Wrapping up my quick look back at the history of conflict between Palestine and Israel, this week I looked into the summer 2014 war that waged for 50 days. In this BBC News article, the generalities of the summer war, and its precursors, were identified. Stating that the war started with the murder of three Israeli teenagers, the article points out that the conflict quickly escalated to air strikes and rocket attacks. After numerous attempted cease-fires, the 9th agreement, brokered by Egypt, brought a long-awaited, open-ended attempt at peace. The article also touches on subjects relating to the issues at hand, and the overall goals of both sides. The prognosis for the future though, while doubted in this article, was better defined in this Guardian article. Agreeing with the BBC News article, this Guardian piece touches on the same issues that led up to the war and that were currently fought over. However, this Guardian piece went further into the issues not dealt with in the agreement and that they state might be cause for further conflict in the future. Noting that the terms of the deal were nearly identical to the failed agreement reached in 2012, the Guardian piece also noted that key elements Hamas sought (notably an airport, seaport, and release of Palestinian prisoners) were not addressed and were further tabled for one month later. For now though, the article states, the conflict is deemed over and the borders are once again “opened.”

This concluding my very brief look into the history of the conflict, it’s difficult not to form prejudices against Israel. Recognizing that both sides are burdened by their own faults, the continued seclusion and mis-matched aggression of the Israelis cannot go unnoticed. As identified by the BBC News article, almost 29 Palestinians perished for every one Israeli. In Gaza, over 17,000 homes were destroyed by Israeli attacks. Leading up to the war, Gazans were essentially under Israeli military arrest as borders were closed and supplies cut off. In short, the level of control and violence enacted by the Israelis is nothing short of mind-boggling.

Many international organizations and states, including the United States, has declared Hamas to be a terrorist organization. While I cannot argue with the application of this designation, I also can not stand idly by as witness to the oppression of the Palestinian people by the Israelis. Therefore, if Hamas is to be labeled a terrorist organization, shouldn’t Israel be labeled such as well?