The Middle East is a hotbed of unrest, and is a region that is relied upon for stability. Sadly, stability in this volatile region is often much harder to achieve than it sounds. In recent weeks, Israeli troops have advanced into the Gaza Strip, a crowded region in the Palestinian Territories. It is a situation that has seen much bloodshed and suffering on both sides of the conflict.
The most recent round of violence between the two sides erupted last Monday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered troops to advance into the Gaza Strip in what he termed an “unprecedented” move. The aim of this operation was to rescue an Israeli soldier believed to be held hostage by militants in the region.
Unfortunately, this rescue attempt has had a number of major consequences. On Sunday, it emerged that four Palestinian children were killed during Israeli airstrikes in the region. The deaths have added to the long list of casualties that have already been left in the wake of this conflict.
The perceived Israeli-Palestinian violence has also led to the evacuation of the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, which was deemed too dangerous to remain open. This has created a dangerous situation for those who are desperately in need of medical attention. Over five hundred have already been evacuated, with the hospital now essentially empty.
The situation is still ongoing, with no clear end in sight. One thing that is for certain is that the events that transpired on Monday have created a new wave of instability in the region. With no breakthrough in the peace process, and both sides digging their heels in, it is uncertain when this tempestuous situation in the Middle East will reach its conclusion.