History of the Crisis

1948

The creation of the state of Israel following the Holocaust was met with opposition from neighboring Arab countries who considered the land their own, resulting in the Arab-Israeli War. During the conflict, over 700,000 Palestinians were forced to flee or were expelled from their homes. The Nakba, meaning "catastrophe" in Arabic, refers to the displacement and suffering experienced by Palestinians during this time. Nakba Day is observed each year on May 15, marking the anniversary of the mass displacement of a majority of the Palestinian population and the loss of their homeland.

1967

The Six Day War was a result of months of escalating tension between Israel and Arab countries (Egypt, Jordan, and Syria) over borders and land. Israel's victory led to territorial expansions in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, and Golan Heights, reshaping the landscape of the Middle East.

The war resulted in the displacement of more than 300,000 Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Israeli territory, before and after Six Day War

The Right of Return

According to international law, refugees have the right to return to their country of origin after displacement at the earliest practicable date. The UN General Assembly formally established the right of return for Palestinian refugees displaced as a result of the Arab-Israeli war in its Resolution 194 on December 11, 1948.

Millions of Palestinians claim the right to return to homes that are now in present-day Israel. Israel and some Israeli's express concern that the return of Palestinians would undermine the state's demographic balance, making it a non-Jewish majority and, therefore, potentially losing its status as a Jewish state and save haven for Jewish people. Israel says Palestinians should be absorbed by other Arab countries.

The right to return remains a contentious issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and is one of the greatest obstacles in reaching a peace agreement.

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