Palestine

The name Palestine is often associated with the Philistines, but it seems the Philistines were misidentified and possibly mislocated. I'm not certain most of the Palestinians are descendants of the Philistines. Most scholars quoting early works say the Philistines came from the Aegean around 1200-1175 BC. This is probably incorrect since Abimelech was a friend of Abraham and Abimelech was a Philistine. Also, they wouldn't have been in the land during the Exodus if arriving that late. It is possible the five cities with five Philistine kings in what is called Gaza were settled and built after Abraham, closer to the 1400 to1300 BC time frame. They may not have existed when Abimelech the main Philistine king and Abraham made their well covenant in Genesis 21.

Being a Philistine would cut you out of the land promise, since they weren't the children of Abraham physically. The best way to lose the land promise is to claim to be a Philistine.

Genesis 21 is key when understanding the Jewish/Palestinian conflict, since Genesis 21 represents a covenant where Abimelech seeds the land to Abraham based upon his prophetic relationship with God. In Genesis 15:18 God gives the land to the seed of Abraham, since the Philistines were not from Abraham, they were not part of the promise. They could believe and become the spiritual seed of Abraham. No Philistine against the land promise would be the spiritual seed of Abraham. No Muslim against the land promise would be the seed of Abraham spiritually.

Abraham started building wells in the area but Philistines destroyed them in unbelief. Since there were no wells originally there was no water to sustain a population of people, so the Philistines would have been fairly small and nomadic. There was no major population without water. So, Abraham approaches Abimelech the king and they make a covenant allowing Abraham and his seed the land. The covenant is by acknowledging God was with Abraham in all he did, including the wells and the land promise. The wells provided for a bigger population and the building of towns and cities. 

Genesis 21:22

and it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest

So a covenant is made, and wells were dug in respect of the land promise. The descendants of Abraham, such as the Ishmaelites or Israelites, would have to denounce Abraham to denounce the land covenant. Opposition isn't compatible with honoring Abraham. Since, God said he would curse those who curse thee, those denouncing the land promise are in essence cursed by God. 

That does not mean Israel has rights to the land if disobedient, or even God given rights today. The land promise was fulfilled in Joshua 24, it was conditional and involved accepting the prophet of Deut.18. Many people mis-understand this requirement. When God promised Abraham he knew some Israelites would be obedient.

Acts 3:22

For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. 

Acts 3:23

And it shall come to pass, [that] every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. 

Those rejecting Christ would lose their status as God's people. Some Israelites, a good number, accepted Christ. Those that did not were removed. It shouldn't lead to anti-semitism since it meant losing special status with God. The non-believing Jews would still retain the same rights as all other nations.

The Deut. 30 land promise involves keeping the law including this messianic promise in Deut. 18. Those allowed to return from Babylon looked forward to the promise of Deut 18. They werent secular Jews.

Jews and Muslims of the physical seed of Abraham must accept Jesus as Messiah to have any claim to the land. Muslims have to give up their religion. If accepting Jesus they would acknowledge the true tabernacle is in heaven, not Jerusalem and not Mecca. No one disavowing Jesus has a current land right from God, those Christians who might have God's blessing for the land wouldn't fight over the temple mount. It is truly historic but not necessary today. It was a shadow. We go to God through Christ, not a building.

Catholics may think the land belongs to them, but they aren't born again per John 3:3-5 and Galations 3:26-29. It requires baptism of obedience and faith. Infants don't do this. If anyone had a claim it would be a different denomination. Plus, most aren't the physical seed of Abraham. Perhaps based upon being the spiritual seed. Since Abimelech believed Abraham, he could constitute the seed of Abraham spiritually, but his peoples later dishonored Abraham. Most of the Philistines were not physical or spiritual seed.

Galatians 3:16

Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 

Jesus owns the land in reality.

Galatians 3:26

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 

Galatians 3:27

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 

Galatians 3:28

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 

Galatians 3:29

And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. 

So, Christians whether Jewish or other nation are the true heirs. Yet, not all Christian sects. It requires baptism of faith in Christ.

The heavenly Jerusalem should be our goal. Not a physical land promise. We can go to the Father in heaven without the land. We can go to heaven never touching the land. Abraham had the land promise but was a sojourner.

The Philistines may not have lived in the Gaza promise land during Abraham's day after the covenant, even if they moved about freely, they would make room for Abraham, they may have encroached into the area from 1500 to 1300 in unbelief, though Abraham built wells there. It could be Philistines encroached upon Israel to destroy the wells or the wells were on Philistine land at the time. It doesn't matter since Abimelech the king conceded Abraham's standing with God. The point is for those who stayed, Abraham didn't throw a fit if they stayed in the land, until God demanded it thru Joshua. Abraham didn't make the Philistines die over living there since they believed the promise originally. 

At the time of Genesis 15 only two peoples lived in the Gaza, Abraham's family and Philistines. Arabs as we know them did not live there. Arabs that moved in after 1917 to prevent Israel from living there don't have a right to the land legally or biblically. The idea of two states though politically shrewd, was never really legal or biblical.

 The Philistines seemed to melt into society and no longer existed as a people, and they never had a God given promise by nationality, their only hope of a claim is if they became the seed of Abraham spiritually and became Christian. Some have. So kicking out all Jews and all Palestinian Christians isn't all that Christian. Secular Jews and Muslims do not have a land promise without conversion. That doesn't mean they should be removed either. 

When Israel returned to the promise land from Egypt God brought them around the Philistines, it appears their land wasn't necessary for God's purpose right away, removing them wasn't immediately imperative. Some things can wait a while. God did say to Joshua the five cities of the Philistines were to be driven out. (Joshua 13) In its own time though.

God allowed the inhabitants to be driven out slowly and the Philistines lived there a long while after the covenant. The land promise was for all peoples spiritually, as Christ would be born in the land. God didn't hate the believing Philistines. He dealt with them kindly until they breached the covenant and fought against it. The same is true today of Arabs, God doesn't hate them even though they breach the covenant.

Exodus 23 says Israel's land would extend to the Philistine Sea. This could be the Mediterranian, Red, or Dead seas. Exodus doesn't give a clear picture but assumes the people knew where it was. The scriptures do not teach the Philistines would be driven out of the land immediately. The Caananites, Hittites, etc would be driven out.

 The Philistines were not allowed to enter and live in the land once removed.

The Philistines believing in Abraham didn't fight for the five cities. They left peacefully. It was their duty to support Abraham. Those refusing to support Abraham were cursed.

If we understand that all authority was given to Christ, in heaven and earth, the Father did give the land to an obedient Jewish person. Christ rules the land even if enemies refuse to honor the truth. It is Christ's to divide.

If you realize Islam has no promise right to the land. Consider they are bullying and exthorting their way into the land through a false connection. Its a lie. Probably just to get a state authorized military base to blackmail other countries. They are muscling in like organized crime.