This update is from No15.

On October 7, Hamas, the governing body of the Gaza Strip, who haven’t held a re-election since 2006, launched an attack against Israel. Following this, Israel declared war on Hamas and sent missile strikes and armed forces into Gaza. The death toll for Israeli citizens has reached 1,200 (most killed during Hamas’ original attack) and 240 hostages were taken into the Gaza Strip.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 11,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, and according to the World Health Organization, 22 hospitals were damaged through the fighting, and there was little to no access to necessary healthcare equipment within many, including the fuel required to keep many patients alive. This includes Al-Shifa, Gaza’s largest hospital, where Israeli forces said they carried out a “targeted” operation against Hamas on November 15. 

Due to the United States’ alliance with Israel, President Joe Biden requested that additional aid be sent to them, along with Ukraine and Taiwan. The House passed a bill concerning $14.3 billion in funding for Israel, but excluded the other countries, and intended to pay for it with International Revenue Service (IRS) spending cuts. The bill was dead on arrival to the Democrat-majority Senate.

People across the US have organized marches and in support of Palestine and protesting the aid proposals. Washington D.C., Ohio, California, Utah, and even students at Garfield High School were among them.

As of November 15, no cease-fire negotiations are underway and the death toll continues to climb.