From Air Strikes To Aid Hijacks: Israel-Hamas Fight Against Humanity

A war started by Hamas in the Gaza Strip last year on 07 October 2023 has left Gaza in ruins. With a total breakdown of civil order, it seems impossible to even keep up the spirit of civilians who are just waiting for their fates to unroll. After decades of war over borders, ideology and control, the situation has reached a point where humanity has ended up in crisis. The problem is so catastrophic for civilians that there is no hope of surviving the war.

Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni Islamic militant organisation that has taken control of the Gaza Strip since 2007. Declared a terrorist group in the US, Hamas only believes in eternal jihad against Jews until Allah is victorious. (United Nations, 2019) Gaza City, a state in Palestine is the center of all the destruction and inhabits approximately 6 lakh people. With an area of 45 square kilometers, no place is safe for the citizens to shelter themselves and save their families. 

Hamas stated the attack on November 07 2023 was a response to Israel's violence against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The attack killed 1200 innocent Israelis and got 254 as hostages for Hamas (Miller, 2024). Nonetheless, the attack made nothing better for Palestinians but resulted in their unimaginable suffering witnessed by the world. In response to the attack done by Hamas, Israel unfolded a military operation in Gaza which led to the death of 21,000 Palestinians. More than 56,000 people were injured which comprises 2% of the total population of the city. 

Human Rights Crisis in Gaza

The war has opened the ultimate gate of destruction for the people of Israel and Palestine. The infrastructure in debris and added military assaults on civilians has shattered every ounce of humanity in the area.

In Jerusalem, the Israeli authorities deliberately forced around 1.9 Million people of Gaza to be displaced. It counters that almost 90% of its population is left to starve and find their shelters to protect their families. Israel claimed their displacement process is systematic and it will help Palestinians to stay safe. As Hamas is fighting from within the civilians Israel wants to displace them to take proper control over the situation. But reported by the people of Palestine themselves who are being removed from their homes, these claims of the Israeli military do not align with what they are doing (Hardman, 2024). It is mere distractions and attack bombings that are forcing people to leave. 

The war has created a hostile environment for the people of Gaza. Enormous challenges are rising as there is no civil order in the area. With zero humanitarian responses, people are left with their struggles inside so-called IDP shelters. There is an urgent need to protect people against women focused crimes and sexual violence. (Ajith, 2024) 

‘We are the Voice for Palestine’s human rights’, Head of Human Rights for Palestine.

Hijacking Of Humanitarian Aids in Gaza 

The intolerable conditions of civilians and their sufferings have gained international concern. Though Israel said that they had made passages to provide aid to the Palestinians, accusations have been made that Hamas is hijacking the aid and using it to fuel their operations. 

More than 100 trucks for the civilians in the war, taking military aid are noted and accounted to be looted by masked and armed gunmen according to the UN agency. The desperate need for food has left civilians with starvation and worsening situations. UNRWA slammed Israel stating they are forgetting their legal obligations and ignoring the need to make basic news get delivered to aid Gaza (Lockwood and Humayun, 2024).

A spokesperson for IDCA (Internally Displaced Civilians Association) stated, ‘A better route for aid is being repeatedly proposed to Israel but they are refusing all these requests.’

Egypt and Jordan have been partnering with locals to deliver humanitarian aid. Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Tunisia, the US and India have also sent their aid to help Innocent lives in Gaza. Hearing the helping aids got delivered to the thieves is saddening enough but Hamas has been hijacking the aid consignments (Gaza Aid, 2024). Hoarding the supplies has made it hard for the general public to get basic survival food sabotaging every humanitarian activity.

Preventing the hijacking of humanitarian aid

Israel believes that the aid loot is conducted by Hamas. While Hamas has denied all involvement international organisation have criticized Hamas for their oversight of the loot and misdirection of the aid. The aid hijacks have posed a security risk exacerbating the conditions of Gaza civilians. 

Israel-Led Initiative

Israel and the IDF have increased their presence in the Gaza Strip and they have made Buffer zones. A buffer zone is a place that has increased security and control over the area strategically. Netzarim Corridor is the buffer zone created by Israel to prevent the misuse of humanitarian aid from being hijacked by militant groups. 

Airstrikes on Militants Hijackers 

Israel Defence Force has conducted a special airstrike against the individuals who were seen taking the aid illegally. It has stopped militant hijackers from diverting the supplies and prevented aid from getting into the hands of people increasing the war. IDF stated that no aid trucks have been struck and corridors for aid delivery are still open. 

