Isreal-Gaza peace in question

NAYONIKAA SINGHAAL
STAFF WRITER

9/8/2025

The Middle East, a region steeped in history and culture, has long experienced cycles of conflict alongside its economic and cultural significance. The latest escalation began in October 2023, triggering a war that has since claimed more than 63,000 lives and significantly altered the region’s landscape. 

“It is devastating to witness the suffering in Israel and Palestine, and it has persisted for far too long. Some form of intervention seems necessary,” said Wassim Guerfali (’27), an international student at Alma College. 

In late January 2025, Israel and Palestine reached a temporary six-week ceasefire, providing a brief pause in hostilities. The truce, however, quickly dissolved, leaving no clear path toward extension. The conflict continues, despite ongoing appeals from international leaders for a negotiated resolution. 

One proposal, suggested by former U.S. President Donald Trump, called for the relocation of Palestinians, a plan met with swift condemnation from Egyptian, Saudi Arabian, and Palestinian officials.  

Over the past year, multiple peace agreements have been proposed; all but one were rejected by Hamas, while Israel has yet to respond to the last proposal Hamas accepted. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has advocated for a comprehensive settlement granting Israel broad control over Gaza after the conflict, including the authority to conduct future military operations. 

For Alma College students, the human toll resonates on a personal level. “A ceasefire is necessary. Many children are dying, and they have no role in the conflict unfolding around them,” said Nayeli Santana-Venegas (’27), a student at Alma College majoring in Political Science.  

Another student noted the disproportionate impact on children: “In the Ukraine conflict, 0.3% of casualties were children; in the Palestinian conflict, 13% of those killed are children. That statistic alone highlights the severity of the humanitarian crisis,” said Neil Evans (’26), a student at Alma College. 

Tensions escalated further when an Israeli strike struck a hospital, killing 22 medics, journalists, and patients in what observers described as a “double tap” attack. The incident drew international condemnation and renewed calls for diplomatic intervention.  

Last week, President Trump chaired a high-level meeting in Washington addressing the conflict’s aftermath. U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff told NBC News, “We’re going to settle this one way or another, certainly before the end of this year.” 

Though the conflict unfolds thousands of miles away, its effects are felt on campus. Alma students have engaged with the crisis through classroom discussions, student organizations, and debates surrounding U.S. foreign policy.  

Michigan is home to one of the largest Arab American communities in the country, particularly in nearby Dearborn, where the conflict has prompted marches, vigils, and demonstrations. Observing these events just two hours away underscores how international crises resonate locally, even in a small Midwestern college town. 

“Watching the conflict from here at Alma, it is difficult not to feel its impact. The images, stories, and lives lost demonstrate that events thousands of miles away have real consequences, and that understanding, discussion, and engagement are essential to making sense of this human suffering,” said Guerfali.