages, and very little remaining clean water, have had one of their most difficult years since the beginning of the Israeli blockade in 2007. A severe escalation, similar to that of 2014, could be catastrophic for the population. |
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