“It’s a suffering I wouldn’t wish upon any woman” — Nada Abdelasalem, a Gaza war survivor. 

It’s been over 11 months since Israel invaded Gaza, and the situation continues to go from bad to worse.

The war has not only impacted lives but has deeply shaken humanity, especially when women and children are specifically targeted.

UN Women estimates that 70% of the total casualties in the Gaza war are women and children, with 10,000 women among the dead, including 6,000 mothers who have left behind 19,000 orphaned children. 

Unfortunately, for the women who are surviving, their existence feels no different from being trapped in a living coffin. They might wish they had been killed in the invasion instead.

Since the Onset of Israel – Gaza War…

The women in the war-affected region are helpless. They are crushed under mountains of sorrow. 

First, there is the unbearable pain of losing their children. Then, for some, it’s the grief of losing a brother; for others, their parents, and for many, their husbands. 

On top of all this, they have no roof over their heads, and they are forced to live in refugee camps without access to clean water, food, or basic hygiene. 

The weight of these tragedies is overwhelming, leaving them with little hope and unimaginable suffering.

The lack of necessities for survival has impacted their overall well-being and dignity. 

“We lived in a cozy three-bedroom apartment with a kitchen, built by my husband after years of hard work in construction. But when the war erupted, we lost everything, including my five-month pregnancy. 

We are forced to live in a single tent, with toilets that aren’t even enclosed by four walls. I can’t shower regularly to maintain proper hygiene. I feel like my privacy is constantly being violated.” — Reham conflict survivor. 

The situation for women in Gaza is so dire that they don’t even have extra clothes to change into. Many were forced to flee their homes wearing only the clothes on their backs.

“I wear a prayer robe for everything – to sleep in, to go out,” — Nada, a war-torn victim. 

The situation is even worse, as nearly 1 million women and children now have almost no food, clean water, restrooms, and sanitary pads. It has created a poor environment, as diseases spread rapidly in these unbearable living conditions.

The Doors of Aid Are Almost Closed

What could be worse than all of this? Sadly, for the women of Gaza, their suffering goes even deeper as they endure conditions even more horrific than what has already been described.

According to the World Health Organization and UN agencies, there have been 117 attacks on Gaza’s health infrastructure since the war began. 

These attacks have led to the closure of 64% of primary healthcare centers, and half of the hospitals are now non-operational.

The most heartbreaking aspect of this situation is that every day, 150 women in Gaza give birth to a child. With fuel, medicine, water, and health supplies rapidly diminishing, women are forced to give birth without anesthesia. 

“The war turned our lives upside down,” Etemad Assaf says, rubbing the clothes with her hand.

“Every night, I feel like I’m going to give birth now because I’m so tired.”

“You see? Is this a suitable life for a pregnant woman? A tent, cold, open air, and the lack of the necessities of life?”

Additionally, it is estimated that 15% of these pregnant women experience birth complications, requiring basic or comprehensive obstetric care. Sadly, several women have reported dying during or before giving birth to a child. 

Furthermore, according to a survey, around 50,000 women are currently pregnant, and more than 690,000 menstruating women and girls have limited access to menstrual hygiene products.

Help for diseases is a distant thought; right now, the condition of women in Gaza is so dire that they don’t even have access to basic medical facilities.

Being Women in Gaza 

For women in Gaza, it feels like they are forced to endure the constant fear of death every day—whether from bombings, the lack of healthcare resources, or the unbearable grief of losing their loved ones.

Survival is becoming increasingly difficult with each passing day, especially for women who are pregnant or have recently given birth. 

Many areas are grappling with severe hunger and food shortages, which makes it even more challenging for women to care for their children and newborns. Many have lost their breadwinners and are now relying solely on humanitarian aid to survive.

Finding milk for their children has become nearly impossible, and providing basic nutrition is a constant struggle. 

As the situation worsens, these women are forced to make heartbreaking choices, trying to sustain their families with whatever little they can find. 

