A Brief History of the Palestine-Israeli Conflict

The Palestine-Israeli conflict has intensified since the horrific October 7, 2023 massacre by Hamas, the official Palestine government. The conditions in Gaza at the hands of the right-wing Israeli government are inhumane and should be ended immediately. A ceasefire and delivery of aid should be demanded by all countries, in particular my country, Canada, the UK, France, the U.S, even China and Russia.

I am aware many do not have a basic understanding of what is happening in Gaza or the West Bank today, or the history around it. This conflict did not start October 7, 2023. There is a long history. I have decided to write a brief history of the Palestine-Israeli Conflict. This is by no means intended to be a complete history. Books could be written about just about each point. This exercise is to provide a short history for those that may not be familiar with the history behind the current conflict.

My main source for this brief history has been two books. The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict by Peter Schwartzman and The Palestine-Israeli Conflict by Dan Cohn-Sherbok & Dawoud El Alami.

Before I start my brief account of this history, I want to be transparent about my position and worldview. I am a follower of Jesus, a Roman Catholic. My worldview is one which stresses the love of one’s neighbours and enemies. There is no place for violence.

The second item I want to highlight is I am pro-Palestinian. I want to be clear I am not pro-violence. I do not support Hamas’ violence or any other Palestinian violence. That being said, I understand how an oppressed group feels they have to resort to violence to try to end their oppression. I am pro-Palestinian in that I believe their situation, especially since the 1967 Six Day War, has created conditions that violate international laws and should be corrected.

I also understand Israel’s response to violence against their country by Palestinians. In both situations by saying I understand their actions does not mean I condone responding to violence with more violence.

My choice of calling it the Palestine-Israeli Conflict instead of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict is not just semantics. It reflects my intent to center the Palestinian perspective — emphasizing that the conflict is fundamentally about the Palestinian struggle for self-determination and justice in the face of occupation and displacement. It’s also a way of countering the perceived imbalance of power and international attention.

All that being said, history has passed. The nation of Israel in modern day Palestine was created in 1947. I am not advocating that history should be reversed and Israel lose their country. I support an equitable two-state solution, one that respects both peoples’ right to live and determine their own fate, one that ends Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank.

With those points addressed I shall start my version of the history of how this conflict came to be, limiting it to the last few hundred years.

 

