Palestine: A Complete History of Struggle, Resistance, and the Path to Justice
The origins of the current conflict trace back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when Zionist ideology began promoting the idea of establishing a Jewish homeland in Palestine, largely disregarding the existing Palestinian population. The Zionist movement grew in Europe, driven by the desire for a safe haven in response to persecution; however, its implementation relied on the displacement of indigenous Palestinians from their land. This vision of a Jewish state in Palestine gained international momentum with British support.
In 1917, the Balfour Declaration formalized British endorsement of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine, despite the fact that over 90% of the population in the region was Arab. Britain’s colonial policy disregarded the rights and autonomy of the Palestinian people, leading to rising tensions and eventual uprisings against both British rule and the Zionist immigration encouraged by the British authorities.
Dispossession Begins: The Nakba and the Creation of Israel
The Nakba, or “catastrophe,” marks the 1948 displacement of approximately 750,000 Palestinians from their homes following the establishment of the state of Israel. When Britain withdrew in 1947, the United Nations passed a partition plan to divide the land between Jewish and Arab states. This plan allocated more than half of the territory to a Jewish minority, leading to immediate opposition from Palestinian and surrounding Arab communities. Armed conflict followed, and Israeli forces, often outnumbering local militias, took control of vast tracts of land.
During this time, hundreds of Palestinian villages were razed, families were driven from their homes, and refugees poured into neighboring countries. The Nakba was not an isolated incident; it was a systematic campaign involving massacres, forced expulsions, and demolitions that left Palestinian communities shattered and dispersed. Today, the descendants of these refugees number in the millions and remain displaced, unable to return to their ancestral lands.
The Occupation and Settler Expansion: Post-1967 and the West Bank
In 1967, the Six-Day War resulted in Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights. This occupation was never intended to be temporary. Israel’s policies have since focused on solidifying control through settlements, land seizures, and strategic checkpoints that fragment Palestinian communities and isolate them economically and socially.
The settlements, which violate international law, serve to further dispossess Palestinians. These areas are heavily fortified and encroach on Palestinian land, reducing available space and resources for Palestinian communities. Today, the West Bank is carved up by settlements, Israeli-only roads, and military checkpoints, severely restricting Palestinians’ freedom of movement. Water resources, agricultural lands, and economic zones are frequently allocated to settlers, while Palestinians struggle with limited access and frequent demolitions of their homes and infrastructure.
Daily Life Under Occupation: Checkpoints, ID Cards, and Home Demolitions
The conditions Palestinians face in their daily lives under occupation are dehumanizing. Military checkpoints control movement, making it nearly impossible for Palestinians to travel within their own land, access healthcare, or attend schools without interference. Children and the elderly alike endure hours of waiting, harassment, and searches. A simple journey that should take minutes can stretch for hours due to arbitrary roadblocks and security checks.
Palestinians are also forced to carry ID cards that dictate where they can live, work, and travel, creating a system that isolates families and hinders social cohesion. In East Jerusalem and the West Bank, Palestinians frequently receive demolition orders for their homes, often with little warning or opportunity for appeal. These demolitions are part of a strategy to reduce the Palestinian population in strategically significant areas, further diminishing their claim to their homeland.
Gaza: The Blockade and Humanitarian Crisis
The Gaza Strip, home to over two million Palestinians, has been under a strict blockade since 2007, when Hamas took control following an electoral victory. The blockade has transformed Gaza into one of the most densely populated areas in the world, with limited access to clean water, electricity, and medical supplies. The economic isolation has devastated livelihoods, with unemployment rates soaring and over 80% of the population relying on humanitarian aid for survival.
Periodic military assaults on Gaza exacerbate the crisis. Israeli airstrikes have targeted residential buildings, schools, hospitals, and UN-designated safe zones, resulting in high civilian casualties. These operations, often justified under the guise of targeting militants, have caused the deaths of thousands of civilians, including women and children, and left entire neighborhoods in ruins. The ongoing blockade and periodic assaults have led to a mental health crisis among Gaza’s children, many of whom have grown up knowing only violence and deprivation.
Hamas and Hezbollah: Origins and Roles
The emergence of groups like Hamas and Hezbollah must be understood in the context of decades of occupation, displacement, and violence. Hamas, founded in the late 1980s during the First Intifada (uprising), originated as a response to Israel’s occupation and the perceived ineffectiveness of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in securing Palestinian rights. While Hamas’s tactics have been controversial, it remains rooted in the Palestinian struggle for self-determination.
Similarly, Hezbollah formed in Lebanon in response to Israeli invasions and occupation of southern Lebanon, aiming to resist Israeli military presence and defend Lebanese sovereignty. Both groups have gained support among Palestinians and Lebanese as symbols of resistance, though their strategies and impacts remain divisive among Palestinians and the broader international community. Their rise highlights the desperation and resilience of communities seeking autonomy and justice.
Systemic Brutalization and the Dehumanization of Palestinians
Israeli policies toward Palestinians have long aimed to fracture, control, and subdue the population. The Israeli government employs tactics such as administrative detention, where Palestinians, including minors, are held without trial or charges. Torture and solitary confinement have been documented by human rights organizations, and Palestinian prisoners face inhumane treatment, often for crimes as simple as participating in protests.
Children face particular trauma under occupation. Many Palestinian children are detained by Israeli forces, often in pre-dawn raids, subjected to interrogations without legal representation, and held in military detention facilities where they experience abuse. The impact on these young lives is profound, creating cycles of trauma that affect entire generations.
Global Ignorance and the Role of International Funding
International support, particularly from the United States, plays a crucial role in sustaining the occupation. U.S. aid, primarily in the form of military assistance, enables Israel to maintain its policies of aggression, settlement expansion, and occupation. This funding not only fuels the military apparatus but also emboldens Israel to continue its actions without fear of accountability. Countries that support Israel, either directly or through diplomatic shielding in bodies like the United Nations, bear a responsibility for the consequences of this ongoing occupation.
Why Justice for Palestinians Matters
Palestinians deserve recognition, justice, and a return to their land not only because of historical grievances but also as a matter of basic human rights. The systematic deprivation of rights—freedom of movement, security, healthcare, and self-determination—has created one of the most enduring humanitarian crises in modern history. The conflict is not merely a "dispute" between two equal sides; it is a stark imbalance of power where one side is deprived of autonomy, dignity, and peace.
The Palestinian cause is one of resilience, survival, and the quest for justice in the face of immense adversity. As more people worldwide become aware of the reality on the ground, there is growing solidarity with Palestinians’ right to freedom, security, and a homeland where they can live without fear, oppression, or displacement.
Sources
UNRWA - United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. "Overview of the Palestine Refugee Situation." UNRWA.org.
Human Rights Watch - "A Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution." HRW.org.
B’Tselem - The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories. "This is Apartheid." Btselem.org.
Al Jazeera - "The Nakba Never Ended: Understanding Israel’s Ongoing Displacement of Palestinians." Aljazeera.com.
The Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU) - "Fast Facts: The Gaza Blockade and Its Impact on Palestinian Lives." IMEU.org.
UNICEF - "Children in the State of Palestine: The Impact of Violence and Conflict." Unicef.org.
Guttmacher Institute - "Health Systems and the Disproportionate Impact of Occupation on Palestinian Women’s Health." Guttmacher.org.
Amnesty International - "Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and Crime Against Humanity." Amnesty.org.
Middle East Research and Information Project (MERIP) - "Occupation and the Nakba: The Process of Displacement." Merip.org.
International Solidarity Movement - "On the Ground: Daily Life for Palestinians Under Occupation." ISM.org.
