The conflict between Israel and Palestine is not a new one; in 1948, the United Nations adopted the Partition Plan. This plan divided the British Mandate of Palestine into Arab and Jewish states. From the point of the creation of the State of Israel in 1948, conflict was sparked and the first Arab-Israeli War started. At the end of the war in 1949, 750,000 Palestinians were displaced and Israelis were victorious. The outcome of the war was that the territory was divided into three parts: the State of Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.

As the years went on, Israel experienced conflict with the countries of Syria, Egypt, Jordan, and the Sinai Peninsula. Finally, the Camp David Accords eased tension between Egypt and Israel; however, the Palestinians desire of self-determination and independence was still an issue. From the years 1979 to 1993 Palestinians rose up against the Israeli government. The Oslo I Accords and the Oslo II Accords were agreement that gave framework for a Palestinian government in the Gaza and West Bank, as well as removed Israel from 6 cities and 450 towns in the West Bank.

By 2000 the Palestinians sparked another conflict that lasted until 2005. This was known as the Second Intifada. Many years later, Israel and the Palestinians are still at war. During Donald J. Trump’s presidency, the US cut funding to the UN relief and Works Agency which helped Palestinian refugees. Trump also released the “Peace to Prosperity”’ plan in 2020 which called for support to future Israeli land growth in the West Bank and control over the land.

In recent events, Israeli courts rules that many Palestinian families living in the neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah were going to be evicted by May of 2021. The houses and land were to be given to Jewish Families. Palestinian families have tried to speak their voice by filing appeals to the court ruling, holding protests, and demanding the end to the displacement of the Palestinian families in Jerusalem. Protests broke out in Jerusalem and in May the court ruled in favor of the evictions. Israel police used force and violence against the protesters.

The tensions between protesters, the police, and Israeli settlers increased during the month of Ramadan. On May 10, the militant groups in Gaza and other Palestinian militant groups launched rockets into Israeli territory. Israel hit them back with even more force, killing many Palestinians. On May 21, Israel and Hamas declared a cease-fire, with more than two hundred fifty Palestinians dead and about thirteen Israelis dead. There is still a ton of damage done and more concerns that another conflict will break out among the groups.

Story by: Ethan Michel