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We have a duty to learn about Gaza
by Emanuela Corrado

You may have heard of the crisis between Israel and Palestine but do you know what led up to this catastrophe? Do you know why Israel is recognised by only 164 of 192 UN member states and Palestine by just 146? Do you know why both countries are fighting over the same land? Do you know why there is tension between Jewish Israelis and Muslim Palestinians?

On 7 October 2023, an atrocity shook the Middle East. It is still affecting civilian lives today. On that day, Hamas, a Palestinian group recognised by the UK as a terrorist organisation, launched an attack from the Gaza Strip and killed 1,200 Israelis. So began the current war between Israel and Hamas. Since then, more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed. Many have been women and children, say the UN. How would you feel living in fear of continuous war, in a society that threatens danger?

The conflict between Palestine and Israel has a long history, but here is a short summary. The Zionist movement, the nationalist movement to establish a Jewish nation (now known as Israel), was established as long ago as 1897. The British put their support behind the idea in 1917, when the Balfour Declaration established a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine, which was then an Ottoman region. For the next 30 years, Palestine was ruled by the British. In that time, thousands of Jewish people moved to the land, fleeing Europe. In November 1947, Britain handed over Palestine to the UN and adopted Resolution 181 (the Partition Plan) which established the separation of Arab and Jewish states. Six months later in 1948, the State of Israel was created and was admitted to the United Nations. The Arab world rejected the plan and a war broke out — and that year, more than half of the Palestinian population was displaced.

Israel and Palestine have gone through 16 wars or war-like clashes since 1947 to the present day. Sixteen wars! That’s up to six generations who had to face the reality of this war. But why is this important to us?

Well, by expanding our perspectives we can begin to understand how this war is affecting so many innocent people, allowing us to see the bigger picture. Remember that media outlets, and especially social media posts, are often biased and do not give the full story. By educating ourselves we will have more precise and informed opinions, enabling us to raise awareness and give victims the voice they don’t have.

Don’t let politics get in the way of the human race. We are one big community and helping each other lets us live in a better world. Now it is time to decide: what is your opinion?

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The writer, Emanuela Corrado, is a 15-year-old student at Sacred Heart High School in London who is a strong advocate for peace and the power of using voices instead of violence to create a better world. She recently wrote an article titled “We Have a Duty to Learn About Gaza” for The Day online newspaper, emphasizing that educating ourselves on complex issues like the Israel-Palestine conflict allows us to form more informed opinions, raise awareness, and give a voice to those who are often unheard. Drawing from her half-Croatian heritage, Emanuela understands the devastating effects of war, which deepens her commitment to promoting peace, respect, and mutual support.