The Roots and Ramifications of the Israel-Gaza Conflict

 The conflict between Israel and Gaza is one of the most protracted and complex in the world. It has its origins in the historical claims and grievances of both sides, as well as the geopolitical interests and interventions of regional and global powers. Here is a brief overview of the main causes and consequences of the conflict.

• Historical background: The conflict can be traced back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when Zionism, the movement for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine, emerged in response to anti-Semitism and persecution in Europe. At the same time, Arab nationalism, the movement for the liberation and unity of the Arab peoples, also gained momentum in the Middle East. Both movements clashed over the control and identity of Palestine, which was then under the rule of the Ottoman Empire and later the British Mandate. After World War II and the Holocaust, the United Nations adopted a partition plan in 1947 that divided Palestine into two states: one Jewish and one Arab. However, the plan was rejected by the Arab states and the Palestinian leadership, who considered it unfair and illegitimate. In 1948, Israel declared its independence, triggering the first Arab-Israeli war, which resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and the occupation of most of their lands by Israel. The Gaza Strip, a small coastal enclave, came under the control of Egypt, which administered it until 1967, when Israel captured it in the Six-Day War. Since then, Gaza has been under Israeli military occupation, blockade, or siege, except for a brief period of unilateral withdrawal in 2005.
• Political dynamics: The conflict has also been shaped by the internal and external political dynamics of both sides. On the Palestinian side, the main actors are the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the secular and nationalist umbrella group that represents the Palestinian people and seeks a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders; and Hamas, the Islamist and militant faction that controls Gaza and rejects Israel’s existence and the Oslo peace accords. The PLO and Hamas have been in a state of division and rivalry since 2007, when Hamas seized power in Gaza after a violent confrontation with the PLO’s Fatah party. The split has undermined the prospects of a unified Palestinian leadership and strategy, as well as the delivery of basic services and human rights to the population of Gaza. On the Israeli side, the main actors are the successive governments led by the Likud party, the right-wing and nationalist party that advocates for the expansion of Israeli settlements and sovereignty in the occupied territories; and the various opposition parties, such as the Labor party, the centrist and social-democratic party that supports the peace process and the two-state solution. The Israeli political scene has been marked by instability and polarization, as no party has been able to form a stable and coherent coalition or address the core issues of the conflict.
• Humanitarian crisis: The conflict has also created a humanitarian crisis for the people of Gaza, who have been living under a state of siege, poverty, and violence for more than a decade. According to the United Nations, Gaza is one of the most densely populated and impoverished places on earth, with more than 2 million people living in an area of 365 square kilometers. The majority of the population are refugees or their descendants, who have been denied the right to return to their homes in Israel. The blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt has restricted the movement of people and goods, as well as the access to water, electricity, health care, education, and other basic needs. The frequent outbreaks of hostilities between Israel and Hamas have also caused widespread death, injury, and destruction, as well as psychological trauma and despair. The latest escalation, which started on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel through a network of tunnels, has resulted in more than 1,000 casualties, hundreds of hostages, and thousands of displaced people. The international community has called for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid, as well as a political solution to end the cycle of violence and suffering.
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