Introduction

The Israel-Palestine dispute has been going on for a very long time and is one of the most complex disputes in the world. It has its roots in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when Zionism, a movement that sought to establish a homeland for the Jewish people in Palestine, emerged in response to antisemitism and persecution in Europe and elsewhere. At the same time, Arab nationalism, which aimed to achieve independence and unity for the Arab people in the Middle East, also gained momentum. The clash between these two aspirations led to a series of wars, uprisings, and peace efforts that have shaped the history and politics of the region ever since.

Why Israel and Palestine are at war?

The main reasons for the conflict between Israel and Palestine are related to land, identity, security, and justice. Both sides claim historical and religious ties to the land that spans from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River, and both sides seek to exercise their right to self-determination and sovereignty over it. Both sides also fear for their safety and survival, as they have faced violence, oppression, displacement, and discrimination from each other and external actors. Both sides also demand recognition and redress for their grievances and rights, such as the status of Jerusalem, the fate of Palestinian refugees, the legality of Israeli settlements, the borders of a future state, and access to natural resources and holy sites.

The History of Israel and Palestine Conflicts:

The conflict between Israel and Palestine has resulted in several wars and numerous violent incidents over the decades. The most significant wars were:

• The 1948 Arab-Israeli War, which followed the declaration of independence for Israel after the UN partition plan for Palestine was rejected by the Arab states. The war ended with an armistice that left Israel in control of most of the territory allocated to it by the UN plan plus some additional areas, while Egypt occupied Gaza and Jordan occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem. About 700,000 Palestinians became refugees as a result of the war.
• The 1956 Suez Crisis erupted when Egypt nationalised the Suez Canal and closed it to Israeli shipping. Israel invaded Sinai with the support of Britain and France, who aimed to regain control of the canal. The invasion was halted by international pressure from the US and the USSR. Israel withdrew from Sinai after securing access to the canal and the Gulf of Aqaba.
• The 1967 Six-Day War broke out after a period of escalating tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbours over border disputes, water rights, and Palestinian guerrilla attacks. In a preemptive attack on Egypt, Syria, and Jordan, Israel took control of the Golan Heights, Sinai, Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. The war established Israel as a regional power but also increased its isolation and responsibility for millions of Palestinians under its occupation

• The 1973 Yom Kippur War, or the October War or Ramadan War, was initiated by Egypt and Syria to regain their lost territories in 1967. They launched a surprise attack on Israel on Yom Kippur (the holiest day in Judaism) or Ramadan (the holy month in Islam), catching Israel off guard. The war was costly for both sides but ended with a stalemate that led to diplomatic efforts to achieve peace
• Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982 to drive out the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), which had been initiating cross-border operations against Israel from its strongholds in southern Lebanon. This invasion marked the beginning of the First Lebanon War, often known as the Lebanon War. The war involved heavy fighting between Israeli forces and various Lebanese factions, as well as Syrian troops and PLO fighters. The war ended with an Israeli withdrawal from most of Lebanon except for a security zone in the south that was maintained until 2000. The war also witnessed the emergence of Hezbollah, a Shia militant group backed by Iran which became a major adversary of Israel in subsequent conflicts.

• The First Intifada, or Palestinian Uprising (1987–1993), was a popular and largely nonviolent resistance movement by Palestinians in the occupied territories against the Israeli occupation. The intifada was sparked by a road accident that killed four Palestinians in Gaza and was fueled by frustration over the lack of political progress and the harsh living conditions under the occupation. The intifada led to the Oslo Accords, a series of agreements between Israel and the PLO that established mutual recognition and a framework for a peace process based on the principle of land for peace
• The Second Intifada, or Al-Aqsa Intifada (2000–2005), was a violent uprising by Palestinians in the occupied territories and Israel against the Israeli occupation and the failure of the peace process. The intifada was triggered by a controversial visit by Ariel Sharon, then the leader of the opposition, to the Temple Mount, or Haram al-Sharif, a site sacred to both Jews and Muslims in Jerusalem. The intifada involved suicide bombings, shootings, rocket attacks, and military operations that killed thousands of people on both sides and severely damaged the prospects for peace.
• The 2006 Lebanon War, or Second Lebanon War, started after Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers and killed eight others in a cross-border raid. Israel responded with a massive air and ground campaign against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, while Hezbollah fired thousands of rockets into northern Israel. The war lasted 34 days and ended with a UN-brokered ceasefire that called for the deployment of Lebanese and international forces in southern Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah. The war caused widespread destruction and displacement in Lebanon and Israel and increased the regional influence of Iran and Syria.

