What does the wars in Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas say?

Sarah Calamand looks back on the big news of 2023 on which listeners of “What does it say?” have written. Tuesday January 2, the wars in Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas.

“Hi it’s Sarah, what does it say?”

The war between Israel and Hamas has lasted for almost three months. It all started on October 7, with a Hamas attack on Israel.

Hamas, a Palestinian organization considered terrorist by the United States, the European Union, Australia, Canada and Japan, has been in power in the Gaza Strip since 2007. On October 7, the armed wing of the movement launched an attack on Israel, with several thousand rockets and fighters entering Israeli territory, causing victims and hostages.

This conflict has been going on for many years, but the Jewish state did not anticipate this attack. In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declares that he is “at war” and orders a complete blockade on the Gaza Strip. Since then, bombing and ground operations have continued.

A truce was negotiated for a week at the end of November and allowed the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. There are still 129 hostages missing. Humanitarian aid was also delivered to Gaza, where the population lacks water and food and where hospitals are no longer able to function. The latest reports show more than 1,100 deaths during the October 7 attack and more than 21,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Hamas.

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Calls for ceasefires are increasing from France, the United Kingdom, the Vatican and even the UN. At the end of December, Hamas went to Egypt to discuss a ceasefire. The Israeli Prime Minister believes that the fight cannot stop until the Israeli army has fulfilled all its objectives, namely the elimination of Hamas and the return of all the hostages.

“Anyone who thinks we’re going to stop is detached from reality.”

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister

Ukraine, a forgotten war?

At the same time, listeners of “What does it say?” wonder why we don’t talk more about the war in Ukraine, launched almost two years ago by Russia.

In 2022, Ukraine had launched several offensives and had taken back more than 7,000 km from Russian forces ² of territory. But in 2023, there has been much less movement. Ukraine launched a counter-offensive in the summer, but it was seen as a failure because the army was no longer advancing. The troops are tired and the soldiers despair of seeing the next generation arrive.

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The Ukrainian army also lacks ammunition and depends on international aid on this point. President Volodymyr Zelensky has been pleading his case throughout the year to gain support from Western countries.

In 2023, Ukraine obtained the status of an official candidate for entry into the European Union. Good news for its president, even if the process, long in all cases, is hampered by Ukraine’s status as a state at war, contrary to the criterion of stability of institutions requested by Brussels.

Russian side; the army does not lack soldiers, but has 300,000 men dead or unable to fight. A presidential election is planned in Russia in 2024, which is expected to see the re-election of Vladimir Putin.

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