What happened between Israel and Palestine?

Ben Ho

11/05/2024

The two countries are separated by a 400-mile barrier. © NDTV

The region of Palestine holds significant historical events in respect to faiths, conquests, and pilgrimages since millennia ago.

This land sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims has been home to many ancient civilizations and a part of various empires. It all began with the Canaanites, then saw the rise of the Israelites, who established a kingdom under Kings David and Solomon.

Over the centuries, waves of conquerors came and went—the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, and Romans—with each contributing to the land’s historical heritage.

Subsequently, Muslim rulers managed to govern the region stellarly, creating a vibrant, regional, and pious economic exchange hub.

Following the 20th century, Britain gained control of Palestine, allowing the Jews to return home. As their communities grew, tensions with Arabs corresponded which culminated in 1948 followed by the proclamation of the State of Israel.

This incident sparked a series of wars with neighboring Arab nations which led to conflicts with the Palestinian people. From the Six-Day War to the rise of the (PLO) or Palestine Liberation Organization, the pursuit of peaceful means has become elusive until these days.

An airstrike attack by Israeli forces on Palestine. © by GETTY IMAGE

In 2023, civilians were targeted, attacked, and killed at an unprecedented scale in the recent history of Israel and Palestine.

On October 7, Hamas launched a sudden and coordinated assault on southern Israel, targeting towns, homes, and even a music festival where civilians had gathered in peace. Israeli authorities reported that more than 1,200 people—primarily civilians—were killed, with another 133 taken hostage. The attack left families broken, and fear rippled through Israel.

In response, Israel launched airstrikes across Gaza, targeting Hamas’s military infrastructure.

But in Gaza’s densely populated neighborhoods, the destruction was vast. Homes were reduced to rubble, and families were left homeless and grieving. As Israel sealed its borders, Gaza was cut off from essentials like electricity, water, and fuel.

Hospitals became overwhelmed as the injured poured in, forced to operate under near-impossible conditions. By December 12, Gaza’s health authorities reported nearly 18,700 Palestinians killed, including 7,800 children.

As the year 2024 rolled around, the struggle grew more intense. To undermine Hamas' military capabilities, Israel increased its military operations in Gaza, causing even more devastation in civilian areas.

International organizations warned of massive hunger and water shortages impacting millions of people as reports of emergencies grew more serious. The U.N. demanded urgent humanitarian corridors to transport aid and evacuate the injured because schools, hospitals, and shelters were overcrowded.

Regional and international powers started to adopt more assertive positions by the beginning of 2024. The European Union and the United States stepped up their diplomatic efforts, asking both Israel and Hamas to sign peace agreements so that assistance could be delivered.

A global peace summit was demanded by neighboring nations, especially Egypt and Jordan, who raised concerns about the possibility of additional regional instability. Several Western countries were under domestic pressure to reconsider their financial and political support for the war.

The situation in Gaza has been compounded by 16 years of restricted movement and limited access to resources. With few exceptions, Gaza’s 2.2 million residents have faced strict limitations on travel, resources, and economic growth.

Water, electricity, and medical care remain scarce, and the economy has been nearly shattered by prolonged closures and further restrictions at Egypt’s border. This isolation has deepened the region’s hardships, leaving it vulnerable as conflict reignited in 2023 and worsened in 2024.

Will there be peace for the nations?

As the conflict escalated, both sides experienced unimaginable pain. In Israel, families mourn those lost to the attack, and a pervasive anxiety spreads across the nation. In Gaza, the ongoing bombardment brought terror to families trying to survive amid the ruins, while humanitarian agencies struggled to provide aid under increasingly difficult conditions.

Citation: