The Israel–Palestine conflict continues to fuel violence and political tension, particularly highlighted by recent attacks by Hamas militants and the Israeli military’s retaliatory strikes. Over 1,200 Israelis and nearly 2,000 Palestinians have died in the latest escalation. Historically, this conflict often flares during political moments in Israel, with leaders like Netanyahu leveraging military action to bolster their political standing.
The humanitarian crisis, with significantly higher Palestinian casualties, underscores an imbalance rarely covered in Western media. Criticism of both Hamas and the Israeli government should be separated from generalizations about Palestinians or Israelis as a people. Australia’s foreign policy, echoing its stance on Israel’s “right to self-defense”, neglects the Palestinian experience. Calls for a fair resolution emphasize the need to address the root causes of the conflict, including Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories, and the international community’s role in finding a just and lasting peace.