• The 2008–2009 Gaza War, or Operation Cast Lead, was launched by Israel to stop rocket fire from Gaza by Hamas and other militant groups. The war involved a three-week Israeli assault on Gaza that killed more than 1,400 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and 13 Israelis, mostly soldiers. The war also caused extensive damage to Gaza’s infrastructure and economy and sparked international condemnation of Israel’s use of disproportionate force.
• The 2012 Gaza War, or Operation Pillar of Defense, was triggered by an Israeli airstrike that killed Ahmed Jabari, the head of Hamas’s military wing, in response to increased rocket fire from Gaza. The war lasted eight days and involved intense Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israel. The war ended with an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire that called for an end to hostilities and an easing of the Israeli blockade on Gaza. The war killed more than 160 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and six Israelis, mostly civilians.
• The 2014 Gaza War, also known as Operation Protective Edge, began when three Israeli teens were abducted and killed by Hamas operatives in the West Bank. Israeli fanatics then killed a Palestinian teenager in retaliation in Jerusalem. The war lasted 50 days and involved a large-scale Israeli ground invasion of Gaza and Palestinian rocket fire on most of Israel. The war ended with an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire that called for an end to hostilities and indirect talks on a long-term truce. The war killed more than 2,200 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and 73 Israelis, mostly soldiers. The war also caused massive destruction and displacement in Gaza and widespread trauma and disruption in Israel.

Current Status of Ongoing Israel and Hamas War

The current ongoing war between Israel and Palestine started on October 8, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel from multiple fronts, including land, sea, air, and tunnels. Hamas claimed that the attack was in retaliation for Israel’s continued occupation, blockade, settlement expansion, aggression, and oppression of the Palestinian people. Israel declared a state of war with Hamas and vowed to inflict a heavy price on the militant group and its allies. Israel has been conducting intensive airstrikes on Gaza, targeting Hamas’s military infrastructure, leadership, media outlets, and residential buildings. Hamas has been firing thousands of rockets at various cities in Israel, causing casualties, damage, and panic among Israelis. The war has also sparked clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian protesters in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as violence between Jewish and Arab citizens within Israel. The war has also drawn regional and international reactions, with some countries expressing support for either side or calling for an end to hostilities.

Will this crisis ever end?

There is no easy or definitive answer to this question, as the conflict between Israel and Palestine is complex and has many dimensions. However, some possible solutions that have been proposed or discussed by various parties include:

• The two-state solution: This is based on the principle of land for peace and the creation of an independent and viable Palestinian state alongside Israel, with mutually agreed borders and a resolution of the core issues such as Jerusalem, refugees, security, and settlements. This solution has been endorsed by the UN, the Arab League, the EU, and most countries in the world. However, it faces many challenges and obstacles, such as the lack of trust and political will between the parties, the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories, the division and weakness of the Palestinian leadership, the influence of extremist groups on both sides and the interference of external actors
• The one-state solution: This is based on the idea of a single democratic state for all Israelis and Palestinians, with equal rights and citizenship for all. This solution has been advocated by some Palestinians who reject the two-state solution as unrealistic or unjust, and by some Israelis who oppose giving up any part of the land of Israel. However, this solution also faces many difficulties and risks, such as the lack of consensus and acceptance among the majority of both peoples, the potential for violence and instability in a binational state, the loss of national identity and self-determination for both sides, and the opposition of most of the international community.
• The confederation solution: This is based on the idea of a loose association or federation between two sovereign states, Israel and Palestine, with shared institutions and cooperation on common interests such as security, economy, environment, and infrastructure. This solution has been suggested by some academics and civil society activists who seek to combine the advantages of both the two-state and one-state solutions while avoiding their drawbacks. However, this solution also requires a high level of trust and coordination between the parties, as well as a clear definition of their respective rights and responsibilities.

Conclusion

The above mentioned possible solutions to end the conflict between Israel and Palestine can only be achieved with a genuine dialogue and negotiation between the parties, based on mutual recognition and respect, international law and human rights, and a vision for peaceful coexistence. The role of the international community is also crucial in supporting and facilitating such a process, as well as in providing humanitarian assistance to those affected by the conflict.

Here is another interesting read on similar topic of war:

8 Major Wars In The History of Mankind That Should Have Never Happened