Every night I fall asleep wondering if my neighborhood will be erased while I sleep. Every day I wake up and wonder if I’ll have enough to eat. These are likely the thoughts of children in Gaza while the world ignores the ongoing genocide. In Palestine it seems to be a constant occurrence to see families pull out their children’s remains from a bombed out apartment building. How do we continue to participate in a society that watches a live-streamed genocide and responds with passive statements rather than act on the situation!
According to the “Arab American Institute”, the Israeli and Palestinian conflict did not start nor end on October 7th 2023. The anniversary of October 7th in the United States is now commemorated as the ‘dreadful’ day that Hamas attacks Israeli civilians. Although tensions between Jews and Arabs in Palestine have been going on for almost a century, rising during the period of British rule after World War I. The creation of the State of Israel in 1948, following the United Nations partition plan and the Arab-Israeli War, resulted in the displacement of many Palestinians, an event Palestinians refer to as the Nakba (which translates to catastrophe).
In the years that followed, wars, territorial disagreements, military control, the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, restrictions on Palestinian movement, and repeated cycles of violence has caused deep mistrust. Gaza has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007 after Hamas took control of the territory, leading to severe poverty and repeated armed conflicts. According to the UN OCHA records between January, 2008, and September, 19, 2023, Israel forces killed a total of 6,407 Palestinians. So the Israeli Government has been killing Palestinians since before October 7th! These historical events created long standing political, humanitarian, and security injustice that formed the reason for the violence that occurred on October 7, 2023. The Arab American Institute states “Public opinion in the US is changing with more Americans understanding the Palestinian story and empathizing with their pain.” Though, why is it now that we Americans pay attention to the conflict almost a century later!
Ever since October 7th, most Palestinians in Gaza have been displaced multiple times by Israeli forces with evacuation orders or constant bombing. The risk of ethnic cleansing has heightened due to the settlers and Israeli forces being so violent towards Palestinians. “MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERS DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS” speaks about how Gaza’s medical infrastructure has been weakened by years of blockade that began in 2007. The ongoing obstruction of aid has denied people of simple human needs like food, water, and medicines. Vital necessities SHOULD be a simple human right!
In October 2025 The U.S president Donald Trump called for a ceasefire in Gaza naming it his “Peace Plan” this ‘peace plan’ halted direct fighting and a “hostage for a prisoner” exchange. Living conditions on the Gaza strip still remain desperate, when there is insufficient aid, necessary foundations, and mass displacement. What should be carried on with this ceasefire is a massive and vital amount of aid to be carried into the strip to help families in need. I’m tired of people sleeping in this situation. We need to act now. Humanity is dead if we don’t!
Although there aren’t many things to do to help these families in need, luckily there are some. We can help the families in Gaza by donating to trusted humanitarian organizations. Some are Doctors without borders. Palestinian children’s relief fund, World food programme, International rescue committee, and Oxfam. Another way to help people in Gaza is providing digital connectivity through Connect humanity. Overall we as humanity should help in anyways we can to stop the genocide happening right before our eyes!
Maritza Salazar – St. Laurence High School – DMSF Class of 2030
Photo Credit: hosnysalah – Pixabay