The Israel-Gaza Conflict: What do LHS Students Have to Say?
On October 7, 2023, Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing over 1,300 people and taking hostages. Israel has since declared a state of war, retaliating with its own attacks that led to more than 2,000 deaths in Gaza and many more injuries so far. We asked LHS students for their thoughts on the conflict. This is what they said:
“We need to stop looking at the effects of this conflict and instead start looking at the causes.”
“Im Jewish, but I’m finding it really irritating that the vast majority of people posting about this on social media (Jews included) don’t seem to see any kind of nuance to the situation. Everyone is either on one side or the other and thinks that everyone on the other side supports repression and murder. That’s clearly not the case. I don’t think it is okay to kidnap and kill innocent civilians, and I worry about my friends who have family in Israel. I also don’t think its’s okay to treat people the way the Israeli government has treated Palestinians, displacing them in huge numbers and sometimes killing them… It’s a really complicated situation. No one is right.”
“All loss of life on both sides is unneeded and is the result of YEARS of neglect from both the Israeli government and the rest of the world. I hope that this comes to an end soon. There is no need for all these people to live in fear.”
“We need to stop sending money to Ukraine. Save our allies in the Middle East. Civilians are being killed and raped. Protect Israel.”
“The injustices happening to Israel have been happening to Palestine for over 70 years, and although it’s frustrating and people are being hurt, decolonization doesn’t happen by saying please. It’s important to recognize that this has been going on for so long: thousands of Palestinian lives have been lost and millions forced to flea. Even now, Gaza has lost water, electricity, and more, while the neighboring side still has basic human necessities. The timeline didn’t start when Israel declared war 2 days ago; it started years ago.”
“To everyone who is now heartbroken for Israel, where was this energy when Palestine was attacked (and still is being attacked) FOR DECADES?”
“Occupation doesn’t come without a price… All that stands in the way of further bloodshed is repayment, by means of both the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the occupied Palestinian territories as well as affirmation of the right of Palestinian refugees borne of the 1948 and 1967 Arab-Israeli wars to return to their homes.”
“It’s like watching a revolution except the world turns to the tyrannical government and stands with it.”
“This is a pogrom.”
“There is no innocent side in this. Everyone is in the wrong. But at the end of the day, it is the people that bear the consequences of their governments’ lack of ability to negotiate with the opposing party… If you meet someone who is in support of the opposing side, understand that they most likely want what is best for their country and their loved ones within it.”
If you see an opinion on our site that you strongly disagree with, we invite you to share your side of the story, but please be respectful. The responses shared above do not reflect the views of Lexspects as a publication.