Palestine and Israel conflict

 

Palestine and Israel conflict 

Creation of Israel:

The origins of the conflict can be traced back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries when Jewish immigration to Palestine increased, leading to tensions between the Jewish visitors and the Arab population.

In 1917, during the First World War, the British government issued the Balfour Declaration, expressing support for the establishment of a 'national home for the Jewish people' in Palestine.

Following World War II in 1947, the United Nations (UN) proposed a partition plan that would divide Palestine into two separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem given the status of an international city. But Arab leaders rejected it, sparking violence.

In 1948, Israel declared its independence, sparking a war with neighboring Arab states. The conflict resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, laying the foundation for future tensions.

Early relations and the rise of Hamas:

The seeds of the current form of the Israel-Hamas conflict can be traced back to the late 1980s when the First Intifada (Palestinian uprising) broke out.

During this period, an Islamic organization called Hamas emerged. It soon gained popularity as a resistance movement against Israeli occupation and the Palestinian political group Fatah.

Israel initially tolerated Hamas' existence as a counterbalance to Fatah, but as Hamas's influence grew, Israel's attitude changed.

Oslo Accords and the Second Intifada:

The Oslo Accords in the early 1990s led to the establishment of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israel’s partial withdrawal from some areas of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

However, the peace process stalled, leading to frustration and violence, culminating in the Second Intifada (2000-2005). During this period Hamas intensified suicide bombings and rocket attacks against Israeli civilians.

Occupation and blockade of Gaza:

The 2006 Palestinian legislative election saw Hamas win, sparking tensions with the Fatah-dominated PA.

In 2007, Hamas forcibly seized the Gaza Strip, while Fatah remained in control of the West Bank.

Israel maintains a blockade of Gaza to prevent arms smuggling and attacks, which has led to humanitarian concerns and economic hardships for Gazans.

Frequent Clashes and Ceasefires:

Serious clashes have occurred repeatedly between Israel and Hamas, including during Operation Cast Lead (2008-2009), Operation Pillar of Defense (2012) and Operation Protective Edge (2014). These clashes have resulted in heavy casualties on both sides.

Israeli policies in Jerusalem (including the planned eviction of Palestinian families from Sheikh Jarrah and restricting access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound) escalated tensions in 2021.

Hamas fired rockets at Jerusalem and other Israeli cities, while Israel launched airstrikes on Gaza. More than 250 Palestinians and 12 Israelis were killed in these operations. A ceasefire was brokered between the two sides by Egypt with the support of the US and other international actors.

The ongoing Israel–Hamas conflict:

The ongoing Israel–Hamas conflict is part of a long-standing and complex dispute between the two sides over land, sovereignty and securi

The conflict began on 7 October 2023 when Hamas suddenly attacked Israel. Thousands of rockets were fired by Hamas on Israeli areas and its armed militants crossed into Israel's border.

Israel has responded with heavy airstrikes on Gaza and has mobilized its troops for a possible ground invasion.

The conflict has resulted in hundreds of casualties on both sides and has seen widespread devastation across Gaza.

Major sites associated with the Israel-Palestine conflict

Al Aqsa Mosque:

It is one of the holiest sites in the Islamic faith, marked by Muslims as the Haram al-Sharif (Noble Sanctuary) and Jews as the Temple Mount. The site is part of the Old City of Jerusalem, which is sacred to Christians, Jews, and Muslims.

Sheikh Jarrah:

Sheikh Jarrah is located in the northern neighborhood of the Old City of East Jerusalem.  When the State of Israel was established in historic Palestinian territory in 1948, millions of Palestinians were forced from their homes.  Twenty-eight of those Palestinian families settled in Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem.

West Bank:

The West Bank is a landlocked region. It also includes a large part of the western Dead Sea. 

It was captured by Jordan after the Arab-Israeli War (1948) but Israel retook it during the Six-Day War of 1967 and has controlled it ever since.  The West Bank lies between Israel and Jordan.

Gaza Strip:

The Gaza Strip is located between Israel and Egypt. Israel occupied the strip since 1967, but relinquished control over the day-to-day administration of Gaza City and most of its territory during the Oslo peace process.

In 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew Jewish settlements from the territory, although it continues to control international access to it.

Golan Heights:

The Golan Heights is a strategically important plateau that Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 war. Israel effectively occupied the region in 1981.

In 2017, the United States officially recognized Jerusalem and the Golan Heights as part of Israel.

What are the demands of Israel and Palestine?

Palestine demands :

1. Palestine seeks to establish an independent and sovereign state in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, which have been occupied by Israel since 1967.
2. Palestine wants Israel to end its military occupation and blockade and vacate the settlements.
3. Palestine also wants Jerusalem to be its capital and to have access to its holy sites.

Israel demands:

1. seeks to maintain its Jewish identity and security as a state, while also expanding its settlement and control over the occupied territories.
2. Israel wants the Palestinians to recognise its right to exist and renounce violence.
3. Israel wants to retain Jerusalem as its undivided capital and access to its holy sites.

India's stand:

1. India was one of the few countries to oppose the UN partition plan in November 1947, drawing on its own experience during independence a few months earlier. In the decades that followed, the Indian political leadership actively supported the Palestinian cause and avoided full diplomatic relations with Israel.
2. India recognized Israel in 1950 but was also the first non-Arab country to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) as the sole representative of Palestine. India was also one of the first countries to recognize the statehood of Palestine in 1988.
3. In 2014, India supported a UNHRC resolution to investigate Israel's human rights violations in Gaza. Despite supporting the investigation, India abstained from voting against Israel in the UNHRC in 2015. The current PM of India was elected in the year 2014.
4. As part of its 'Link West Policy', India in 2018 adopted a differentiated approach to its relations with Israel and Palestine in order to develop mutually independent and distinct relations with both countries.
5. India voted in favour of a decision introduced by Israel in the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) that objected to the granting of consultative status to a Palestinian non-governmental organization.
6. So far, on the one hand, India has tried to maintain its image as a historical moral supporter of Palestinian self-determination, while on the other hand, it has tried to remain engaged in military, economic, and other strategic relations with Israel.
7. India advocates dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable means to resolve conflict. India supports the role of the Quartet of the United States, Russia, the European Union, and the United Nations, as well as other regional and international actors, in facilitating peace talks between Israel and Palestine.
8. In the recent war between Israel and Iran, which continued for more than 12 days, in June, 2025, India could not openly express favor for either of them, even if Iran was the country that has supported India on the Kashmir issue.