According to the dictionary, the word ‘conflict’ is a known to be a serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one. As time has progressed, rather than reaching a denouement the conflict has continued to be a serious issue threatening the whole region. The conflict continues to rise, staying life threatening for the lives of many daily due to this disputation lasting over 100 years. Though the conflict is largely complex, the most commonly known two main reasons that are clear are: who gets what land and who controls it.
When addressing the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, it is crucial to consider the ideology at its core. This ideology behind the creation the state of Israel is Zionism, its influence extending heavily in Israel’s history. Zionism is defined by the oxford dictionary as “a movement for (originally) the re-establishment and (now) the development and protection of a Jewish nation in what is now Israel”). This claim to Israel is a religious one- Zionist ideology stating that the Jewish nation has ties with the land and should be able to return by right. Palestinian Arab ideologues also explain the claim to the land, asserting that the philistines had preceded the Jews and had higher claim the land due to antiquity in it. There is also a religious standpoint to this claim as it is a sacred Islamic land, part of the Muslim world with holy places in Jerusalem and Hebron.
The conflict largely consists of two key events: the 1948 war and the 1967 war. After the Balfour Declaration, which stated British support for “the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people”, there began deeply entrenched conflict. The Arabs and Muslims in the Ottoman rejected this idea as they believed the land was rightfully theirs. On May 14th, 1948, President Ben Gurion announces the establishment of the state of Israel- the first Jewish state. This event changed the political landscape of the
land. Though the establishment of the state offered a solution to the displacement of Jewish people in other countries and a homeland to Jewish people, the events around the creation changed the relationship with Palestinians who had previously been living on what was the British mandate of Palestine. The war that occurred in 1967 was also especially significant and it focuses on two main pieces of land, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.
This image depicts Israeli soldiers, who recaptured the Old City from the Jordanians during the Six Day War, triumphantly carry a confiscated portrait of Jordan's King Hussein. On the right are the old ramparts of the city, on the left is the wall of the Rockefeller Museum. East Jerusalem, Israel.
Though the Palestinian authority controls the west bank, where many Palestinians live in the West Bank – it is a highly policed area by the IDF since 1967, with strict enforced laws. Similarly, many Palestinians that also live in the Gaza strip are now under Israeli blockade, meaning that the Israelis have sealed the place off to prevent goods from entering and leaving. This is particularly an issue because the blockade means that Palestinian people cannot access healthcare or clean water.
In 2021, the scheme ‘Free Palestine’ was formed where millions of people all over the world raised awareness about the harsh treatment that the Palestinians were enduring. Amongst many, there were even celebrities, that have consistently partnered with Israeli brands, that have decided to be in favour of Palestine. These celebrities include Gigi and Bella Hadid, and Dua Lipa. Yet, on the other hand, some celebrities have decided to stay neutral such as Nas Daily, a YouTuber/vlogger amassing millions of followers, which caused an uproar amongst many. As of the present, Palestinians are still suffering, and the question is: was this a social media reel or did we really help to raise awareness?