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Showing posts from February, 2025

The Context of What Came Before: Israel's History as the Aggressor and Oppressor

  According to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the right to self-determination is defined as “the rights of all peoples to pursue freely their economic, social and cultural development without outside interference” (United Nations, “The Right to Self-Determination). But in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Israel is preventing a vast majority of Palestinians from having these rights. Although Israel withdrew military presence from Gaza in 2005, its forces have been occupying the West Bank since 1967 (BBC, “Explainer”). Israel maintains complete control over everything that enters and exits Palestine (Eglash, “Does Israel Actually Occupy”). So despite the fact that prior to October 7, 2023 the Israeli army was not actively stationed in the Gaza strip, they still hold total influence. This occupation breeds resentment and discontent – which leads to the creation of groups like Hamas, formed in 1987. Children grow up experiencing discrimin...