The lack of food, medical care, and safety is pushing them to the brink, with no end in sight to their suffering.

Their only hope for improvement lies in the end of the war and the continuous flow of humanitarian aid and essential resources. Without peace and consistent support, their struggle for survival will only grow more desperate.

Despite the lack of sustainability and safe access, the UN has dispatched life-saving and humanitarian aid to Gaza. 

Unfortunately, this aid is insufficient, and more support is urgently needed for the women of Gaza, particularly for pregnant women and newborn babies.

It is crucial to note that no fuel has entered Gaza since October 7, leaving food, electricity, and other necessities out of reach for its residents. 

The only thing sustaining them is hope—the hope that the conflict will end soon and that essential supplies like medicines, healthcare resources, and food will once again become accessible.

Israel’s attack on Gaza, which is entering its eighth month of ethnic cleansing, is taking new, dangerous turns. What started as hidden attacks now threaten to be a full-blown war between Israeli forces and the Irani-backed militant group in the region – Hezbollah.

However, the prospect of a full-scale war terrifies people on both sides. Aid agencies, including the United Nations, fear the war would be a “catastrophe that goes beyond the border and imagination.” Israel’s open military offensive in southern Lebanon would also risk an Iranian response.

Here’s a detailed report:

Israel-Hezbollah Escalation

While initially caught off-guard, Hezbollah has been supporting its regional ally- Hamas-ever since Israel initiated the Gaza genocide on 7th October. The two sides have exchanged near-daily cross-border strikes.

Till now, over 450 Lebanese, including fighters from the Hezbollah and allied groups and 80 civilians, have lost their lives. On Israel’s side, 16 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed. The escalation has forced tens of thousands of residents on both sides of the border to be displaced – with no hope of returning any time soon.

But, the escalation simmering for months is now catching sparks. Last week, the Israel army disclosed it has “approved and validated” an offensive plan in Lebanon. In response, the militant group released surveillance drone videos of areas deep inside Israel’s border.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned Israel and the world at large, “Whoever thinks of war against us will regret it.” He ended by saying if a war broke out, Hezbollah would fight without limits.

The militia leader also thwarted any prospect of a cease-fire on the Israel-Lebanon border, unless there’s one in Gaza.

Hezbollah is Not Hamas

In his last Wednesday speech, Nasrallah said that militant leaders from Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Iran, and other Middle Eastern countries are offering to send thousands of fighters to help Hezbollah in the fight against Israel. But, with over 100,000 trained fighters, Hezbollah already holds one of the most potent militant armies in the region.

International government and aid agencies fear a war between Israel and Hezbollah will be more brutal and catastrophic than the Gaza crisis because it could put the entire region into war.

But, while the crippling economy of Lebanon puts Hezbollah at a disadvantage, taking apart the militant group’s military powers in days is a far taller task. Since the Israel-Lebanon war, both sides have been preparing for a chance to settle scores.

Hezbollah’s arsenal includes at least 150,000 missiles and rockets. With over 100,000 fighters, the group’s sophisticated attacks – like the largest rocket attack on 5th July – even surprised Israeli officials. They have shot down top-of-the-line Israeli drones and hit the Iron Dome batteries and anti-drone defenses.

Last month, the Iran-backed group shocked the world when it published drone footage of Israel’s highly sensitive public and military infrastructure. The most astonishing of which is Israel’s secret nuclear base.

The International Response to the Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

With the escalations only increasing, an all-out war can even drag the US into conflict with Iran. It could set the entire region on fire. That’s why the United States has drawn a red line on Hezbollah with a warning. It said the group should not assume that the US can stop Israel from attacking them.

And while the warning is conveyed indirectly because America doesn’t engage with the military group one-on-one, the message from the US officials is clear. The warning aims to get Hezbollah to back down. The officials also declared the US’s support to Israel in case Hezbollah retaliates.

