Palestine, Gaza & Israel: The Full History You Were Never Taught

The history of Palestinians, Gaza, and Israel is complex, multifaceted, and spans thousands of years. Below is a detailed overview, divided into historical periods for clarity:

📜 1. Ancient History and Biblical Times

Canaanite Period (c. 3000–1200 BCE)

The land now comprising Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza was inhabited by various Canaanite tribes.

Gaza was a key Philistine city, strategically located on trade routes between Egypt and the Levant.

Israelite Kingdoms (c. 1000–586 BCE)

According to the Hebrew Bible, ancient Israel and Judah were established by the Israelites.

King David established Jerusalem as the capital; his son Solomon built the First Temple.

Babylonian & Persian Periods (586–332 BCE)

In 586 BCE, the Babylonians destroyed the First Temple and exiled many Jews.

The Persians conquered Babylon and allowed Jews to return and rebuild the temple (Second Temple period begins).

🏛️ 2. Hellenistic to Roman Period (332 BCE – 636 CE)

Alexander the Great conquered the region; Hellenistic influence spread.

Romans took control in 63 BCE; tensions between Jews and Romans led to revolts.

In 70 CE, Romans destroyed the Second Temple during the Jewish Revolt.

In 135 CE, after the Bar Kokhba revolt, Jews were expelled from Jerusalem; the region was renamed Palestina by the Romans to minimize Jewish identification.

🕌 3. Islamic and Crusader Periods (636–1517)

Early Islamic Rule

Arab Muslims conquered the region in 636–640 CE.

The area became part of successive Islamic empires: Umayyad, Abbasid, and Fatimid.

Jerusalem and Gaza became important religious centers.

Crusader Period (1099–1291)

European Crusaders briefly established the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

Muslim armies, including Saladin’s, eventually reclaimed the land.

Mamluk and Ottoman Rule

Mamluks controlled the region from 1250 to 1517.

The Ottoman Empire took over in 1517 and ruled until World War I (1917).

🏳️‍🌈 4. British Mandate Period (1917–1948)

After WWI, the British took control under the League of Nations’ mandate system.

Balfour Declaration (1917): Britain supported a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine.

Arab and Jewish communities both grew and clashed under British rule.

Tensions escalated into violence (Arab revolts in 1936–1939; Jewish insurgencies in 1940s).

🇮🇱 5. Creation of Israel and First Arab-Israeli War (1948)

UN Partition Plan (1947)

Proposed to divide Palestine into Jewish and Arab states; Jerusalem to be internationalized.

Jews accepted; Arabs rejected.

1948 War

Israel declared independence (May 14, 1948).

Five Arab countries invaded; Israel survived and expanded territory.

Nakba (Catastrophe): 700,000+ Palestinians fled or were expelled.

Gaza came under Egyptian control; West Bank under Jordanian control.

⚔️ 6. Wars and Occupation (1949–1993)

Major Wars

1956 Suez Crisis – Israel briefly occupied Sinai and Gaza.

1967 Six-Day War – Israel captured Gaza, West Bank, East Jerusalem, Sinai, and Golan Heights.

1973 Yom Kippur War – Egypt and Syria launched surprise attack; Israel held territory.

Occupation & Settlements

Israel began building settlements in Gaza and West Bank.

Palestinians lived under Israeli military rule in occupied territories.

PLO and Resistance

Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) formed in 1964, led by Yasser Arafat.

PLO recognized internationally as the representative of Palestinians.

Guerilla and terror tactics led to global attention, but also widespread controversy.

✌️ 7. Peace Process and Oslo Accords (1993–2000)

Oslo Accords (1993–1995):

First mutual recognition between Israel and the PLO.

Established the Palestinian Authority (PA) for limited self-rule.

Gaza and parts of West Bank were handed over to PA.

Key Issues Left Unresolved:

Final borders

Status of Jerusalem

Right of return for Palestinian refugees

Israeli settlements

🔥 8. Second Intifada and Rise of Hamas (2000–2007)

Second Intifada (2000–2005)

Triggered by Ariel Sharon’s visit to Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa.

Led to widespread violence, suicide bombings, and Israeli military responses.

Massive casualties on both sides.

Israeli Disengagement from Gaza (2005)

Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza and removed all settlements.

Hamas gained popularity for resisting Israel.

2006 Elections & Split

Hamas won Palestinian parliamentary elections.

Fatah (led by PA in West Bank) and Hamas clashed.

2007: Hamas took full control of Gaza; Fatah retained control of West Bank.

🚨 9. Gaza Wars and Blockade (2008–2023)

Recurring Wars

Major wars in 2008–09, 2012, 2014, 2021, and escalations in between.

Thousands of Palestinian civilians killed, widespread destruction in Gaza.

Israel cites self-defense; Hamas launches rockets into Israeli cities.

Blockade of Gaza

Imposed by Israel and Egypt after Hamas takeover.

Severe humanitarian impact: shortages of electricity, water, medical supplies.

🕊️ 10. Recent Events and 2023–2025 War

2023 Hamas Attack and Israeli Invasion

October 7, 2023: Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel, killing 1,200+ and taking hostages.

Israel responded with a massive military operation in Gaza, leading to:

Tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths (according to Gaza Health Ministry).

Entire neighborhoods destroyed.

Global outcry and humanitarian crisis.

International Reactions

Countries are divided: some support Israel’s right to self-defense; others condemn the humanitarian impact and call for ceasefires.

ICC and ICJ cases filed regarding alleged war crimes and genocide.

🧩 11. Key Issues Today

Two-State Solution – International consensus, but stalled.

Israeli Settlements – Continue expanding in the West Bank.

Jerusalem – Both Israelis and Palestinians claim it as capital.

Refugees – Over 5 million registered Palestinian refugees.

Gaza – Humanitarian crisis; political deadlock between Hamas and Fatah.

Peace Efforts – Ongoing mediation by Egypt, Qatar, US, and others.

🌍 12. Demographics and Identity

Palestinians:

Ethnically Arab, largely Muslim (Sunni), with Christian minorities.

Identify as a distinct people with national aspirations.

Over 14 million globally (about half in diaspora).

Israelis:

Diverse population: Jewish (from Ashkenazi, Sephardi, Mizrahi backgrounds), Arab citizens, Druze, others.

Israel is a Jewish state but also home to a significant Arab minority (about 20%).