The events of the last month between Palestine and Israel have been tracked with much interest by news organizations all over the world. Since July, there have been several ceasefires and attempts for peace talks, each one ending in more conflict and disagreement. Unfortunately, these disagreements have led to the deaths of thousands of civilians.

The reasons for the war between these two countries goes back over sixty years, to the end of World War II, when Israel tried to expand its borders into a large part of Palestine, which many Jewish people considered to be their traditional home. The Palestinians who lived on that land were not willing to give it to Israel, and the next sixty years saw multiple wars, occupations, and failed treaties.

Israel ceased occupation of Gaza in 2005, but kept a close guard of its borders. As a result, Gaza suffers from many restrictions, and economic hardships. Many of the people there are tired of being restricted by Israel, and Hamas, a dominant Islamist Palestinian movement, has been especially outspoken about the hardships in Gaza.

The two countries have been high strung for decades, and the latest outbreak of fighting is merely another chapter in their history of violence against each other. Unfortunately, the war is not without consequence. 

In the past month, almost 2,000 people have been killed, the majority civilians, and most of them Palestinians. Attempts by Egypt to convince the two countries to negotiate have not been successful. Both countries feel like they are at a stalemate because Gaza
is not willing to give up its weapons, and Israel will not cease its tight border patrol unless Gaza is demilitarized. 

Palestine has taken the heavier hit with casualties. Since the conflict began on July 8, over 1,900 Palestinian civilians have been killed, and even more injured. For them, this war is happening not on a far-off battlefield, but in their own backyards. These are not the leaders negotiating the peace treaties, and they do not get a say in where the bombs fall, but they do have to suffer the consequences, which have been many. Most of these people are stuck in a war they do not want to be a part of and just want to keep their families safe.

The latest ceasefire came to an end on Aug. 19. Both sides stated that they were nowhere near an agreement, and it seems as if many more will have to die before this war is over.