The rise and fall of the Gaza Strip
Sep 3rd, 2008 by Jordan FeRoss
The citizens of the Gaza Strip have been forced to live in constant fear of terrorist attacks for the greater part of a century. Palestinians and Israelis have warred against one another over who has claim to the land since it was given to the Jews in 1948. Bombings and kidnappings are all but a way of life, leaving this once peaceful state in shambles.
The Gaza strip is an irony in itself. Looking back at its history you will find that when the Israelis were in control of the city the Palestinians long fought for its independence. When the day came and the Israelis gave up partial control of Gaza City, the Palestinians found themselves fighting for control of Gaza by the two major parties in power, Hamas, and Fatah. When will the Gaza Strip see peace again?
The Palestinians will not give up and the Israelis will always enjoy seeing the Gaza Strip being ruined by its own people. As long as the Palestinians argue amongst each other over control, Israel will further enjoy a little break from having to answer to Hamas. Therefore, the future is the Gaza Strip looks sad and bleak.
Before WWII, the Gaza Strip was home to all manner of Jews and Gentiles, all of whom worshipped and lived together on the same soil in peace. Soon after the war ended, the British army took control of Palestine, to give it to the Jews. Thenceforth, it would be known as the Jewish Nation. Palestinians were expelled from their homes and land almost overnight. For many, their exodus took them to nearby countries, but large numbers stayed to combat the injustices of the Israelis. Entire generations of Palestinians have grown up in the Gaza Strip knowing nothing but hatred for the Israelis.
It would seem that the Israelis and the Palestinians will never be able to get along in even a relatively peaceful manner. Once the chords of vengeance have been struck, the tunes of anguish and suffering will forever play. The Palestinians’ will simply never concede that the Gaza Strip now belongs to the Israelis. Since the two sides cannot agree who owns the land, nor can they live together, what will become of the Gaza Strip if nothing is done to remedy this situation.
Do we sympathize with Gaza or become numb and immune to having any emotion towards the Gaza city citizens? The right thing to do is to impartially sympathize with Gaza with no strings attached. After all, haven’t citizens of the Gaza Strip seen enough? We can all sit at home and pretend that those humans are all the way on the other side of the world and everything is ok. But, the righteous thing to do is to have some feelings towards other humans and intervene while we can to avoid any further destruction and division of that land that is holy to most of us.
