Many teachers are nervous about discussing the war between Israel and Hamas in class. In a highly heated atmosphere, they are unsure about how to approach the controversies, what is grade appropriate, and they fear criticism no matter what they do or say.
The war between Israel and Hamas is a topic that should be discussed in classes. Students across the age span have already been exposed to information and misinformation on television broadcasts, through social media, and at family gatherings. Some have participated in marches or rallies. According to New York State Social Studies Framework, students are expected to begin examining current events starting in third grade where they learn to distinguish between long-term and immediate causes and the effects of an event on their own lives, current events, and history.
In conversations with teachers, I stress that a topic like this requires that students understand that they are part of a classroom community that is examining a complex issue together, evaluating evidence, listening to what others say, and engaging with each other respectfully.
Study of conflicts in the Middle East are part of the 8th, 10th, and 11th grade social studies curriculum. According to the Social Studies Framework, in 8th grade United States history students should learn that “The period after World War II has been characterized by an ideological and political struggle, first between the United States and communism during the Cold War, then between the United States and forces of instability in the Middle East. Increased economic interdependence and competition, as well as environmental concerns, are challenges faced by the United States.”
In 10th grade students learn how “Nationalism in the Middle East was often influenced by factors such as religious beliefs and secularism.” Students are expected to “investigate Zionism, the mandates created at the end of World War I, and Arab nationalism” and “the creation of the State of Israel and the Arab-Israeli conflict.”
In 11th grade examine how “American strategic interests in the Middle East grew with the Cold War, the creation of the State of Israel, and the increased United States dependence on Middle Eastern oil. The continuing nature of the Arab-Israeli dispute has helped to define the contours of American policy in the Middle East.” As part of this unit, “Students will examine United States foreign policy toward the Middle East, including the recognition of and support for the State of Israel, the Camp David Accords, and the interaction with radical groups in the region.”
In 12th grade, New York State students study about the organization and role of the United States government. There are no content specifications and the course is expected to “adapt to present local, national, and global circumstances, allowing teachers to select flexibly from current events to illuminate key ideas and conceptual understandings.”
A teacher’s responsibility is to find or put together documents from different perspectives that students can evaluate together, to ask probing questions, and to maintain an appropriate classroom environment. I recommend providing students with something to read and respond to in writing, usually a current events article like a report in a local newspaper. Then we have a go-around, each student gets to express an opinion about the topic before we open discussion to the full class.
As Israel’s main ally, the United States will be held partly responsible for what is happening in the war between Israel and Hamas so it is very important that students research and discuss what is taking place there so they can form opinions based on evidence and respect for ideas presented by people with different opinions.
These are some compelling questions that can be addressed in high school classrooms.
- What distinguishes terrorism from military actions?
- What constitutes war crimes?
- The Hamas assault on Israeli civilians was horrific, there is no discussion there, but is the Israeli counterattack with the level of civilian casualties in Gaza justified?
- Should the United States rearm Israel without agreement to a long-term cease fire and a peace plan?
- What are the competing Palestinian and Israeli historical narratives?
- What should the future look like in Israel and Palestine?
The situation in Israel and Gaza is in a constant state of flux. While I am posting this there is a temporary cease fire negotiated by the Biden administration and Qatar that includes the exchange of a limited number of prisoners and hostages and emergency relief for residents of Gaza. There is hope that the temporary cease fire could lead to a more long-term settlement.
This is a document package I put together that can be used in a high school class. I do not include a statement by Hamas officials, but a statement by the Qatari government offers a Palestinian point of view about the origin of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
How should the United States respond to the war between Israel and Hamas?
Examine the statements addressing the war between Israel and Hamas. Which statement or statements come closest to your view? Why?
1. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY): “October 7th will go down as a day of inextinguishable grief. The deadliest single day for Jews since the Holocaust. A reminder of much older, darker days we must never return to. So, when my colleagues and I traveled to Israel this past weekend, we delivered a simple message to the Jewish people: America will stand with Israel as an unrelenting partner. And I promised that I’ll do everything possible to ensure that the United States Senate provides Israel with the support she needs to defend her people . . . We must go by the rule of law and make sure that we do everything we can to minimize the pain and loss of innocent civilians, Palestinians and everyone else . . . the task Israel faces is so, so difficult. Eliminate the threat of Hamas – hard enough. Secure the return of hostages safely held by these evil, vicious, horrible terrorists. Cruel. And do so while minimizing the loss of innocent Palestinian lives. This is all not easy, but it’s very important we make every effort to achieve all three . . . Let us not forget that Hamas does not believe in any Jewish state. If you read some of their covenants and charters, Hamas would do to the Jewish people in the rest of Israel what they did to the people along the Gaza border. Israel therefore not only has the right but also the obligation to defend itself and its people, to eliminate the threat of Hamas, so they cannot carry out an attack, a vicious, cruel, heart wrenching attack like this ever again. And here in the Senate, we have to do our part to help them.”
2. Letter from Congressional Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and 23 other Congressional Democrats to President Biden: “We write to you to express deep concern about the intensifying war in Gaza, particularly grave violations against children, and our fear that without an immediate cessation of hostilities and the establishment of a robust bilateral ceasefire, this war will lead to a further loss of civilian life and risk dragging the United States into dangerous and unwise conflict with armed groups across the Middle East . . . Further, we write urging clarity on your strategic objectives for achieving de-escalation and stability in the region.”
3. Kenneth Roth, the former executive director of Human Rights Watch: “Israel dropping several large bombs in the middle of a densely populated refugee camp was completely and predictably going to lead to a significant and disproportionate loss of civilian life and therefore a war crime.”
4. Qatar: The State of Qatar expresses its deep concern over the developments in [the] Gaza Strip and calls on all parties to de-escalate, and exercise maximum restraint. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs holds Israel solely responsible for the ongoing escalation due to its ongoing violations of the rights of the Palestinian people, the latest of which was the repeated incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of the Israeli police. The Ministry stresses the need for the international community to act [urgently] to compel Israel to stop its flagrant violations of international law, respect the resolutions of international legitimacy and the historical rights of the Palestinian people, and to prevent these events from being used as a pretext to ignite a new asymmetric war against Palestinian civilians in Gaza.”