On January 19th, 2025, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was put into effect. The Gaza War has been raging for over a year and counting. Although there was much celebration, the devastation left behind is difficult to overlook. So far, about 47 thousand are confirmed dead in the Gaza Strip, though these numbers are estimated to be multitudes higher. Since then, Hamas has been transferring hostages to Israel in a slow but steady stream. On top of this, Israel has been allowing many Gazans to return to their homes in the north. Things seem to be returning to whatever semblance of normal there is left.
However, even this hope is miniscule and incredibly fragile. Despite the ceasefire, there have been multiple violations and a continuation of conflict in the Levant, overwhelmingly caused by Netanyahu's war cabinet in Israel. As of January 19th, there have been 361 casualties, made up by injuries, numbering 315, and deaths, numbering 46. In the overall toll, Lebanon makes up 74.3% of injuries and 67.4% of deaths.
In Israel, casualties are evenly split. Injuries mainly come from settlers and civilians being injured as a result of either collateral damage or intentional targeting. However, a terrorist stabbing attack committed by a Moroccan citizen left 4 Israelis injured and the perpetrator dead. All things considered, it’s been a relatively quiet week in Israel.
In Gaza, the main focus of the war, Israel has violated the ceasefire on multiple occasions with spats of sporadic but targeted gunfire. The vast majority of the 20 injured and 5 dead post-ceasefire were civilians, most while attempting to return to their homes in northern Gaza. 1 militant from the organization Palestinian Islamic Jihad was shot in an altercation between the PIJ and Israel Defense Forces. Additionally, Israel has continued conducting airstrikes and artillery barrages, destroying homes left so far untouched by the war.
In the West Bank, things have been ramping up as Israel deploys more soldiers to the region and recently announced their intention to “stay permanently” within the Jenin refugee camp, a flashpoint for Arab-Israeli conflict in the West Bank. Every single one of the 53 injured and 9 dead were civilians with no connection to militant groups. Dozens, if not hundreds of people were also arrested by the IDF, some in connection with ongoing protests regarding the occupation of the West Bank, Southern Syria, and Southern Lebanon. Finally, they’ve been bulldozing homes in many sensitive and conflict-prone areas of the West Bank, often without reason.
In Lebanon, Israel is conducting reckless and deadly military operations against the civilian populace. In a continuous barrage of gunfire and bombs, the IDF and IAF (Israeli Air Force) have severely damaged Lebanese civilian infrastructure. 22 were killed and 124 injured in just one incident. In response to Israel violating the 2024 treaty and keeping military units in southern Lebanon, protestors have begun to spring up, though they have been shot at and killed by the IDF.
However, things are bound to get much worse in the future. President Trump’s cabinet has engaged in a more precarious foreign policy regarding the Middle East. His pick for UN Ambassador has stated Israel has a “biblical right” to the West Bank. Additionally, Trump has floated plans for the Gaza Strip which experts are calling an attempt at “ethnic cleansing”. To top it all off, despite the January 19th ceasefire, conflict in the Levant is still very potent and proves to be a deadly affair. However, many sympathizers hold out their hopes for peace in the region in and for the foreseeable future.
