Asking Johnny Bizon, ‘25, and Milam Phills, ‘26, about how informed they felt on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, both expressed a degree of ignorance. They knew that their understanding was surface level and that they haven’t kept very updated on the war. This article discusses the historical elements, as well as the national and community impact, of the ongoing destruction.
History of conflict
The Israel/Palestine conflict has been an ongoing dispute over independence, control, religion and land for three quarters of a century.
In 1947, the United Nations voted to divide Palestine into two states: one Arab and one Jewish. While this has been an ongoing issue since, the conflict has grown more dangerous and destructive in recent years. Seemingly the biggest argument has been the one over land known as the Gaza Strip. Said land has been governed for many years by the political and military organization, the Islamic Resistance Movement. The organization is most known under the acronym Hamas.
Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel in response to the country’s blockade in Gaza, occupation of Palestinian land and the desecration of al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, among other alleged crimes against Muslims. The attack left hundreds of Israeli citizens dead and over 1,500 injured while Hamas took several hundred citizens hostage. This led Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to announce a war on Hamas and procede with launching rockets on Gaza.
However, Israeli tactics to rid the strip of Hamas has greatly affected the civilians of Gaza. Opposers of the war have claimed the efforts of Netanyahu and the Israeli military have led to an ethnic cleansing. Upwards of 17,000 Palestinian civilians are dead and millions have been left homeless and on the brink of starvation.
National protest and discrimination
More information has come through to the U.S in the months following the attack on Oct. 7. Yet, there has been seemingly less American network coverage on the conflict. This has left thousands of Americans to come up with more drastic measures to make their voices and thoughts heard. Several protesters have interrupted Senate hearings urging senators to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. Other protesters have taken to the streets of major cities across the country to march together. One of the more public protests took place on Thanksgiving during The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York City.
The plan initiated after the Israeli government agreed to a four day “temporary ceasefire.” Protesters were skeptical of the ceasefire being set for the week of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. These days are better known as the time of year where most retailers accumulate the majority of their annual revenue. Retailers, including companies that fund the Israeli government. With this in mind, protesters imagined this could become a big chance to be heard.
Media disruption
The aim of this protest was to gain more media coverage on the current conflict aboard. Yet, protesters and viewers from home noticed that broadcasts were abruptly interrupted throughout the parade. This happened whenever protesters interfered with the parade or showed a Palestinian flag on camera.
Though not pleased by the response, many pro-Palestine supporters somewhat expected the reaction from media networks. Thus, why protesters have hatched an additional plan to boycott Black Friday. Several social media users and creators used their platforms to outline which companies to boycott and pressure.
These companies include Starbucks, McDonalds, Nike, Puma, Coca-Cola, Pepsi and cosmetic companies like L’Oreal and Maybelline, to name a few. Starbucks in particular has become a popular target during the boycotts. According to an article by The Seattle Times, the company’s stock has dropped by 1.6% as of Dec. 4, 2023, erasing nearly $12 billion from its net worth.
Community impact
Students may wonder why this conflict on the other side of the world is relevant to them. But fellow students and their communities are experiencing the impact of this destruction both personally and within their communities.
The United States Census Bureau’s data portal lists that the 2020 Decennial Census found that the “Palestinian alone” population in Illinois was just shy of 20,000. An article by the Census Bureau explains that the “‘alone’ count represents the minimum number of people who identified as that detailed group and includes respondents with only one response.”
According to WBEZ Chicago, Cook County Illinois, which neighbors NCC’s DuPage County, is home to the largest Palestinian population in the United States. The Census Bureau listing for DuPage county states it as hosting a population of “Palestinian alone” reaching almost 1,000.
Estimates of the Israeli and Israeli American population of Illinois are difficult to obtain, and therefore difficult to relate to the NCC community. Many attempts to search for data counts simply bring up measures of the Jewish population instead. The CIA’s The World Factbook page on Israel lists 73.5% of the population as Jewish. But estimates of the Jewish population in the United States and Illinois don’t provide a clear picture of the Israeli and Israeli American population within the United States and Illinois.
Local incidents
Including an uptick in discrimination and hate crimes across the country, there have also been instances on a community level related to the ongoing destruction between Israel and Gaza. For instance, in the beginning of Oct. 2023 in Lombard IL, allegedly a man threatened to shoot two men because they were Muslim. He also harassed these men, including threatening to call friends to shoot them.
Also in the Chicago area, ABC7 reported on instances of anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic threats that have been upsetting communities. Palestinians have been experiencing local threats, and there has been a general uptick it hate crimes. These threats include letters to schools, leading to remote school days and extra security during Friday religious services. Describing a letter sent to Al Aqsa school in Bridgeview as particularly disquieting, the article alludes to its glorification of an incident in Plainfield Township.
In that incident, the murder of a six-year-old Palestinian American boy took place, receiving national attention and a statement by the President and First Lady. Providing coverage of the incident, CNN and CBS News Chicago explain what happened to both the young boy, named Wadea Al Fayoume, and his mother, Hanaan Shahin.
The stabbing took place within their home at the hand of their landlord, seriously injuring Shahin and killing Wadea. Investigating the incident, the ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel and the victims’ identities as Muslims were major contributors to their victimization.
Mental health concerns
This conflict is traumatic, and it impacts many people. Checking in with your mental health is important when consuming information and media related to the topic. CNN provides in-depth advice on how not to sacrifice your mental health while remaining informed. On campus resources are also available to provide services in challenging times. For instance, Dyson Wellness Center, located in Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium, began providing 24-hour Telehealth services a few years ago. In addition, the Office of Faith and Action and the Office of Multicultural Affairs have been providing spaces for discussion and assistance.
Contributing author Abigail Black
1 Comment
There needs to be a history mentioned of the bloody Zionist Movement since 1900.