As news, opinions, and sentiments pour into our radars about the escalating, now-devastating conflict in Israel-Gaza, many of us are seeking context and balanced information to make sense of highly polarized and polarizing communications. The conflict between Israel and Gaza, especially, challenges Americans to de-escalate partisan polarization. According to Shibley Telhami, Director of the University of Maryland Critical Issues Poll, "...nearly three times as many Americans saying they feel the need to be extra careful when publicly discussing the Israeli-Palestinian issue as those saying the same about the Russia-Ukraine war." 

Poorly sourced news, and biased "hot takes," make processing events as they unfold even more difficult.  Yet we must continue informing ourselves so that important and meaningful conversations may continue. By becoming informed we help to create more resilience in our society, and each individual makes an important difference in the quality and education level of discourse. Please use these resources as starting points to inform yourself and continue your research as you seek greater understanding. 

As fact-checking tools, you might try Snopes.com or FactCheck.org. Please also take a look at our resources for how to talk about violence in Israel and Gaza. 

Citizens' decisions and the incitement caused by harmful rhetoric can mean the difference between life and death at home and abroad. To address this need, the MESC is compiling a list of credible resources to provide background information. The Mershon Center responded to October 7th with a webinar called "Violence in Israel and Gaza: What's Going On?" and a second webinar called "Seeking Peace at Home: Central Ohio Faith Leaders Speak". Mershon hosted Marc Lynch's talk "Gaza, Israel, and Middle Eastern Regional Order" on March 1st to give an update on the scholarly research on the war. View the Ohio State University's statement on the "Israel-Hamas War" here. 

To share comments or feedback on the content, please email the Middle East Studies Center at mesc.osu.edu/contact. We welcome your input.