• Historical background (Mid to late 1800s) The land where Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel now exist is in a land once known as Palestine. Palestine was not an independent country. It was part of the Ottoman Empire (1517-1917). It was an administrative district of the empire that was allowed to live with its culture and laws. It had a population in the mid-1800s of about 500,000 people, of which roughly 25,000 were Jewish, less than 5% of the population. The Jewish population lived mainly in the four “holy cities” (Jerusalem, Hebron, Safed, Tiberias), with small communities elsewhere.
• Zionist Movement (Late 1800s–Early 1900s): The modern Zionist movement emerged in Europe in the late 1800s, led by Theodor Herzl and others, seeking to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Motivated by rising antisemitism (e.g. pogroms in Russia and Eastern Europe) and nationalist ideals.
• First Aliyah* (1882–1903): ~25,000–35,000 Jews immigrated, mainly from Eastern Europe and Yemen, settling in agricultural communities. * Aliyah in Jewish tradition refers to the act of immigration to Israel.
• Second Aliyah (1904–1914): ~35,000–40,000 immigrants, mostly Russian Jews, motivated by pogroms and revolutionary turmoil. They founded collective farms (kibbutzim) and cities like Tel Aviv.
• Britain gains control of Palestine (1917) through a combination of military victories against the Ottoman Empire and diplomatic agreements with other Allied powers, paving the way for decades of British rule (until 1948).
• Balfour Declaration (1917): Britain supports “the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people,” while promising non-Jewish communities’ civil and religious rights.
• 1922 – Churchill White Paper: Britain clarifies that the Jewish homeland must not prejudice the rights of existing non-Jewish communities.
• Third Aliyah (1919–1923): ~40,000 immigrants after World War I, spurred by the Balfour Declaration and antisemitic violence in Eastern Europe.
• 1922 Census: Jewish population: 83,794 (~11% of the total).
• 1920–1939 – Arab Riots and Uprisings
  Riots in Jerusalem (1920), Jaffa (1921), and the Arab Revolt (1936–1939) targeted Jewish civilians, settlements, and transportation routes. Hundreds of Jews were killed.
• Fourth Aliyah (1924–1929): ~80,000 immigrants, many middle-class families fleeing economic crisis and antisemitism in Poland and Hungary.
• 1929 – Hebron Massacre: Arab rioters kill 67 Jews in Hebron and 18 in Safed, further polarizing communities.
• Fifth Aliyah (1929–1939): ~250,000 immigrants, including many German and Central European Jews fleeing Nazi persecution.
• 1939 – White Paper: Britain restricts Jewish immigration to 75,000 over five years; Zionists reject it as betrayal.
• World War II (1939–1945): Jewish immigration largely blocked by Britain; Holocaust intensifies calls for a Jewish state.
• 1945–1947 – Post-War Tensions: Jewish insurgency against British rule escalates, led by groups like Haganah, Irgun, and Lehi.
• 1947 – UN Partition Plan: UN proposes partitioning Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states. Jewish leaders accepted the plan (despite reservations), but Arab leaders (both Palestinian and surrounding Arab states) rejected it, viewing it as unfair partitioning. By then, the Jewish population is about 630,000 (~33% of ~1.9 million).
• 1948 – Israel Declares Independence: On May 14, Israel declares independence.
• 1948 – Arab-Israeli War: After Israel’s declaration of independence, irregular Palestinian Arab forces, joined by Arab state armies, attacked Jewish communities and convoys.
• 1948 – ~ 750,000 Palestinians were displaced from their homes during the events surrounding the creation of the State of Israel, a period Palestinians refer to as the “Nakba” (catastrophe). The reasons for this mass displacement are complex and debated, but generally include:
  • Direct expulsion by Zionist and later Israeli forces: In many areas, Palestinians were directly driven out of their villages and towns by military operations.
  • Fear and panic: Massacres, such as the Deir Yassin massacre, and psychological warfare tactics used by Zionist forces, including rumors and threats, instilled widespread fear among the Palestinian population, leading many to flee.
  • Destruction of villages: Numerous Palestinian villages were destroyed, making return impossible.
  • War and fighting: The escalating conflict between Zionist forces and later the newly formed Israeli army against Palestinian Arabs and invading Arab armies created dangerous conditions that forced people to leave their homes for safety.
  • Orders from Arab leaders (disputed): While some historical accounts, particularly early Israeli ones, claimed that Arab leaders urged Palestinians to leave, most modern scholarship contradicts this, finding little evidence of blanket orders for mass exodus. In some localized instances, residents may have been advised to leave for strategic reasons by Arab commanders.

It is important to note that the exact numbers and the primary causes of flight are still a subject of historical and political dispute. However, there is a broad consensus that a significant majority of Palestinians were either directly expelled or fled due to violence and fear during the 1948 war.

