One year of fighting – 4 October 2024
This week marks one year since fighting broke out between Israel and Hamas, the terrorist group that controls Gaza.
Credit: Getty
The war has taken a terrible toll on innocent people living either side of the border.
In Gaza, local health authorities say that over 41,000 people have died, and a lack of access to things like food and medicine has created a major health crisis. In Israel, over 1,100 people have died, and nearly 100 people are being held hostage (prisoner) by Hamas.
The war has also created division between people in other countries, with widespread protests in major cities worldwide.
Tensions are rising further still, with more fighting between Israel and Lebanon. In the past week, Israeli strikes have killed several leaders of Hezbollah – a group that supports Hamas and runs Lebanon’s biggest army.
“We need to see an immediate ceasefire. It shames us all that the suffering in Gaza continues to grow. The answer is diplomacy [calm discussions], the release of all the hostages and the unfettered [unrestricted] flow of aid to those in need. That is the only way to break this devastating cycle of violence”. – UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks to world leaders last week
