From Where It Began?
Before the First World War, Palestine was controlled by the Ottoman Empire, there lived Arab Muslims and Jews for centuries, and although their number was small, they thought of it as their ancestral land. However, the war was fought between the Allied Powers, Britain, France, and the other Central European Powers. During this time, the British promised a separate homeland for them only and also to recognize the Jewish community in exchange for their support during the war.
According to Khaled Elgindy talking to Al-Jazeera TV (a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute), The idea of a Jewish separate homeland was first waved in 1800 by the Zionists. Since the beginning, the American government felt great sympathy for the Zionist project throughout the 1930s and 40s for instance. Of course, after the Holocaust, that was combined with enormous sympathy for the Jewish genocide that determined the American support for the establishment of a separate state. The support the US had, the Idea of "Shared Democratic Values" and the "strategic desire of both is something common in the US and Israel they called it. That has never existed with any other Muslim states in the Middle East.
The Map Changed dramatically
Following the conclusion of the First World War, the Ottoman Empire collapsed, leading to a restructured map of the Middle East. Now The previously ruled territory of Turkey was replaced by Palestine, in this land Arabs were in the majority whereas the Jews were in the minority and some other ethnic groups were there. The portion of the river Jordan was also divided under Jewish territory. Consequently, Palestine and Jordan were placed under British control. Even after the other Ottoman territories were granted independence, Palestine remained under British control.
Tension Triggered
The tension mounted high when the International Community tasked Britain with the responsibility of settling Jews among the Arab Palestinians. This issue stemmed from the Balfour Declaration of 1917, where a promise was made by the Foreign Secretary, Arthur Balfour, to the Jewish community.
Another declaration was passed during the British mandate over Palestine and was approved by the newly formed League of Nations in 1922. However, it failed to address the civil and religious rights of non-Jewish communities. To Jews, Palestine was their ancestral home but Palestinian Arabs claimed the land and opposed the move. At a massive level, Jewish immigration followed even during the Nazi Holocaust. This migration caused Palestinian Arabs to protest against the British and demand independence. The 1917 Declaration served as the basis for this plan.
A renowned author Shamshad Ahmed wrote about the history of the Middle East especially the issue of Israel and Palestine in his book ‘Pakistan and World Affairs’ which states that European geopolitics has contributed to a lot of instability in the region. The British Empire, especially played a major role, During World War I, in 1916, it convinced Arab leaders to revolt against the Ottoman Empire (Allied with Germany). In response, the British Government would support the newly emerging Arab states including Palestine.
Fight for Territorial Sovereignty
Washington Post reported the history of the Palestinian fate in these words that both Israel and Palestine were fighting for their rights of territorial sovereignty The Great powers tried to draw the map of the Middle East matching their interests. A series of letters in 1915-16 roamed between Mecca's Emir and the British Commissioner in Egypt, simultaneously outlining a Promise of an Independent Arab state.
Earlier, In 1916 a Sykes Picto Agreement was secretly negotiated between two states
From 1920 to 1940, the number of Jewish settlers increased due to two main reasons: many were fleeing from Britain and Germany during the Holocaust.
Britain created the Partition Plan in 1947 to divide Palestine and Jews into two nations, and Jerusalem was declared an independent international city, sacred to both Muslims and Jews. Arabs denied the plan because it failed their intentions.
Israel declared itself as a separate state by accepting the United Nations plan, in 1948 on land that had previously been Palestine under British control, President Trueman right after its creation recognized it as a state but it didn't specify its borders. As a result, a Palestinian state was not created, and Israel was not recognized as a country by Palestine. This is the reason why the West Bank and Gaza Strip are known as disputed territories today.
Until 1948, the map of Israel looked different from today's.
This changed when Palestine was partitioned, and the state of Israel was established according to the plan.
Territorial Extension of Israel
Finally, in 1945, several Arab countries formed an alliance known as the Arab League to fight against Israel. They created the Arab Liberation Army, filled with rebellion volunteers to fight against the Jews. They surrounded Israel on three sides and attacked them. This conflict continued until 1949 and resulted in the displacement of at least 700,000 Palestinians. This event, known as 'The Nakba' or catastrophe, led to the expansion of Israeli settlements in the area.
