Dear Educator,
Since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, the world has witnessed a crisis affecting civilians in the Middle East. This newsletter aims to bring to you expert-informed, non-partisan resources on this conflict that you can trust using with your students. It covers:
- Background on the conflict
- Explanation of fundamental concepts and terminology
- Expert analysis on the effects of the past year
- Other recent regional updates
The role of educators in helping students make sense of the world around them has never been more important.
Thank you for doing this critical work,
CFR Education
Up First: The Background and Fundamentals
Before diving into what’s happening in the Middle East, use these resources to provide your students with the essential knowledge, skills, and perspective to understand some key concepts.
- How Is Conflict Changing?
- The Civilian Consequences of Conflict
- How Do Humanitarian Corridors, Cease-Fires, and Pauses Address Violence in Conflict?
- What Is International Law?
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Timeline
The conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians reflects a long-standing struggle in the region encompassing the land between the Jordan River to the east and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Explore the history and important events from 1947 to today.
One Year Later
In the year since Hamas’s attack, a lot has occurred in the Middle East. Four CFR experts assess the changes as they relate to Israel’s government and society, the toll on Palestinians in Gaza, Iran’s newly challenged network of regional allies, and how much the expanding conflict has tested U.S.-Israeli ties.
For a deeper dive, explore the following content:
- A Wider Middle East War (Podcast)
- U.S. Troops in the Middle East: Mapping the Military Presence (CFR article)
- The Middle East on Fire (Foreign Affairs article)
- One Year Later: U.S. Policy Options in the Israel-Hamas War (Recorded CFR Panel)
The Deep Imprints of Gaza’s Humanitarian Catastrophe
As of September 2024, Palestinians in Gaza faced a grim tally of the carnage: at least 41,431 dead, 95,818 injured, and 1.9 million displaced out of the estimated 2.2 million population. This article from Think Global Health explains the current health catastrophe that has frightening and long-lasting implications.
Regional Updates
The war in Gaza has escalated well beyond its borders. In the past few weeks, Israel’s invasion of Lebanon and Iran’s missile attack into Israeli territory have raised fears over a growing regional conflict. These resources can provide more context.
- What Is Hezbollah? (CFR Backgrounder)
- Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (CFR Backgrounder)
- The Nasrallah Killing Is a Crushing Blow to Hezbollah (CFR Expert Brief)
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Looking for the latest updates and analysis on what is happening? Check out the following pages of the Global Conflict Tracker: |
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