The Israel-Palestine conflict is a complex and long-standing dispute that has resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of lives and the displacement of millions of people. Its roots trace back more than a century to a colonial act known as the Balfour Declaration. This executive brief provides a simplified guide to understanding the key events and factors that have shaped this ongoing conflict.
1. The Balfour Declaration (1917):
The Balfour Declaration, issued by Britain’s foreign secretary Arthur Balfour, committed the British government to establishing a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine. – At that time, Palestinian Arabs comprised over 90 percent of the population in Palestine.
2. The Arab Revolt (1936-1939):
Escalating tensions led to the Arab Revolt, a protest against British colonialism and Jewish immigration. The British responded with force, leading to widespread arrests, home demolitions, and the formation of Jewish paramilitary groups.
3. The UN Partition Plan (1947):
The United Nations adopted Resolution 181, proposing the partition of Palestine into Arab and Jewish states. Palestinians rejected the plan as it allocated a significant portion of Palestine to the Jewish state despite Palestinians owning 94 percent of historic Palestine.
4. The Nakba (1948):
Zionist paramilitaries initiated military operations to expand their borders before British withdrawal. Over 500 Palestinian villages were destroyed, and approximately 750,000 Palestinians were forced from their homes, resulting in the Nakba or “catastrophe.” Israel was established on May 15, 1948, leading to the first Arab-Israeli war.
5. Post-Nakba Years:
Palestinians who remained in Israel faced military occupation until they were granted Israeli citizenship. Egypt took control of Gaza, and Jordan administered the West Bank. The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) was formed in 1964.
6. The Naksa and Settlements (1967):
Israel occupied the remaining Palestinian territories, leading to the Naksa or “setback.” Settlement construction began in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, exacerbating tensions.
7. The First Intifada (1987-1993):
Palestinian protests erupted in response to Israeli oppression, leading to the formation of the Palestinian Liberation Organization. The Oslo Accords were signed in 1993, creating the Palestinian Authority.
8. The Second Intifada (2000):
Ariel Sharon’s visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque sparked armed uprisings, leading to significant destruction in Palestinian territories. Settlement expansion continued, reducing space for Palestinians.
9. Palestinian Division and Gaza Blockade:
The Palestinian Authority was divided between Fatah and Hamas, leading to internal conflicts. Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza in 2007, citing Hamas as a terrorist organization.
10. Wars on the Gaza Strip:
Israel conducted military assaults on Gaza in 2008, 2012, 2014, and 2021, resulting in the loss of thousands of Palestinian lives and widespread destruction. The blockade made reconstruction in Gaza difficult.
Recent Development
The Gaza Strip, a densely populated coastal area between Israel and Egypt, has endured an Israeli blockade since 2007 and witnessed four wars between Israel and Hamas, the dominant Palestinian militant group. On October 7, 2023, Palestinian attacked on Israeli military posts along Ghaza strip began in a bid to end the blockade. Tragically, by October 15, 2023, Gaza’s death toll exceeded 2,000, primarily comprising civilians, with over 100,000 people displaced. In Israel, over 1,300, mainly soldiers, lost their lives, while the Palestinian side suffered over 2,000 casualties. This ongoing conflict underscores a dire humanitarian crisis.