After Russia and Ukraine, it seems like the world is yet to witness another major clash between Israel and Palestine with the announcement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "We are at war," were his exact words. The attack by HAMAS on Israel came as a shock to both the unprepared world and Israel, with more than a thousand missiles believed to have been fired, resulting in significant destruction on Israeli territory. The Israel-Palestine conflict dates back to World War I.

Jewish Migration: Impact on Israel-Palestine Conflict

Between 1882 and 1903, the First Aliyah marked the first significant Jewish migration to Palestine, now known as Israel, involving 25,000 to 35,000 people. The Second Aliyah, occurring between 1904 and 1914, saw around 35,000 to 40,000 Jewish immigrants. These early migrations were vital to the establishment of Jewish settlements in Palestine and paved the way for future waves of migration. The primary reason for this migration was nationalism, as Palestine was considered the holiest site for Jews. During this time, Palestine was under Ottoman rule, with Christians, Muslims, and Jews coexisting within the region.

Fall of the Ottoman Empire and British Rule in Palestine: Seeds of Conflict

The story took a drastic turn after the fall of the Ottoman Empire in World War I. On October 31, 1917, the British took control of the entire Palestine region and laid the groundwork for future conflicts. The British ruled Palestine from 1918 to 1948. In 1948, the British government left the region, leading to the division of the country based on religion, which resonates with the infamous Divide and Rule policy of the British Government. Consequently, Palestine was divided into two countries.

The United Nations allocated 57% of the area for the Jewish country and 43% for Arab Palestine. Jerusalem, holding historical significance for three religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), came under international control, and the Jewish people agreed to the proposal, naming their nation Israel.

Arab-Israeli Wars: Escalation of Tensions and Territory Disputes

"Unfortunately, Arab nations were not very pleased with the division, and Jerusalem under international control acted as a catalyst. The Arab nations saw the division as a British conspiracy, leading to the First Arab-Israeli War in 1948. Arab nations, including Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq, attacked Israel. To everyone's surprise, Israel emerged victorious and captured a major portion of Palestine, including the West Bank. The Gaza Strip went to Egypt, and the West Bank area went to Jordan. As a result, more than 700,000 Palestinians had to leave their homes and become refugees in Arab countries. This event was named the Palestinian Exodus.

In 1967, another war broke out between Israel and Arab nations, but the outcome was not different. The war lasted for six days, and Israel successfully captured not only the Gaza Strip and the West Bank but also the Sinai Peninsula region and the Golan Heights from Syria. The 1967 war, often referred to as the Six-Day War.

In October 1973, another war broke down with the same result, known as the Yom Kippur War.

In 1979, Egypt became the first country to recognize Israel. In return, Israel returned the Egyptian-captured area.

Palestine Liberation Organization: A Catalyst for Palestinian Nationalism

In 1964, the formation of the Palestine Liberation Organization took place. The aim of the organization was to establish their own country, with Ahmad Shukeiri as its first chairman. PLO was initially recognized by some Arab countries. The international community recognized PLO on November 22, 1974.

In 1992, Yitzhak Rabin became the Prime Minister of Israel, and under his leadership, Israel officially recognized the PLO. In return, the PLO also recognized Israel. The PLO went through several phases, including the leadership of Yasser Arafat and the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993, which resulted in the establishment of the Palestinian Authority and limited self-governance in parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

HAMAS: Rise of a Controversial Political and Militant Group

In 1987, Palestinian Islamist leaders, including Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, founded the organization HAMAS (Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya), with its roots in the Gaza Strip. The HAMAS group boycotted the 1996 Palestine election and carried out suicide bombings and other forms of violence in Israel. Around 2002, violent protests were seen on both sides.

In 2006, the HAMAS militant group ran in the Palestine election and won against Fatah (PLO party). After this election, HAMAS gained control, particularly in the Gaza Strip. Israel, the United States, and the European Union classify Hamas as a terrorist organization.