The growing conflict in Gaza has led to a terrible humanitarian crisis, with more than 100 Palestinians killed by Israeli airstrikes in just one day. This increase in violence happened during President Trump’s trip to the Middle East, a visit that did not include Israel, and where the President said very little publicly about the worsening situation.
The Israeli blockade of Gaza, which has been enforced since early March, has completely stopped humanitarian aid, medicine, and basic supplies from getting in. According to reports from NBC News, the United Nations claims this move essentially uses hunger as a way to pressure Hamas in negotiations. This is a common tactic in war.
The blockade has made an already terrible situation even worse, leaving civilians with almost no food or water. A community kitchen in Jabalia shows how hard Palestinians struggle to survive, as even donated food is difficult to get. The shortage of basic necessities, along with constant airstrikes, has left people feeling hopeless. Yet, Trump left the area without any real mention, as reported by NBC.
Trump leaves Gaza on its own
While President Trump’s Middle East trip included several countries, he barely spoke about the crisis in Gaza. He mentioned wanting to create a “freedom zone” in Gaza but did not explain how this would happen. His way of handling the conflict has been very different from that of past U.S. presidents, as he did not talk about human rights with Middle Eastern leaders.
A young boy was killed in the strikes, and his uncle said “When you meet God, tell him they left Gaza alone — without food, without water, without hope,” during his burial.
Behind the conflict, there is also a growing disagreement between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. Reports say their strained relationship comes from two main issues: the war in Gaza and the threat from Iran. Trump seems frustrated with Netanyahu’s increased military attacks in Gaza, while Netanyahu is unhappy that Trump has not ed military action against Iran’s nuclear sites and disagrees with his approach to the war in Yemen.
Trump has not helped the situation much, claiming he could just “take over” Gaza. Making the conflict even more complicated is the ongoing violence in the occupied West Bank. This includes an Israeli military raid that killed five of the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad.
This raid happened after an attack where an Israeli woman, who was pregnant, died during childbirth, though her baby lived. The rising violence shows how unstable the region is and how deep the tensions are that keep this conflict going.
The total number of deaths since the current escalation began in October 2023 is shocking. Palestinian health officials say more than 53,000 people have died in Gaza, while Israeli officials report around 1,200 deaths and about 250 hostages taken in Israel after Hamas attacks. These numbers show just how many lives this conflict has cost and why there is an urgent need for peace.
Published: May 16, 2025 01:20 pm