By Anaria Bair-Oates
CCC Journalism Program
On Oct. 7, armed Hamas militants invaded parts of Israel using grenades, drones, machine guns, bulldozers and other weapons to try to assert their dominance, gain land and take political control. As a result of these attacks, more than 1,400 people have been killed, including members of the armed forces, men, women and children.
The fighting between the two sides has become a source of tension around the world.
The history of the conflict between Palestine and Israel dates back to 1947 and centers on religious conflicts. Israel has a majority of Jewish residents whereas the Palestine community is mainly Muslim.
The United Nations ultimately divided Palestine into two countries: Israel, where Jews reside, and Palestine, where Arabs reside. Israel agreed with the divide whereas Palestine believed it unfairly favored Israel.
As a result of the disagreement, the Arab League, Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, denied the partition, which resulted in violence. Israel fought back, gaining more land in the Arab state of Palestine. Because of this, approximately 720,000 Arabs were expelled from their homelands. As a result, conflicts remain to the present day.
Recent events in the Middle East have brought about a range of reactions from Camden County College students.
First-year Camden County College student, Charlie Shelton, 18, a computer design and graphics major, said, “It is less of a war and more of a one-sided situation kicking people out of the country.” He stated his younger brother called it more of a “genocide.”
Shelton said Camden County College should help the situation. “We should help in giving education to those who may emigrate here or even food, fundraisers and clothing donation drives.”
Camden County College student, Ryan Klinger, 21, who is majoring in dental assisting, said, “It is a sad reality that both sides have claims to land. But the reality is that extremism such as Zionism and Jihadism has forced many people on both sides to feel the need that they had to go above and beyond trying to take other land and kill people.”
Klinger said Camden County College should assist by “possibly making an organization about the rise of antisemitism and Islamophobia as a result of these events.”
Third-year Camden County College student Sarah H., 23, a health information technology major who did not want her last name placed in the story because of privacy concerns, had a different opinion. “The United States government should not be sending any more weapons to Israel. Sending more weapons instigates more war,” she said. “Aid with medical supplies, food and water in both countries should be sent. There are babies dying everywhere right now, it doesn’t matter which country, they’re dying.”
She stated she feels safe in society but she questions herself and it is not fair. “Why am I feeling safe and my fellow human beings in another country have to suffer and why is it different? Aren’t we all human beings?”