The Israel and Palestine conflict can be said to go back in history. But to find a simple start-point, it is best to look at Britain taking control of what was known as Palestine following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire which ruled part of the Middle East during World War I. This area was known as Mandatory Palestine at the time. The land had a Jewish minority and an Arab majority with many other smaller ethnic groups. Both the Jewish people and Palestinian Arabs claimed Palestine as their home. Tensions between these groups heightened when the UK was given the duty to make a national home in Palestine for Jewish people.
This all came up from the Balfour Declaration of 1917: a statement that shows the British’s support for Jewish people to have a national home in Palestine. Fast-forward to May 14, 1948, the state of Israel was created. A day after the creation, the first Arab-Israeli dissension occurred. It ended in 1949 with Isarael’s victory effectively displacing Palestinians. The territory was then divided into three parts: the state of Israel, the West Bank of the Jordan River and the Gaza Strip.
From then to now, the Israeli and Palestinian conflict is still on going. What kick-started the daily news headlines regarding this situation is the attack and invasion on Israeli towns and cities on October 7, 2023, by multiple Palestinian resistance groups. The Isarel military responded, and a full-on war ensued. Many innocent Palestinians and Israelis lost their lives during this long, ongoing and persistent conflict. There has been pro-Palestine acts and protests to express their desires for a free Palestine. One recent and high-profile demonstration was when celebrities at the Oscars wore pins in support of Palestine. Another was thousands of protestors in Central London holding a protest for an immediate ceasefire in Palestine. In late January 2023, even the International Court of Justice ruled in favor of Palestine, ordering Israel to improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. The world has shown Palestine much support and will continue doing so until this conflict can come to a complete resolution.
