Where Things Stand

The Story

There are concerns of further escalation in the latest Israel-Hamas war.

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In response to the October 7th terror attack, Israel has launched airstrikes in Gaza and the West Bank – thousands have been killed. The strike at a mosque in the West Bank is a rare move for Israel. The Israeli military claims the strike was designed to thwart an “imminent terror attack.” Palestinians worry it means violence is spreading. The US and European governments are reportedly pushing Israel to hold off on its ground invasion of Gaza, in an effort to secure the release of an estimated 200 hostages still being held by Hamas. So far, two American hostages have been released: Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie. As the war rages on, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening, even as limited aid made its way through the Rafah crossing with Egypt. Doctors are reportedly performing surgeries on the floor without enough anesthesia. Israel warned Palestinians in northern Gaza to evacuate again but many are struggling to find anywhere safe to go. All of the tensions threaten to pull in other players in the Middle East.

Who are we talking about?

All eyes are on Iran and its proxy militant groups in Lebanon and Syria. In Lebanon: the Iran-backed Hezbollah group has continued to exchange fire with Israeli forces in the north, leading Israel to evacuate tens of thousands of residents. In Syria, Israel reportedly fired missiles at the Damascus andAleppointernational airports — apparently taking them out of service. Meanwhile, Iran continues to threaten Israel directly, saying “anything is possible at any given moment.” Through all of it, the delicate peace between Israel and neighboring Arab states, like Egypt, continues to be tested.

Where does the US stand in all of this?

President Biden has made his admin’s position clear, standing firmly with Israel — and pushing for humanitarian aid to Gaza. The US has also sent aircraft carriers to the region and warned that American troops in the Middle East are facing an increasing risk of attack. At home, US public opinion polls show broad support for Israel in the wake of the deadly attacks — while rallies across NYC, LA, Chicago, and more drew thousands of protesters in support of Palestinians. The tensions have spilled beyond college campuses into corporate boardrooms and the entertainment industry.

theSkimm

The latest Israel-Hamas war is now in its third week, with the death toll in the thousands — and the tensions threaten to inflame rifts in the Middle East and beyond.