Endless Strife: The Ongoing War Between Palestine and Israel

One of the most deeply rooted and emotionally charged conflicts in modern history is the war between Israel and Palestine. It has shaped the political landscape of the Middle East for seven decades, affected millions of lives, and attracted international condemnation and failed peace efforts. At the heart of this conflict lie competing national aspirations, religious significance, historical grievances, and territorial disputes that have defied resolution.

### The Conflict's Historical Roots The roots of the Israel-Palestine conflict can be traced back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the rise of both Jewish and Arab nationalism. As Jewish immigration to Palestine increased during the British Mandate following World War I, tensions grew between Jewish settlers and the indigenous Arab population. The Balfour Declaration of 1917, in which Britain expressed support for the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine, intensified Arab fears of displacement.

Global support for the Jewish cause increased following World War II and the Holocaust. In 1947, the United Nations proposed a partition plan that would divide British-controlled Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem under international administration. Arab leaders rejected the plan, while Jewish leaders accepted it. In 1948, Israel declared independence, prompting neighboring Arab countries to attack, leading to the first Arab-Israeli war. Over 700,000 Palestinians were displaced in what they call the "Nakba" or catastrophe, marking the beginning of the Palestinian refugee crisis.

Conflicts and occupations Through a series of wars in 1955, 1967, and 1973, the conflict grew over time, changing the map and deepening animosity. In the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, Sinai Peninsula, and Golan Heights. In a peace treaty, Egypt received Sinai back, but Israel kept control of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and Gaza was under military occupation until 2005. The Palestinian call for a state is centered on these areas. The occupation has been widely condemned internationally, with settlements in the West Bank considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this. The daily lives of Palestinians have been marked by restrictions on movement, economic hardship, and violence.

### Intifadas and Peace Efforts

The first Palestinian uprising, or Intifada, began in 1987, characterized by protests, civil disobedience, and violent confrontations. It ended with the Oslo Accords in the early 1990s, which gave Palestinians limited self-rule in parts of the West Bank and Gaza and outlined a path toward a two-state solution. However, the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995 and subsequent waves of violence derailed the process.

The second Intifada, which began in 2000, was bloodier and marked a severe deterioration in relations. Suicide bombings, Israeli military incursions, and rising casualties led to a collapse of trust. The construction of a barrier wall by Israel in the West Bank, intended as a security measure, further deepened Palestinian grievances.

### Gaza: A Humanitarian Crisis

In 2006, Hamas, an Islamist militant group, won legislative elections in the Palestinian territories. A year later, Hamas forcibly took control of Gaza, leading Israel and Egypt to impose a blockade. Since then, there have been several rounds of war between Israel and Hamas, including major escalations in 2008, 2012, 2014, and most recently in 2021 and 2023. These conflicts have killed thousands of civilians, destroyed infrastructure, and deepened the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Israel justifies its military actions as necessary to stop rocket attacks and terrorist threats, while critics argue that the response is disproportionate and inflicts undue suffering on the civilian population. Civilians on both sides—especially in Gaza—have borne the brunt of the violence.

### A Cycle of Violence and Stalemate

Israel and Palestinian groups' recurrent acts of violence have resulted in a deadlock with no clear path forward. Efforts by international actors, including the United States, the United Nations, and regional powers, have failed to bring about a lasting resolution. Internal political divisions among Palestinians, particularly between Hamas in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, have also hindered progress.

The regional focus has shifted away from Palestinian statehood as a result of Israel's political rightward shift, expansion of settlements, and normalization agreements with Arab nations under the Abraham Accords. ### The Human Toll and the Need for Resolution

At the core of the conflict are millions of ordinary people—Palestinians living under occupation or blockade, and Israelis living under the threat of attacks. The war has claimed countless lives, created generations of refugees, and fostered an enduring climate of fear, hatred, and hopelessness.

Any lasting resolution must address the root causes of the conflict: mutual recognition, security, justice for refugees, control over Jerusalem, and the borders of a future Palestinian state. Without this, peace will remain elusive, and the cycle of war will continue to devastate lives and undermine the region’s future.

### Conclusion

The war between Palestine and Israel is not just a territorial dispute—it is a human tragedy steeped in history, identity, and unresolved justice. As long as the world turns a blind eye to the fundamental grievances on both sides, the possibility of peace will remain a distant dream. Real leadership, empathy, and international will are needed to break the cycle and forge a just and lasting peace for both peoples.