“It’s like an adventure for Hamas, but people’s lives are not a game.”
- Ahmed, Refugee taking shelter in Nuseirat refugee camp
Both Israel and Hamas have declared ceasefires, but will these last? How should Arab countries respond to the crisis? Join us this Wednesday 21 January at 7pm in CAS 326 as we simulate the Arab League and develop a reaction to the crisis! No matter your thoughts on the conflict, it’s better to discuss than only to watch the news. So donate your opinion for Gaza, not just your status!
Other Events
- Saturday, 6pm in front of SMG: Meet for snowball fights and snow football, followed by refreshments at the HoJo.
- February 12-15: Harvard National Model UN (HNMUN) travel team applications are open! Please send in your application by January 21st at 5pm.
- March 22-27: WorldMUN (The Hague) travel team applications are open! Please send in your application by February 1st at 5pm.
Current Situation
A conflict that started at the end of the Second World War with the proposed 1947 partition plan of the United Nations has once again escalated into a full scale war between the Israelis and Palestinians.
Three weeks ago, the Israelis launched a full-scale offensive into the Gaza area, aimed toward militant faction Hamas after their violent take-over of the Palestinians and institutionalizion of terrorist cells in Gaza that have since attacked Israelis.
Due to the recently overwhelming devastation, a ceasefire was declared between the Israelis and Hamas just a week ago. Israel has currently vowed to pull their troops out of the Gaza area as soon as possible. The Hamas regime, however, remains indecisive.
“A unilateral ceasefire does not mean ending the aggression and ending the siege…These constitute acts of war, so this won’t mean an end to resistance,” stated Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum. Hamas has pledged to continue the fighting until Israel respects all the terms of the ceasefire condition proposed by them.
International aid agencies, including the United Nations (whose buildings in Gaza remained under attack throughout the previous week), are currently engaging in relief efforts. But the death toll has risen, claiming the lives of more than 1,300 Palestinians and 13 Israelis. Many more remain homeless or unaccounted for.
International Views
The United States and Britain have both condemned Hamas for their actions of provoking the current situation and have held talks to intervene.
For more information, check out the following links!
Gaza Crisis: key maps and timeline (BBC News)
Hamas, Israel set independent ceasefires (CNN)
Israel Speeds Withdrawal from Gaza (NYTimes)
Scale of Gaza Destruction Emerges (BBC News) – video
Bush Blames Hamas for Gaza (CNN)
Ceasefire may not end Gaza war (BBC News)
Times Topic: Gaza Strip (NYTimes)
Israel says it plans to withdraw from Gaza (CNN)
Positions on the Arab League
- Saudi Arabia
- Egypt
- Algeria
- United Arab Emirates
- Kuwait
- Morocco
- Iraq
- Syria
- Sudan
- Tunisia
- Qatar
- Libya
- Oman
- Yemen
- Lebanon
- Jordan
- Bahrain
- Mauritania
- Somalia
- Palestine
- Djibouti
- Comoros