After weeks of silence, Iran has warned Israel of an “obliterated war.” The escalating tension is also worrying the international community. This week, Germany, Canada, and the Netherlands immediately urged their citizens to leave Lebanon. Many are re-routing their flights into Lebanon and warning travelers to “strongly reconsider” traveling to the conflicted country.

The world is trying to slow down the tension, but the escalation is only spiraling to a new height in recent weeks as Israel’s attack on Hamas intensifies.

The Brewing Israel-Hezbollah War

Israel has effectively lost sovereignty in the northern part of the country due to consistent cross-border attacks by the group. The statement came before the Thursday attack where Hezbollah fired 200 rockets into the Israeli border – making it the biggest attack in the monthlong conflict. An Aljazeera report showed that since 7th October the two sides have shared 7400 attacks.

Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant said that while the country is trying to prevent a wider war, its military is capable of getting “Lebanon back to the stone age.” The statement came as Israel is downshifting its military in Gaza and refocusing its resources on the northern Israel-Lebanon border.

But, while both countries do not want a full-scale war, in case a ceasefire deal fails in Gaza, a large-scale Israel-Hezbollah war can break out in the next several weeks – one that’ll be far worse than the last time around.

Over the last eight months, Israel Gaza war has shown the true colors of Zionists and what genocide looks like. Videos and graphics surfacing from the ground show the nightmarish reality millions of Palestinians are forced to live every day.

Mutilated bodies, lost loved ones, orphaned children, bombed shelters, and constant fear of being the next victim with no medical care, shelter, or food — are the appalling reality of Gazans.

But now, the world is waking up to the atrocities of Israel. Social media outrages and protests are asking governments to take rigid actions against war crimes. But how are these outrages shaping the future of Gaza?

All Eyes on Rafah: Social Media Outrage of Israel Gaza War

Pro-Palestinian activism has surged several times since the war began. ‘All Eyes on Rafah’ is the newest in a queue of content that has gone viral and been endorsed by millions of users on social media over the last eight months.

'All Eyes On Rafah' Image Shared Over 44 Million Times On Instagram https://t.co/gURmYusQAg

— NDTV (@ndtv) May 30, 2024

While the viral graphic brought Rafah and Israel’s genocide war into the limelight, the reality cannot be any more different. Unlike the clean, sequenced tent, today, Rahal is in ruin. Opposite to the clear blue skies, Rafah’s skies are grey from bombs, smoke, and debris.

Under the ruins lies many decaying bodies of innocents while Israel continues the military offense – set on eradicating Hamas.

But what enraged people about the Rafah attack was that the region was dedicated to sheltering millions of displaced Palestinians. Israel’s attack on Rafah has cut off the Gaza-Egypt corridor—leaving the war-torn region without any humanitarian aid. Palestinians also used the corridor to escape the wars and seek medical help from nearby hospitals — an option no longer available.

On Sunday, the UN agency reported that all of its 36 refuge shelters in Rafah are ”now empty’, a safe place where 1.4 million displaced Palestinians were sheltering until last month.

Since the attack, delivering aid to Gaza has become even more difficult. With IDF now in central Rafah, the humanitarian spaces are shrinking even further, leaving the leftover Gazans to wait for uncertain calamities.

But Rafah is not the only target of the IDF.

Jabalia Turned to Rubbles

Repeated air strikes in Jabalia, located in northern Gaza, have left the town in ruins. Just within 24 hours, over 50 Palestinians have lost their lives, while 400 were left grievously wounded.

In the meantime, Israel continues its genocidal operations in Rafah. The country claims to have killed 300 Hamas fighters in Rafah since the operation began in May. The IDF says it has wiped out major Gaza tunnels and left dozens of Hamas’ dens rattled in Jabalia after its three-week operations.

After the Israeli forces left Jabalia, returning to the sight of mass destruction, Gazans found their homes completely razed to the ground. Civil defense teams recorded 120 Palestinian bodies under the rubbles of bombarded budling and destroyed roads.

