- Arya Shinde
As of September 8th, 2024, the staggering loss of 41,569 Palestinian lives and 1,139 Israeli lives, with tens of thousands more wounded, speaks to the harrowing cost of human division; reminding us that in this conflict.
No number of casualties can ever balance the scales of justice, nor can they ease the weight of suffering borne by those who remain.
So, as is extremely evident, the Israel-Palestine conflict is a tough one to talk about. It’s a super sensitive topic involving the lives of tens of thousands who have died, many who have been injured over the years, and numerous non-state actors that we, unfortunately, will have to write about in an entirely separate article due to the absolutely incredulous amount of information available on the topic. So instead, here’s a bit of context regarding the topic.
A Very Brief History
The Jewish people historically lived in and originated from what we now know as Israel and Palestine. Over time, after the Roman conquest and multiple other events, they were scattered across the world, mainly to Europe. After the horrors of World War II and the Holocaust, a rising danger for the Jews was observed, leading to a huge push for a Jewish state. Britain, which controlled Palestine after annexing the territory from the Ottoman Empire, was given the British Mandate to set Israel up as a sovereign nation. However, there was an egregious amount of mismanagement in the process, indirectly leading to the death of thousands.
When the state of Israel was created in 1948, the Arab League wasn’t too happy, leading to the very bloody First Arab-Israeli War; which Israel won in a staggering victory. In other future wars incited by either side, Israel expanded its territory, taking over the Sinai Peninsula, parts of Gaza, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights. Though they later gave the Sinai back to Egypt, the fight over Palestinian land and East Jerusalem continued, with violence and wars going on for decades.
Coming back to recent times, on October 7th, as we all know, Hamas launched an attack on Israel in response to the Israeli Forces’ attack on the Al-Aqsa Mosque on April 5th, 2023, and, safe to say, Israel hit back hard. Israel has since used the October 7th attack as an excuse to “enforce self-defense,” take over and occupy Palestinian land, and develop illegal (under international law) settlements in the occupied Palestinian region.
The Cost on Either Side
Throughout this conflict, both Israelis and Palestinians have endured immense suffering. Israeli civilians have faced countless rocket attacks, with Hamas targeting civilian areas indiscriminately, causing terror and loss of life. Suicide bombings in crowded markets and buses during the Second Intifada left lasting scars on Israeli society, fueling a cycle of fear and retaliation.
On the other hand, Palestinians have been subjected to severe military actions by Israel, with entire neighborhoods being flattened in Gaza, leading to significant civilian casualties. The blockade of Gaza has restricted access to essential resources, creating a humanitarian crisis.
This conflict’s deep-rooted in history, and the suffering on either side just keeps piling up. It’s bound to end with either a peace treaty according to pre-1967 borders, the UN’s Resolution 181 borders, a completely new border agreement between the two nations, or a tragic and painful bloodbath.
The British Mandate
The British Mandate for Palestine was a legal commission assigned to Britain by the League of Nations in 1920 after the First World War; the mandate was heavily influenced by the Balfour Declaration in which Britain supported the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine. The mandate was part of a larger system of mandates that were established to govern former territories of the Ottoman Empire until they were deemed capable of self-rule.
The Ottoman Empire was originally annexed by the Allies after World War I, particularly Britain and France, which also meant they had control over a specific part of the empire that we shall be talking about today: Palestine. The League of Nations granted Britain the mandate over Palestine in 1920 which included the territories of present-day Israel, the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jordan.
The British Mandate of Palestine was intended to prepare the territory for self-governance and eventual independence. However, several key issues in its management contributed to the enduring conflict between Jewish and Arab populations, ultimately leading to the breakdown of order and the outbreak of violence.
Articles the British Mandate Mismanaged
Balfour Declaration (1917): Britain promised a Jewish national home in Palestine while also protecting non-Jewish communities. The lack of clarity on balancing these conflicting promises led to rising tensions between Jews and Arabs.