• 1949 – Armistice Agreements: Israel signs armistice agreements with neighboring Arab countries, establishing the 1949 Green Line.
• 1964: The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was founded to represent Palestinian interests.
• 1966 – Samu Incident: A Jordan-based Palestinian attack kills three Israeli soldiers, prompting an Israeli raid on the village of Samu in the West Bank.
• 1967 – Six-Day War: Israel captures the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, Sinai Peninsula, and Golan Heights. Israel established a military occupation, setting up military checkpoints, administrative rule, and later settlements. By 2025, over 700,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, violating international law (Fourth Geneva Convention) which prohibits transferring civilian populations into occupied territories.
• 1967 – UN Resolution 242: Calls for Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories and recognized all states’ right to security—but didn’t explicitly call for a Palestinian state.
• 1968 – PLO Founded Attacks Israel: Launches attacks against Israeli targets and civilians from neighboring countries.
• 1970 – Avivim School Bus Massacre: Palestinian gunmen from Lebanon ambush an Israeli school bus, killing 12 children and 4 adults.
• 1972 – Lod Airport Massacre: Japanese Red Army members, recruited by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), kill 26 people at Israel’s main airport.
• 1972 – Munich Olympics Massacre: Black September, a PLO faction, murders 11 Israeli athletes.
• 1973 – Yom Kippur War: Egypt and Syria launch a surprise attack on Israel; ends in a ceasefire with territorial adjustments.
• 1974 – Ma’alot Massacre: Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) militants take a school hostage, killing 22 children.
• 1979 – Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty: Egypt becomes the first Arab country to officially recognize Israel.
• 1987-1993 – First Intifada: Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation begins in the West Bank and Gaza. Initial focus on protests and clashes, but also included stabbings, shootings, and firebombing against Israeli soldiers and civilians.
• 1988: The PLO formally declared an independent State of Palestine in exile (Algiers Declaration) and accepted a two-state solution. Its territory remained under Israeli occupation.
• 1993 – Oslo Accords: Israel and the PLO sign agreements granting limited autonomy to Palestinians in parts of the West Bank and Gaza. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) become the governing authority of Gaza and the West Bank.
• 1990-1996 – Rise of Hamas and Islamic Jihad: Suicide bombings become frequent bombing buses, markets, cafés, hotels, and discos, killing hundreds of Israeli civilians.
• 1994: Israel began constructing a fence around Gaza after the Oslo Accords, initially for security and to control movement.
• 2000–2005 – Second Intifada: A second Palestinian uprising erupts with a massive wave of suicide bombings targeting more buses, cafés, hotels, and markets, killing dozens and hundreds of Israeli civilians.
• 2002 Building of the wall: During the Second Intifada, Israel began building a barrier (mostly an 8-meter concrete wall and fences) inside the West Bank, claiming security reasons to prevent suicide bombings and attacks. The wall deviates significantly from the 1967 Green Line (the official recognized boundary), annexing about 9% of the West Bank de facto.
• 2004 Call for dismantling of the wall: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in 2004 that the barrier violates international law and must be dismantled. It separates thousands of Palestinians from their land, jobs, schools, and communities. It cuts through villages, Palestinian farmlands, and water sources.
• 2005 – Israeli Disengagement from Gaza: Israel unilaterally withdraws from the Gaza Strip, evacuating all settlements and military presence.
• 2006 – Hamas Wins Elections: Hamas wins Palestinian legislative elections, leading to a split with Fatah and control over Gaza. The Palestinian Authority (PA) maintain their position as the governing body of The West Bank.
• 2007: After Hamas took control of Gaza, Israel and Egypt imposed a strict blockade and further reinforced the barrier.
• 2008–2023 – Escalating Rocket Attacks: Thousands of rockets and mortars launched by Hamas from Gaza at Israeli cities. Notable escalations in 2008–09, 2012, 2014, 2021, and 2023.
• Oct 7, 2023 Hamas Attacks Israel: Hamas launched a large-scale surprise attack on Israel, marking one of the deadliest days in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hamas fighters breached Israel’s heavily fortified border from Gaza, infiltrating communities and military bases. Over 1,100 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed, including civilians, soldiers, and festival attendees. Thousands were injured, and over two hundred and forty civilians and soldiers were taken hostage back to Gaza. The attack included rockets, paragliders, and ground assaults, overwhelming Israeli defenses.
• Oct 7, 2023: Israel begins its retaliatory defense bombing campaign on Gaza following Hamas’ brutal attack.
• Oct 27, 2023: Israel begins its ground attack on Gaza. Stating the following as its key purposes for its ground offensive:
  • To destroy Hamas: This is a primary and frequently stated goal, aiming to dismantle Hamas’s military and governance capabilities in Gaza.
  • To free the hostages: A crucial objective is the return of the Israeli and foreign hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 attack.
  • To ensure Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel: This involves eliminating the ability of Hamas and other militant groups to launch attacks, including rockets, from Gaza into Israel.
  • To return displaced residents of Northern Israel: Following the October 7 attacks and ongoing rocket fire, many Israeli communities near the Gaza border were evacuated. A stated goal is to create conditions that allow these residents to return safely to their homes.

While these are the officially stated goals, the conflict’s progression and the severity of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza have led to international scrutiny and various interpretations of Israel’s broader objectives.

