The Israeli-Hamas conflict has claimed lives and caused devastation. However, livelihoods and agricultural heartlands are also being impacted. Due to Israel’s policy of blocking Palestinian laborers from entering the country since the start of the war and the fleeing of foreign laborers from Israel, some farmers now rely on volunteers to harvest and salvage their crops.
Humanitarian organizations warn of a growing crisis in the Gaza Strip as winter approaches, despite continuing heavy fighting in Gaza. Palestinians say 85% of the population has been internally displaced and warn of disease ‘spreading.
A record number of journalists and aid workers have lost their lives in the first two months of the Israel-Hamas war.
In communities near the border with Lebanon or Gaza in the north or south, almost 200,000 Israelis have had to leave their homes. They have spent the last two months staying in hotels and guest houses and are unsure of when they will be able to go home
Palestinians say that since the war with Hamas started on October 7th, violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank has increased. This happened even as Biden administration’s increased pressure on Israel to put an end to settler violence by imposing a travel ban on extremist settlers who have been involved in attacks.
The relatives of the surviving hostages captured during the attack on Israel on October 7 say they are desperate for information about their loved ones as the Israel-Hamas battle rages. Omer Wenkert, 22, was abducted by Hamas militants during the Supernova Sukkot Gathering, also known as Nova festival. His father, Shai Wenkert, spoke with VOA’s Esther Githui-Ewart about his family’s appeals for Omer’s return and their concerns for Omer, who suffers from colitis, a chronic digestive disease.
Israel says it is trying to minimize civilian losses while it continues its military offensive in Gaza, but Hamas and Israel are not yet willing to return to the negotiation table to discuss a cease-fire.
Recently, Hamas released a group of hostages that included an Israeli Argentine mother and her two young daughters. As their family celebrates their safe return, they anxious about their father, who is still being held captive.
The worst memories of the 1982 massacres in Sabra and Shatila, Lebanon, are being evoked by the war between Hamas and Israel. Nicole Di Ilio has this report from the Shatila refugee camp in Beirut.
On Friday, Hamas released 24 hostages in total, including 13 Israeli nationals, as part of the first round of a coordinated swap between Israel and Hamas. VOA’s Esther Githui-Ewart spoke to reporter Ricki Rosen in Tel Aviv for more on the status of care they are expected to receive from the Israeli government now that they are freed.