Caught in the crossfire
JUST as Guernsey was celebrating humanity at its best at the Guernsey Press Pride of Guernsey Awards at the weekend, the escalating conflict in Israel and Gaza was showing humanity at its worst.
On Saturday, Hamas launched a surprise coordinated attack from Gaza, firing thousands of rockets before militants crossed into Israel by land, sea and air, infiltrating 22 Israeli towns and army bases. More than 700 Israelis were killed and many others were taken hostage.
Israel responded by declaring war and retaliating with waves of air strikes, deploying tanks and drones and drafting 300,000 reservists.
According to authorities, more than 1,100 people have now been killed in the region so far, with the death toll expected to rise further.
The history and reasons behind the deadly conflict are complex but, as with any war, the consequences of the ensuing violence are far-reaching and devastating.
Our thoughts are with the hundreds of innocent civilians who have lost their lives or loved ones.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised speech: 'We lost entire families, sons and daughters, young and old,'
While Guernsey’s politicians squabble over the minutiae of our fiscal situation, it is a timely reminder of how fortunate we really are here.