IDF stated, ‘All the militant hijackers struck from the airstrike were Hamas members. They planned to take the aid and transfer it to the Hamas army to support their territory activities.’

Hamas-Led Initiatives 

Hamas disagrees with Israel and continues to convey that they are not the aid hijackers. For protecting the aids they have started their anti-gang operations to target the militant groups hijacking the aids. 

Hamas’s Human Shield Method against Israel 

Hamas is committing serious double crimes. First against Israel’s civilians and the second against their people by using them as shelter for their terror activities. Rights organisation have named Israel as committing war against Palestinians and killing over 11,100 Palestinian civilians in the name of protecting their people (Marsi, 2023) to which Israel accuses Hamas of creating the war in the Gaza Strip since 2007. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, ‘Human shields are a key pillar of Hamas operations.’ In his talk with Joe Biden in 2023, the assured president also reaffirmed his goal to see Hamas get defeated (House, 2024.) 

The Human Shield used by Hamas is a shield of its own Palestinian civilians. People are being used to hide militants and weapons are stored in civilian buildings. Hamas used residential areas to launch their rockets and forced people to ignore Israeli warnings commanding people to relocate to the south of Gaza. The problem in this war crime by Hamas is the use of human shields which is a breach of the Laws of Armed Conflict (LOAC). 

Some people are voluntarily ready to shield the organisation after Israel’s early warning of the war. Israel continued that Hamas is also stopping civilians from relocating and forcing them to be involuntary shields. Despite their fullest efforts to not harm civilians Hamas hides in the civilians for protection this is how they have justified the higher number of civil injuries in Palestine. 

Israeli Airstrikes Target Hamas Leaders

His connection with Hamas was open and In between this escalating war, Humanitarian aid was being sent to the Gaza civilians for their survival. According to an intelligence report it was informed to the Israeli military that the Aids trucks were about to be looted by Hamas. The IDF launched an overnight airstrike on southern Gaza to protect the aid from being stolen. These aids are used by militant groups to flourish their work and keep the war Fuelled with stolen resources. 

The mastermind of the 07 October 2023, attack on Israel was Yahya Sinwar the leader of Hamas. He was named as ‘Israel’s most wanted’. His Head for the military wing of Hamas is Mohammed Deif who serves as a top commander for the militant force. 

On 14 July 2024, Israel launched an airstrike with authority from Netanyahu near the Gaza Strip and the target was to hit the Hamas commander. The strike killed 90 and injured more than 300. Though the strike was to end Head Commander Mohammed Deif his fate is still unclear and now it has made the process of cease-fire complicated (Zanotti and Sharp, 2024b).

Netanyahu made a statement not clarifying if he was successful in exiting Dief but Hamas replied by saying Deif is alive and Israel is just trying to cover the extent of the message with such false accusations. The city of Khan Younis was bombed the area during the attack and cleared thousands of civilians. Now it has been declared as a humanitarian safe zone by the nation. 

End of Yahya Sinwar to Disrupt Terrorist Operations in Gaza

Sinwar planned the attack of 07 October 2023, for years and he caused 1200 deaths and more than 250 hostages which damaged Israel.  

According to the Israeli Defence Force (IDF), during their routine ground operations, they encountered Sinwar by chance. Their drone detected militants and the Israeli military opened fire. A masked man lobbed two grenades at the IDF to knock the drone. The man died in the attack and was later to be identified as Sinwar (Reyes, 2024).

As the death of the leader of Hamas was confirmed, an Israel Defence Force spokesman declared, “Yahya Sinwar is a dead man.”

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu shared the news, ‘The mission is still unfinished.’

Israel Defence Force also made a post on social media about the news and declared, “Eliminated Yahya Sinwar” (X.com, 2024) 

In September 2024, Sinwar rejected the deal from Israel to grant him safety in exchange for the hostages. The attack and accidental killing of Sinwar have increased the discussions for a cease-fire internationally. Negotiation issues are requested but the news has fueled the conflict even more. 

Attacked by Israel at Al-Tabeen school in Gaza

Breaking the boundaries of pitiful regards, On August 10 2024, Israel attacked the al-Tabeen school in Gaza.  This strike on the school was Rocket airstrike. The school was a home to around 6000 displaced civilians which was destroyed by a missile strike. Israel stated such institutions are used by Hamas militants for their bases but the emerging videos of the scene depicted people praying while the attack was strict. 