Churchill White Paper (1922): This policy tried to limit Jewish immigration and clarify that Palestine wouldn't be solely a Jewish state, but it failed to set clear guidelines, leaving both Jewish and Arab communities frustrated.
Passfield White Paper (1930): The policy aimed to restrict Jewish immigration and land purchases in response to Arab unrest. It ended up angering Jews who felt betrayed and did little to appease Arabs, worsening the conflict.
1937 Peel Commission Report: The Peel Commission proposed dividing Palestine into Jewish and Arab states. Britain’s indecision on implementing the plan led to further violence, as Arabs rejected it and tensions escalated.
1939 White Paper: This policy severely limited Jewish immigration, particularly during the Holocaust, and proposed an Arab-majority independent state. It angered Jews and failed to satisfy Arabs, deepening the conflict.
Land Transfers Regulations (1940): These regulations restricted Jewish land purchases in certain areas to calm Arab fears. Instead, they fueled Jewish resentment and didn’t effectively address Arab concerns about land and demographics.
Mandate Article 22 (League of Nations Covenant): Article 22 called for developing self-governing institutions in Palestine. Britain’s inconsistent efforts in promoting political representation for Jews and Arabs led to increasing frustration and violence.
End of Mandate and the 1947 UN Partition Plan: Britain’s decision to leave Palestine without a clear transition plan resulted in chaos and a power vacuum, which directly contributed to the outbreak of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
Mandate Article 5: The mandate should have been responsible for seeing to it that no Palestinian territory shall be ceded, leased, or placed under the control of the Government of any foreign Power.
Current-Day Atrocities in the Israel-Palestine Conflict
Recently, the Israel-Palestine conflict has seen a sharp rise in violence, with clashes intensifying in Gaza and the West Bank. As Israeli airstrikes continue and Palestinian militant groups retaliate with rocket attacks, civilian casualties are mounting, drawing international attention and further deepening the divide between the two sides. Amid the chaos, a disturbing video went viral showing a Palestinian man tragically being run over by an Israeli tank, sparking widespread outrage. (video available on Al Jazeera; Graphic video, viewer discretion advised. Video link: https://tinyurl.com/yajh3xea). The footage spread across social media, becoming a stark reminder of the conflict's human cost.
The First Arab-Israeli War
The First Arab-Israeli War, also known as the 1948 War, erupted immediately after the declaration of the State of Israel on May 14, 1948. Israel's, at the time, defense minister claimed that Israel insinuated the Arabs to attack first by posting numerous troops at borders along with tanks and various other wartime machinery, but it is still, falsely said that the war was triggered by the rejection of the United Nations' 1947 partition plan by the Arab states and Palestinian Arabs, who opposed the creation of a Jewish state. The conflict saw Israel defending its newly established state against the coalition of the Arab League, including Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq.
The war unfolded in several phases, beginning with local skirmishes and escalating into full-scale battles. Despite being outnumbered, Israel's forces were better organized and managed to secure key territories. By the time of the armistice in 1949, Israel had expanded its borders beyond the UN-proposed partition lines, capturing additional areas such as western Jerusalem and parts of the Galilee. The war led to significant casualties and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Arabs caught in the crossfire, marking the beginning of a long and contentious conflict.
The Six-Day War / The Third Arab-Israeli War
The Six-Day War in June 1967 was a swift and decisive conflict between Israel and its neighboring Arab states: Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. Rising tensions, including military build-ups and hostile rhetoric from the Arab nations, led Israel to launch a preemptive strike. On the first day, Israel’s surprise attack effectively neutralized the Egyptian air force.
Over the next six days, Israel rapidly captured the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, the West Bank from Jordan, and the Golan Heights from Syria. This significant territorial expansion reshaped the Middle Eastern map. While the war demonstrated Israel’s military prowess, it also introduced new complexities to the region, particularly for the Palestinians who found themselves under Israeli administration in these newly acquired territories.
