According to Palestinian sources, the death toll in Gaza from Israeli air strikes has risen to 100. The death toll continues to rise as Israel keeps launching air strikes on Gaza in an operation that began on Tuesday. Israel has been claiming that the strikes are only intended to take out terrorists who threaten Israel. However, reports from the ground in Gaza show scores of innocent civilian casualties. Strikes have been launched on homes, not just Gazan rocket-launching sites. Palestinian casualties have included a young girl in Rafah.
Palestine has launched retaliatory attacks, causing some fires and injuries. Justified concerns of retaliation are causing distress and disrupting everyday life in Tel Aviv as well. It is a matter of regret that no realistic steps towards a ceasefire have yet been taken.
The goals in this conflict are fairly petty, and do not get us any closer to the heart of the long-term conflict between the two sides. Israel wants to deal a blow towards Hamas’s fire power; Hamas wants the release of its operatives that had been rounded up by Israel, and the opening of its border with Egypt. These short-term goals from both sides do not in any way justify a death toll hitting three figures. The strikes need to stop, as they are unlikely to achieve anyone goals.