International Court of Justice (ICJ) Accuses Israel of Genocide

After eight months of its onslaught, burning refugee camps in humanitarian zones and claiming nearly 36,400 Palestinians’ lives, the World Court recognized Israel’s heinous war crimes as genocidal.

The court ruled by 13 votes to two and ordered Israel to “immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah.” But what did Israel do? Bombed camps and burned dozens alive in Rafah.

This triggered mass protests across the globe—Spain, France, Lebanon—and the ‘All eyes on Rafah’ movement started. International governments, including the EU, are also planning to stop Israel’s atrocities, but they are torn on how to do this.

Ireland and Spain prefer radical options like sanctions on the country and its institution. Others prefer an ultimatum, a threat to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — stop the genocide or else face the consequences.

Amongst all this, Biden proposed a ceasefire and hostage deal proposals on Saturday.

Biden’s Israeli Proposal to End Israel Gaza War

Brought in by US President Joe Biden on Saturday, the Israeli government has proposed a new ceasefire deal, a roadmap for permanent peace in Gaza. The three-part proposal includes plans for a ceasefire, a surge in humanitarian aid, the exchange of hostages, and post-war aid for Gaza.

Phase 1 will see a see truce with:

• 6-weeks complete ceasefire
• exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners
• partial military withdrawal from Gaza
• 600 trucks of aid each day

In phase 2, Israel and Hamas will negotiate a permanent ceasefire. The final phase 3 includes a major reconstruction plan for destroyed Gaza with international support.

Hamas has welcomed the plan, saying it’ll consider Biden’s plan ‘positively.’ Even in the previous negotiations, Hamas has shown interest in entering a comprehensive truce agreement if Israel holds its aggression.

However, though it’s an Israel-proposed deal, the proposal creates political turmoil within the country.

Israel’s Acceptance of the Proposal Could Mean a Military Coup?

The efforts to bring any middle ground between Israel and Gaza are hitting more roadblocks as the proposal threatens the coalition government in Israel.

While many Israelis disagree with Netanyahu’s method, they want talks, and getting hostages released from Gaza should be a priority. A vast number of Zionists, however, want the country to push on and destroy Hamas, even at the cost of civilian lives. These divisions are seeping into the government and military.

The country’s top influential politicians, including Itamar Ben-Gvir (National Security Minister) and Bezalel Smotrich (Finance Minister), are against the proposal, saying “no end to the war unless Hamas is completely obliterated.”

הסרטון הזה (שינון מגל פרסם בהתלהבות וערך ידידיה חממי) הוא קריאה למרד, ומגלם בתוכו את פירוק הממלכתיות, התרופפות המשמעת הצבאית, ושחיקת ערכי צה״ל

מישהו צריך להתעורר. אומה חפצת חיים, צבא חפץ ניצחון אמיתי, צריך לשלוט בחיילים שלו. שריפת ספרים, ביזה וגרפיטי הם רק קדימון לבאות

תתעוררו pic.twitter.com/BJAl9frWMV

— Nadav Oz Salzberger נדב עוז זלצברגר (@NadavSalz) May 24, 2024

A video also surfaced showing an Israeli soldier asking the defense minister to quit. He wants complete victory over Gaza, and if not, he threatens that 100,000 soldiers will revolt.

Uncertainty Looms as Millions are Forced to Suffer

Earlier this year also, Israel refused a hostage exchange proposal. But can the US’s pressure to accept the proposal by both size and wind down the war finally put an end to the genocide? Only time will tell.

In the meanwhile, under the cover of negotiation, Israel continues the ethnic cleansing in Gaza. On Sunday, the IDF struck 30 targets, including weapons storage facilitates. At the same time, Israel air strikes and ground combat have killed over 60 Palestinians, climbing the death toll to 36,439.

But with both ends divided and unwilling to find any common ground, millions of Gazans are left stranded in a genocidal war in which they have no say and control.

World passively watching as Israel perpetrates open-ended massacre in Gaza