The Yom Kippur War
The Yom Kippur War, also known as the October War, erupted in 1973 when Egypt and Syria launched a coordinated surprise attack on Israel during Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism. Egyptian forces crossed the Suez Canal and Syrian troops advanced into the Golan Heights, catching Israel off guard.
Initially, Israel faced severe challenges and was pushed back. However, after regrouping, Israeli forces managed to counterattack and eventually made significant advances into both Egyptian and Syrian territories. The war highlighted Israel’s vulnerability and led to renewed peace negotiations. The heavy losses and the shock of the initial surprise attacks had a lasting impact on both nations, reshaping the Middle Eastern landscape.
The Hamas October 7th Attacks
On October 7, 2023, Hamas carried out a large-scale attack on Israel. This coordinated assault involved fighters crossing the Gaza-Israel border and targeting Israeli communities. The attacks resulted in numerous casualties and significant damage, with rockets launched into Israeli cities and brutal assaults on civilian areas.
The Israeli response was substantial, involving extensive military operations in Gaza. The intensity of the conflict and the severe nature of the attacks on both sides further escalated the situation, complicating efforts toward peace.
The Tel Aviv Bus Bombings
In 2002, during the Second Intifada, a series of suicide bombings targeted civilian areas in Israel, including a notable attack in Tel Aviv. The bus bombings were carried out by Palestinian militants, causing significant casualties and injuries. These attacks were part of a broader wave of violence during the period, highlighting the ongoing and severe nature of the conflict. The bombings resulted in substantial Israeli civilian suffering and increased tensions, further complicating peace efforts.
The Oslo Accords
The Oslo Accords, signed in the 1990s, aimed to create a framework for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. The agreements included mutual recognition and plans for Palestinian self-rule in parts of the West Bank and Gaza.
While initially promising, the process faced significant obstacles. The agreements struggled to address deep-seated issues and faced criticism from extremists on both sides. Despite the hope for a lasting peace, the accords did not fully resolve the conflict, and violence persisted, demonstrating the complexity of achieving a comprehensive resolution.
Previously Suggested Solutions:
Some of the significant suggested solutions from the past, in no specific order are:
The UN Resolution 181 (1947) : Recommended the partition of Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem declared “corpus separatum” and as an international city.
The UN Resolution 242 (1967) : Called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from territories occupied during the Six-Day War and the recognition of every state’s right to live in peace.
The UN Resolution 338 (1973) : Called for an immediate ceasefire in the Yom Kippur War and the implementation of Resolution 242.
The Camp David Accords (1978) : A peace agreement between Israel and Egypt, facilitated by U.S. President Jimmy Carter. It included the return of the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt and normalization of relations, leading to the 1979 Israel-Egypt peace treaty.
The Oslo Accords (1993) : Established a framework for peace between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, including mutual recognition and the establishment of the Palestinian Authority (The PLO and the PA).
The Camp David Summit (2000) : Aimed to address final-status of issues including borders, Jerusalem, refugees, and included proposals from then President of the U.S.A. Bill Clinton.
The Arab Peace Initiative (2002) : Proposed by Saudi Arabia, offered normalization of relations between Arab states and Israel in exchange for withdrawal from occupied territories and a just solution for Palestinian refugees.
The Annapolis Conference (2007) : Revived peace talks with a focus on establishing a Palestinian state and resolving core issues.
Closing Remarks:
In the end, the numbers of the fallen and injured are more than just statistics; they are the broken dreams, the silenced voices, and the shattered lives of people on both sides. As long as this conflict persists, peace will remain a distant hope buried beneath the rubble of war. The conscience of humanity demands that we no longer turn away, but instead, strive to heal wounds that have bled for far too long.
We must ask ourselves: how many more lives are we willing to sacrifice before we realize that the price of this unending struggle is far too high?
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