Image from Sky News
Just over two years ago, the militant group Hamas launched a coordinated land, sea, and air assault on southern Israel. More than 1,200 people were killed and over 250 hostages were taken into Gaza. Within a day, Israel formally declared war, triggering one of the most devastating and controversial conflicts of the 21st century.
There’s an incredible amount of complicated history that lead up to this event and others that came before. Let’s go back to the creation of Israel.
Following the second world war, there was a huge Zionist movement that called for the creation of a Jewish state. A safe haven where Jewish people would be protected from the persecution that had befallen them for centuries. Zionism has existed for over 100 years but following the Holocaust, which saw intense horrors and atrocities committed against the Jewish population, the movement gained traction of a level never seen before as the Holocaust Encylopedia explains, “In the aftermath of this genocide, it became clear to many Holocaust survivors and other Jews that Jews needed their own country where they could live in safety and independence. Support for Zionism grew among Holocaust survivors, international leaders, and others.” And so came the debate of where this Jewish state would be established.
There have been many proposed places in the history of this debate. Very early Zionists had considered Argentina very seriously due to its large, undeveloped areas that could be shaped into a new state. However, the lack of historical and religious significance in Judaism took it off the canidacy list. The British proposed East Africa at the turn of the 20th century which became known as the Uganda Scheme. Ultimately though, the plan fell on its face thanks to, again, the lack of meaningful connection to the Jewish people. Then, in the Slattery report published by Roosevelt’s secretary, Alaska was suggested. Like Argentina, it had a lot of unused land and the US hoped that by establishing a state there, it would boost the Alaskan economy. Unfortunately, the plan failed to capture the support of all Americans. It became a no go.
Then Palestine was brought up.
It seemed perfect. Palestine, at the time, was part of the falling apart Ottoman Empire that had fallen under British control. It was historically significant to the Jewish community, being the center of ancient Jewish civilization. The Kingdom of Israel and Kingdom of Judah had existed there thousands of years before. “The Jewish people have a very ancient history in the land known both as Palestine and the Land of Israel.” Strauss from the Hoover Institution simplifies. “The Jewish claim to indigeneity is based on a three-thousand-year-old continuous history and the status of the land since ancient times as the focus of Jewish life and yearning.” It seemed only natural for Jewish people to be returning to their historical homeland. A place that had been safe and important to them years before.
There was just one problem. People were already there.
Palestine was mostly made up of Arab Muslims and Christians, with the exception of small Jewish communities that had lived there for centuries. Therefore, a plan was needed to account for this hurdle and a few were proposed.
“Ultimately, UNSCOP delivered two proposals: that of the majority, which recommended two separate states joining economically, and that of the minority, which supported the formation of a single binational state made up of autonomous Jewish and Palestinian areas.” Britannica clarifies. “A counterproposal [included] a provision that only those Jews who had arrived before the Balfour Declaration would be citizens of the state.”
The end result turned out a little different.
Originally, the two state solution proposed by the UN called for an even split with about 55% of the land being allotted for Israel and the other 45% going to Palestine. What actually happened was Israel took 78% of the territory. The rest was controlled by Jordan and Egypt. No separate state was made for Palestine.
The moment Israel declared independence the 1948 Israeli-Arab War began.
The conflict was mainly spurred by the unfair outcome Arabs had received from the UN deal. Even though Arabs made up about two thirds of the population, Israel had been given over half the land. Upon Israeli independence, armies from multiple Arab states, such as Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, entered the terrirtoy with the goal to prevent the istablushment of Israel and support the Palestinian population already living there. After all of the fighting, Israel ended up controlling more territory than what the UN’s plan had stipulated which left the Palestinians displaced. Around 700,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homes.
Since then, many notable conflicts have occured with Israel including the Six-Day War which allowed Israel to capture an incredible amount of territory like the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. The state of Israel has remained controversial since its creation, and the most recent conflict hasn’t helped.
On October 7th, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel killing Israelis and Palestinians alike while also taking hostaged back into Gaza. Only a few were returned.
Hamas is a Palestinian political and militant organization in the Gaza Strip and was founded during the First Intifsad which saw a Palestinian uprising against Israeli control over the West Bank and Gaza. “Hamas [was established] as the Brotherhood’s political arm in Gaza in December 1987, following the outbreak of the first intifada, a Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem.”
Records the Council of Foreign Relations. Hamas was elected by the Palestinian people over the rival political faction Fatah in 2006. “Factionalism among the Palestinians intensified when Hamas won the PA’s parliamentary elections in 2006, gaining a plurality over Fatah (…) Violence broke out between Hamas and Fatah (…) The primary disagreements stemmed from the groups’ stances toward Israel and their competing claims to lead the Palestinian national movement. Fatah recognizes the State of Israel, whereas Hamas’s 1988 covenant calls for the destruction of Israel.” In 2007 Hamas forcibly took control of the Gaza Strip and Fatah kept the West Bank. Due to its attacks on civilians, Hamas is officially recogngized as a terrorist organization by many western countries.
Some people make the mistake of believing that Hamas speaks for all of the Palestinian people. That’s not true. The division between Fatah and Hamas remains prevalent decades later. Heavy losses have been felt on both sides. No matter where you stand, war is never seen as good.
The Israel–Hamas conflict has become one of the most polarizing issues in global politics. Much of the West, including the United States and the European Union, strongly condemns Hamas’ attacks as acts of terrorism and has rallied behind Israel. The United States in particular has demonstrated its support by providing billions of dollars in military and humanitarian aid.
Few governments openly defend Hamas, whose actions on October 7 are widely considered war crimes. However, many countries in the Middle East have sharply criticized Israel’s military response, arguing that the scale of the war in Gaza has caused a severe humanitarian crisis. Even within Western countries that officially support Israel, public opinion has become increasingly divided as civilian casualties and destruction in Gaza have mounted. “The polling agency said 41 percent of Americans now say they sympathise more with Palestinians.” The IRC reveals.
In late 2025, a ceasefire agreement brokered by President Donald Trump temporarily halted large-scale fighting between Israel and Hamas. “On October 7, 2023, Iran-backed Hamas fighters fired rockets (…) killing more than 1,300 people, injuring 3,300, and taking hundreds of hostages.” The Council of Foreign Relations recants. And Congress adds, “In the conflict to date, more than 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed.” However, hunger and destruction still remains a major part of many Israeli and Palestinian lives. “Over 90% of homes in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, leaving nearly 1.9 million Palestinians without a permanent and safe place to live.” The IRC alerts.
The next phase of the proposed peace plan includes the return of remaining hostages, the deployment of international forces in Gaza, and the removal of Hamas from power. However, many countries have expressed reluctance to send troops into the region, and it remains unclear whether such a plan could realistically be implemented.
Even if this war does reach an end, unless the underlying reasons for the conflict are solved, we are doomed to experience another one. If Hamas goes, the Palestinian dream of having a state to call their own does not go away. Questions over borders, security, sovereignty, and Palestinian statehood continue to divide the region and the world. Removing Hamas from power would not erase the broader political struggle that Palestinians face, nor would it eliminate Israel’s security concerns. Until those underlying issues are addressed, the cycle of violence that began decades ago may continue long after the current ceasefire fades.
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