The morning of 7th October 2023 marked the beginning of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. The operation consisted of coordinated attacks on several Israeli sites, both military and civilian. Hamas’ militant wing, Al-Qassam Brigades led the attacks. The retaliatory action that followed can only be described as a genocidal attack on the Palestinian populace of the area.
The recent events and the subsequent reaction to the Israeli hostage crisis have reignited global interest in a conflict that has been ongoing for the better part of the century. Many people forget that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is much older. The issue’s roots can be traced back to the First World War.
To comprehend the current crisis, we must go back in time. Understanding and resolving this contentious issue is only possible if we contextualize the conflict.
History of the Holy Land
There are many conflict zones in the world today. The history of conquering and taking control of a piece of land is as old as man. Yet, the occupied Palestinian territories hold a special place due to their religious significance. The region is sacred to Muslims, Christians, and Jews. And this is at the heart of the problem since each side claims that the land rightfully belongs to them.
In Islam, Jerusalem holds great importance as it is the birthplace of many of the Prophets (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ). It is also where Masjid al-Aqsa is located, which is among the holiest places in Islam. The mosque was the first qibla of the Muslims and is mentioned in the Holy Quran in the following words:
“GLORY TO HIM who took His votary to a wide and open land from the Sacred Mosque (at Makkah) to the distant Mosque whose precincts We have blessed, that We may show him some of Our signs. Verily He is all-hearing and all-seeing.” [17:1]
The ‘distant Mosque’ verse above refers to the Al-Aqsa Mosque. It is where Allah (SWT) took the Holy Prophet (SAWW) during the night journey or Miraj. You can visit this blog to learn more about the significance of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Islam.
Aside from Muslims, Christians also hold reverence for Jerusalem. However, it is the Jews who claim that the area is their ‘Promised Land.’ This claim has been at the root of the issue that persists to this day. The chronology of events regarding the current conflict is as follows:
Rise of Zionism
The currently occupied Palestinian territories were under Ottoman rule at the turn of the century. Previously the region had been controlled by the Babylonians, Persians, Romans, and Arabs. The Babylonian and Roman conquest also resulted in the forceful emigration of the Jewish populace from the area.
By the time the Ottomans came to power in the region, it was a predominantly Muslim region with a small Jewish population. The Jewish diaspora existed in many other parts of the world but always as a minority.
Due to their minority status and distinct ethnoreligious identity, the Jews were frequently discriminated against. This led to the rise of the Zionist Movement headed by Theodore Herzl. Zionism is a political movement that stresses creating a separate and sovereign Jewish state.
The first Zionist Congress meeting convened in 1897, and here, the idea of a Jewish state was first envisioned and discussed.
Balfour Declaration
As Zionist ideology gained traction, many Jews in positions of power joined the cause to further the initiative. One of the major victories came in the form of the Balfour Declaration, which was essentially a letter written by Arthur Balfour, the British Foreign Secretary, to Lord Walter Rothschild in 1917.
In his letter, Balfour promised unbridled support for a Jewish homeland by the British. This was a huge step forward for the Zionists as they received assurances from a major superpower.
The British Mandate
The Ottoman Empire ended in 1918 when the First World War ended. The League of Nations gave the British and French control of the regions previously under the Ottomans’ control.
Palestine came under the British Mandate from 1920 to 1948. Under the mandate, the British assisted in mass immigration and settlement of Jews from all over the world. This greatly affected the demographics of the region. The Jewish settlers also established a paramilitary organization known as the Haganah.
Throughout this tumultuous period, tensions existed between the indigenous Arab population of the area and the migrants. This culminated in the Arab Revolt from 1936 to 1939. To pacify the Arabs, the British had to adopt a policy of limiting the forceful land acquisition by the settlers.
Still, nothing was done to stem the flow of Jewish migrants from Europe. The result was that between 1920 and 1947, the Jewish population grew to constitute 33% of the total population of Palestine.
Nakba-the Catastrophe
In 1947, the United Nations passed Resolution 181, which gave 55% of the land in the region to the Jewish population while giving Arabs 42% of the land. Finally, Jerusalem would be under international control to avoid any issues.
The Palestinians categorically rejected the resolution. The resolution not only meant that the Palestinians would lose a majority of their land and control of the sacred city of Jerusalem, but the resulting Palestinian state would be noncontiguous. It would have been impossible to sustain such a broken state.
The British Mandate was about to expire in May of 1948 and there was strong resistance against Resolution 181. This prompted the Haganah to take matters into its own hands. The Jewish paramilitary destroyed hundreds of Palestinian villages and killed thousands of Palestinians.
It is estimated that between 1947 and 1949,15,000 Palestinians were killed, and thousands more fled their native lands, never to return ever again. This was the Nakba or the catastrophe, and it marked the beginning of the brutality against the non-Jewish residents of the Occupied-Palestinian Territories.
Jewish settlers captured 78% of the land and drove the native population to live in the Gaza Strip, which was besieged on all sides, and the West Bank.
The Six-Day War
Initially, Gaza was under Egyptian control, while Jordan administered the West Bank. This all changed on 5th June 1967, when the Israeli state launched a surprise attack on its Arab neighbors. They captured the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, The Golan Heights, and the Sinai Peninsula in an incredible show of might.
The loss of the Arab nations solidified Israel’s position. This was a huge loss for the Palestinians as they were now at the mercy of their occupiers.
First Intifada
The first Palestinian uprising began in 1987 when four Palestinian workers were killed. The rebellion mainly consisted of young Palestinians throwing rocks at their occupiers. Armed rebels like the Muslim Brotherhood were also active during this time. Hamas also became active at this critical time.
Oslo Accords
The rebellion succeeded in bringing the issue of Palestine to the world stage. World leaders met to find a solution, which resulted in the Oslo Accords of 1993. The agreement gave control of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank to an interim Palestinian government, the Palestinian Authority.
It also stated that the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) would formally recognize Israel. The accords did result in a period of uncomfortable peace. Extremists on both sides were not happy with the terms of the agreement. Hamas started to gain popularity in the presence of a corrupt and incompetent PLO and Fatah Party.
Second Intifada
The Second Intifada began when the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque. This sparked outrage amongst the Muslim population, and clashes erupted all across the country. The Jewish settlers doubled down on the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands and subjected Palestinians to even more torturous punishment.
The Blockade
The ultimate punishment came in the form of besieging the Gaza Strip, trapping over 2.3 million people in an area of 365 km2. The blockade was inhumane and illegal. It effectively locked millions of Palestinians on a small area of land. Israel was able to impose an apartheid regime and drastically change the demographics of the region further.
Where We Stand Today
The existing situation does not seem positive, particularly for the Palestinians. Nearly 35,000 Palestinians have been martyred by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) since October 7th and there is an unwillingness to agree to a ceasefire by Israel.
The international response has been inadequate at best and criminal at worst, as many nations continue to do nothing. Instead, a lot of the countries are directly supporting Israel by providing them with financial and military assistance.
The plight of the Palestinians is too urgent to ignore. We have let down our Muslim brothers and sisters for far too long. They have suffered gravely for the past many years, and their suffering has only grown. Images of dead babies destroyed schools, and dismantled hospitals are far too painful and raw to ignore.
May Allah (SWT) give the Palestinians patience to bear this calamity and grant the Muslim ummah the strength to stand up against the aggressor.
Author Bio:
Rafia is a certified SEO expert and Islamic content writer based in Pakistan. She is passionate about educating and inspiring others through her writing, promoting a deeper understanding of Islamic principles.