Over 80+ deaths have been reported and over 50 are noted as injured.  11 children, and 6 women have been among the casualties and over 75 individuals have been identified. Countries immediately condemned the attack stating it was a “deliberate killing” of Palestinians to end the war. 

‘No place in Gaza is safe, yet people are being asked to leave and travel to even smaller places.’ stated Rosemary DiCarlo the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peace building Affairs (United Nations, 2024). 

The last Remaining Medical facility in Northern Gaza Attacked 

Kamal Adwan Hospital was the last major health facility working to provide relief to the people of Northern Gaza. The hospital was under attack since start of the war with staff being injured and medical aids being stopped.

On 06 December 2024, Israeli forces bombed the north and west complex of the hospital via airstrike followed by heavy gunfire.

On 27 December 2024, the Israeli army forced their way into the hospital complex and set the hospital partly on fire. 

Israel Defence Force stated the Hamas militants used the hospital premises for “terrorist activities”

The nursing department of the hospital was forcefully evacuated, risking the lives of all medical staff, patients and newborns present in the hospital. Director of the hospital Dr. Hussam made a statement claiming, ‘The hospital is being destroyed and evacuations are being directed by Israeli forces’.

Over 50 people were killed by the airstrikes of IDF. 5 medical workers were also deemed dead in the vicinity of the hospital. (Service, 2024) 

WHO has claimed over 60 medical workers and 25 patients were left with critical conditions and everyone with moderate conditions was forced to evacuate the hospital. The hospital administration has pleaded to stop the attacks and let the remaining people shelter the civilians in need. 

Hamas completely denied their presence in the medical facility. They proclaimed it was all done by the Israeli army to fuel their plan to displace the civilians into the place they wanted. Hamas also requested an investigation to know more about the situation in northern Gaza. 

According to the WHO's report of WHO, the last medical facility in Northern Gaza has now been deemed “Out of service” due to these continuous attacks and damages by the war.

Global Reaction of Nations on the War 

The attacks have drawn a reaction from all across the globe with countries coming to support those in need. The attacks were portrayed as terrorist attacks on civilians by many countries. A few countries have refrained from making any statements. They have not attacked Hamas alone for the war-like conditions in Gaza.

The situation has deepened the struggles of the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. However, assistance has enabled humanitarian assistance and demands to prevent violations in the area. 

The US has affirmed Israel’s right to self-defense against the attacks from Hamas but destruction has crossed the limits of civilian rights. Middle Eastern nations including Turkey and Iran have made their statements of supporting Hamas for their rights. 

Socio-Economic Impact Of The War 

Poverty is the biggest issue for the people of Palestine and it will increase to 74.3% in the year 2024. Over 4.1 million people are under the impoverishment line including 2.61 million individuals (UNDP, 2024). 

As of September 2024 about 3,300,000 people in Palestine needed humanitarian aid which included over 1,554,700 children.

There has been a sharp decline in income losses leading to $25.5 million of loss in economic activities. A 35.1% decline in GDP has been seen for Palestine in 2024 which is about $7.1 Billion (UNDP, 2024.) 

GDP loss is resulting in high unemployment rates and the collapse of all necessary services for the country. The unemployment level has increased to 79% for the Gaza’s labour force. 

The Gaza economy has collapsed and has decreased by 81%.  About 96% of the agricultural activities of Gaza have been lost in the war, shutting down the food production activities for the country (UN Trade and Development, 2024).

An increase of 250% in all basic commodities has been seen from August 2023 to 2024.  Over 95% of educational facilities in the country have been destroyed leaving 625,000 school-going children with no schools since October 2023 (United Nations, 2024b).  

The war (2023 to 2025) has cost an estimated $55.6 Billion, which accounts for up to 10% of Israel's economy. (Kozul-Wright, 2024)

Conclusion

The death toll in Gaza alone has been over 40,000 people and for Israel it is 1,139 and more than 200 held captive. Most civilians have lost their futures, families and lives. Thousands of innocents are suffering but the war did not look near any closure. From the killing of militant leaders to dangerously playing with the lives of innocents the war has caused a catastrophic moment for the Middle East. 

The crisis is calling for an immense need to cease fire in the area and protect the lives of people residing there. The loss of human lives and physical properties is to an unimaginable extent that immediate actions are required to minimize the damages now. Efforts are required to shape the country to find a desirable solution for the civilians and their futures.