Israel occupied West Jerusalem.
Egyptian hold over Gaza.
Jordan gained the West Bank and East Jerusalem including the Old City and its historic Jewish quarter.
Israel
After a long period of fighting and violence between Jews and Arabs, their anger for British rule increased. Followed by continued terrorism and violence on both sides. However, Britain considered various formulas to bring independence to a land ravaged by years of deadly war. Finally, they reached the United Nations in 1947. Thus the organization presented its plan: Resolution 181(II) proposing a two-state solution for Arabs. Still, the partition was not favourable to Arabs because religiously significant Jerusalem was to be under special international administration. The plan is refuted by Arabs.
Suez Crisis
Once again another conflict appeared years 1956, the Suez Crisis was referred to as tripartite aggression. European powers have always been looking for natural resources and exploiting the people and places to empower themselves. In assistance with military aid Israel attacked Egypt to occupy the Sina Peninsula and took over the Suez Canal because the Egyptian government had nationalized the Swiss in July of the same year.
From an economic point of view, the Swiss Canal maritime trade is the lifeline of all trade between the West and the East. Since it was under the control of Arabs. In addition, there was political pressure from the United States, Soviet Union, and United Nations which led to the withdrawal of Britain, France and Israel to mend up the issue in June 1964 i.e. Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
Remarkably Israel stood as the victor of all time in conflicts because of the support it had from European powers. In June 1967 5-10 Israelis and several of its arab neighbours fought the 6 days of war. The fighting broke out amid lingering conflict that continued the blockade of shipping into the Gulf of Aqaba. Israeli warplanes strike the Egyptian airfields and Israeli ground forces enter the Sinai Peninsula Israeli wins a decisive victory. Once again by the end of the conflict, Israel dominated the t and won more territory. A large number of casualties were reported in Palestine and a few hundred on the Israeli side.
Israel has occupied additional territory and declared Jerusalem as its capital. However, Palestinians have claimed East Jerusalem as a part of their own state. To make matters worse, the US has recognized Jerusalem as a part of Israel's capital, which is not surprising given the US's longstanding support of Israel.the US's longstanding support of Israel.
Gaza Strip
This is a small strip of land between Israel and the Mediterranean Sea, having a short border with Egypt to the south known as Rafah Crossing. The total area of land is 41 sq miles and is home to the world's most densely populated area with 2 million inhabitants. Gaza’s intelligence Officer often referred to as:
“As the world's largest open-air prison”
The UN Secretary has marked it “Hell on Earth”.
According to journalist Mahdi Hassan in an area of 141 sq mile
Thus the history of its occupation is long. For 19 years, it was under the control of Egypt, and from the 1967 war to 2005, it was occupied by Israel. Although Israel has withdrawn its troops and settlers, the airspace and shoreline are still under surveillance. According to the United Nations, it is still considered occupied territory.
In 1973 The Yum Kippur War or the October Conflict oppressed fighting back for their rights. It started as a reaction to Syria's retake of the occupied Simai peninsula and Golan Heights. Initially, they gained ground but were driven back by Israeli forces. In 1978, an Accord was reached between Egyptian authorities and Israel for the latter's withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula. Furthermore, Peace proposals for Palestinians were also discussed but have yet to be implemented. Over the time of the Cold War, tensions flared as the Soviet Union aligned itself with Egypt and Syria while the United States provided support to Israel. As a result of this conflict, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) imposed an oil embargo on countries that supported Israel, causing a significant increase in oil prices. This dispute eventually came to an end.
First Intifada 1987
Palestinians' rage or Intifada brought largely spontaneous clashes, protests and Civil disobedience against Israeli occupation in the West Bank, Gaza and Israel led to harsh military crackdowns, and unrest which continued for years with numerous killed and injured on both sides.
In this case, clashes began with issues like an Israeli driver in a barbaric way smashed four Palestinians in a car accident that sparked over the next six years of war in which according to a rough estimate 200 Israelis were killed and 1,300 Palestinians were martyred.