Since October 2023, over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 123,000 injured in Gaza due to Israeli military operations, according to the Gaza health ministry. The humanitarian situation has deteriorated, with widespread displacement, famine, and collapse of healthcare infrastructure. Ceasefire negotiations are ongoing but face significant hurdles, with both sides holding firm to their positions.

Over 130 countries today recognize the State of Palestine, often based on the 1967 borders. However, some key countries—like the United States, Canada, and much of Western Europe—do not fully recognize Palestinian statehood (though many support a two-state solution).

Israel does not recognize Palestinian statehood, arguing that borders and sovereignty should be determined in direct negotiations.

Palestinian Authority (PA): The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which is the official representative of the Palestinian people and the governing body of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, does recognize the State of Israel. This recognition came about through the exchange of letters of mutual recognition between Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat in 1993, which paved the way for the Oslo Accords. The PLO formally recognized Israel’s right to exist as a sovereign state and pledged to reject violence.

However, the PA’s recognition is often accompanied by conditions and demands related to the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and a just resolution for Palestinian refugees. There can also be internal political discourse within Palestinian society that questions or challenges this recognition.

Hamas: Hamas does not recognize the State of Israel. Its founding charter called for the destruction of Israel. While Hamas issued a revised charter in 2017 that removed some of the more explicit antisemitic language and expressed willingness to accept a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, it still explicitly stated that this does not constitute recognition of Israel. Hamas continues to reject the legitimacy of Israel and advocates for the “liberation of all of historic Palestine.”

 

Additional Information:

Question to Google’s AI, Gemini:

Which country or organization claim that what Israel is doing in Gaza today is genocide?

Answer (unedited):

A number of countries, organizations, and experts have claimed that Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute genocide or raise a plausible risk of genocide.

Here’s a breakdown:

Countries:

• South Africa is the most prominent country to make this claim, bringing a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) alleging violations of the 1948 Genocide Convention. South Africa argues that Israel’s acts and omissions are “genocidal in character” and are intended to destroy a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial, and ethnical group in Gaza.
• Other countries that have joined or signaled their intention to join South Africa’s genocide case at the ICJ include: Belgium, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Ireland, Spain, Libya, Maldives, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Türkiye.
• Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani has also accused Israel of committing a “collective genocide” in Gaza.

Organizations and Experts:

• International Court of Justice (ICJ): While the ICJ has not yet made a final ruling on whether Israel is committing genocide, it issued provisional measures in January 2024, stating that “at least some of the acts and omissions alleged by South Africa to have been committed by Israel in Gaza appear to be capable of falling within the provisions of the Convention.” The court also found that Palestinians had a “plausible right to be protected from acts of genocide.” This was interpreted by many, including some legal commentators and UN bodies, as a recognition of a plausible risk of genocide.
• Amnesty International: In December 2024, Amnesty International declared that its research found “sufficient basis to conclude that Israel has committed and is continuing to commit genocide against Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip.”
• UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese: In her March 2024 report, “Anatomy of a Genocide,” she concluded that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
• UN Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices: This committee stated in a November 2024 report that “Israel’s warfare in Gaza is consistent with the characteristics of genocide, with mass civilian casualties and life-threatening conditions intentionally imposed on Palestinians there.”
• Leading Genocide Scholars: A growing number of prominent genocide and Holocaust researchers from various countries have stated that Israel’s conduct in Gaza meets the legal threshold of genocide.
• Human Rights Watch (HRW): While HRW has been more conservative, it has stated that “genocidal acts” have been committed and that Israel is “starving Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians,” failing to comply with the ICJ’s order to enable humanitarian aid.
• Palestinian human rights organizations: Al-Haq, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, and Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights have stated that Israel intends to wipe out the Palestinian people “in whole or in part.”
• Center for Constitutional Rights (US): This US-based legal advocacy group has also said Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

It’s important to note that Israel vehemently rejects these allegations, calling them “baseless” and stating that its military operations are aimed at destroying Hamas and ensuring its security, not targeting the Palestinian people.

 

Photo Credit: Google’s Gemini AI with this request: Create an image of the Palestine-Israeli conflict with a Palestinian flag on the left and an Israeli flag on the right. No weapons, but people that represent both cultures and include a representation of the atrocities of this conflict.