A year into its escalation, hostilities between Israel and Hamas have begun to subside due to a recent ceasefire deal. The agreement was reached in November 2024 between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, with terms that brought an end to more than a year of fighting.
The deal comes after Hamas militants launched a cross-border attack on October 7, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and taking civilian hostages. In response, Israel declared war on Hamas, launching a ground invasion that led to significant displacement in the region.
Prior to this conflict, Lebanon’s Hezbollah experienced heavy airstrikes from Israel, killing over 1,400 people, including Hasan Nasrallah, their leader. The conflict has left a history of violence between Israel and Lebanon dating back to Israel’s founding.
The Gaza Strip has been at the center of the crisis, with Israel imposing restrictions on humanitarian aid and waging one of the most destructive wars in recent memory, killing tens of thousands and leaving half the population in “famine-like conditions.”
Despite tensions between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and some U.S. politicians, including President Biden, the United States continues to support Israel with military equipment and financial aid packages.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/12/18/israel-syria-war-news-hamas-gaza-palestine