Lots of efforts on and off have been made to resolve the 75-year issue of Israel and Palestine from the 1990s to 2005. Early efforts to negotiate peace did seem possible. But none has the desired goal because Israel is backed up by the European powers.
1993 Oslo -Accord
A declaration of principles on interim self-government arrangements was recognized by Israel and its allies in the Oslo Accord between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO).
Cracks began to appear in Israel's thought of the agreement as a threat to its existence. Israel has adopted this kind of non-serious attitude whenever both are on the brink of a peace accord.
In 1995, a follow-up agreement was signed in a peace process based on the United Nations' previous resolution of a limited Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The agreement empowered the Palestinian authority to oversee most administrative affairs in specific areas. However, it left unresolved the key issue of Israeli settlements and the status of Jerusalem, which Palestinians consider as the capital of their future state's settlement in the West Bank.
1994- A treaty was signed between Israel and Jordan to settle their territorial disputes. This led to the development of trade and tourism, with special responsibility given to Jordan for Jerusalem, a sacred place.
Hamas's Deadliest Surprised Attack
Hamas is an Islamist Resistance Movement a militant group, That governs Gaza a densely populated area, The 2006 election seized control of Gaza defeating its rival the Fatah movement founded by. Since then they have been fighting for the freedom cause of Palestinians, and responding to Israel's heavy air strikes and illegal occupation they are carrying. On record this year has been the deadliest for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. These are some ground realities that are food for the latest Hamas attack.
On October 7th Hamas attacked southern Israel. This attack caught Israel by surprise which was a loud of the months of tension and illegal occupation It fired thousands of rockets at Israel sent fighters over the borders of Israel and overran a border crossing, breaking down the barriers that surround Gaza they attacked Town villages killing the Israeli civilians, were at the festival.
Moreover, Hamas said they have captured more than a hundred Israelis including some military officers. This is how the current fighting started with it killing 1,200 People in Israel. Up till the Israeli army is bombarding Gaza with air and ground attacks.
United Nations report shows that millions of people have been displaced and forced by the Israeli Army to move to the southern part of the strip. They do not even have access to their basic rights of food water shelter and protection to save their lives. In view, the Guardian reported that the world has lost humanity Gaza is running out of water and out of life. In the present era from 7th October 2023 to the end of November. After more than six weeks of war that has caused large-scale damage destroyed the buildings and killed thousands of innocent children and women both sides have agreed to four days of truce.
Who is Backing up Israel
The US and its allies in Europe have strongly condemned the Hamas attack on Israel and called it a terror attack and a threat to their security, for humanity. They are doing bombardment and destruction in their self-defence.
The US consider Israel among its closest allies, and over the years has provided it with $60 bn aid in both economic and military terms. Moreover, it has promised to assist with advanced weapons like air defence most advanced fighter jets, missiles, guided bombs and ammunition. Biden Administration has approved the $ 107 million to make its defence system stronger. To ensure its defence US has deployed an aircraft carrier strike group to the $ 107 million sales of the army of the Mediterranean. In the last two months, the administration has sent billions of dollars worth of weapons to Israel. President Biden has shown its support through the words of the "Rock-Solid" and Unwavering bond with Israel following the recent attacks.
The Secretary of the State of the US while criticizing the following attacks by Hamas on Israel has called it a "terror attack" and ordered its immediate engagement with Israel.
A Senior Political Scientist and the author of "The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy" penned down an article on December12, 2023 titled 'Death and Destruction in Gaza' criticizing the Biden Administration and other stakeholders who are backing up Israel for the genocide of civilians to levelling militant groups of Palestine Hamas. But Israel is doing this in response is a 'moral calamity' he put it in these words: "Is a crime against humanity that serves no meaningful military purpose". On the top, officials' propaganda misleading the globe and 'minimizing the civilian casualties'. He goes on to describe that a large number of people in Palestine who are alive are starved to death with no food, no cooking gas, and no medicine important of all water scarcity is the big issue they are facing.
Letting this genocide happen on one side the whole world is silent Including the Muslim Ummah and waiting for the miracle to help.
