# Israel-Palestine Conflict Explained: History, Two-State Solution, and Why Peace Seems Impossible

> The Israel-Palestine conflict has killed 30,000+ since 2000 — here's the history, what both sides want, and why a two-state solution remains elusive.

*Section: World — By Liam Chen (World Affairs Reporter) — Published July 12, 2026 — 8 min read*

Canonical URL: https://dailyjunction.org/world/israel-palestine-conflict-explained-2026
Tags: Israel, Palestine, Middle East conflict, Gaza, West Bank, two-state solution, Hamas, Israeli-Palestinian conflict

## Key takeaways

- The conflict stems from competing claims to the same land: Jews claim historical/religious ties (ancient Israel 1000 BCE), Palestinians claim continuous habitation for centuries
- Israel was created in 1948 after UN partition, leading to war and 700,000 Palestinian refugees (Nakba), with Israel controlling 78% of historic Palestine
- The West Bank and Gaza (22% of historic Palestine) have been occupied by Israel since 1967, with 700,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank making two-state solution harder
- Hamas controls Gaza (2 million people) and has fired 20,000+ rockets at Israel since 2001, while Israel has blockaded Gaza since 2007, creating humanitarian crisis
- The two-state solution (Israel and Palestine side-by-side) is supported by most countries but blocked by Israeli settlements, Hamas violence, and lack of political will

The **Israel-Palestine conflict** is one of the world's longest-running and most intractable conflicts, with roots going back over a century. It is a dispute over **land, identity, and sovereignty** between Israelis (mostly Jewish) and Palestinians (mostly Arab Muslims and Christians), both of whom claim the same territory. Since **2000**, the conflict has killed **over 30,000 people** (mostly Palestinians), displaced millions, and defied countless peace efforts. The **two-state solution** (Israel and Palestine side-by-side) is supported by most countries but remains elusive due to Israeli settlements, Hamas violence, and lack of political will. Here is everything you need to know about the Israel-Palestine conflict — the history, what both sides want, and why peace seems impossible.

## The Basics

### What is the conflict about?

The conflict is about **competing claims to the same land** — the territory between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, known historically as **Palestine** (to Arabs) and the **Land of Israel** (to Jews).

**Israelis** (mostly Jewish) claim:

- **Historical and religious ties** — Jews lived in the region from 1000 BCE until Roman expulsion in 70–135 CE, and the land is central to Jewish identity and religion
- **Right to self-determination** — After centuries of persecution (culminating in the Holocaust), Jews deserve a homeland
- **Security** — Israel is surrounded by hostile neighbours and faces existential threats (terrorism, war)

**Palestinians** (mostly Arab Muslims and Christians) claim:

- **Continuous habitation** — Arabs/Palestinians have lived in the region continuously since the 7th century CE
- **Right to self-determination** — Palestinians are a distinct people with their own identity, culture, and history, and deserve a state
- **Injustice** — Palestinians were displaced by Israel's creation in 1948 (the **Nakba**, or "catastrophe"), and they have the right to return

### The territory

**Historic Palestine** (pre-1948): The territory between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, including modern-day Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.

**Israel** (1948–present): 78% of historic Palestine, established in 1948 after UN partition and war.

**West Bank and Gaza** (1967–present): 22% of historic Palestine, occupied by Israel since 1967. Palestinians want these territories for a future state.

**Israeli settlements**: 700,000 Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank (illegal under international law), making a two-state solution harder.

## The History

### 1. Ottoman rule (1517–1917)

The region was part of the **Ottoman Empire** for 400 years. The population was mostly Arab (Muslim and Christian), with a small Jewish minority.

### 2. British Mandate (1917–1948)

After World War I, Britain took control of Palestine under a **League of Nations mandate**. Britain promised to support a **"Jewish national home"** (Balfour Declaration, 1917) while also promising to protect Arab rights.

Jewish immigration increased (fleeing persecution in Europe), and tensions between Jews and Arabs grew. Violence erupted in the 1920s–1940s.

### 3. UN Partition Plan (1947)

After World War II and the Holocaust, the **UN proposed partitioning Palestine** into a Jewish state (56% of the land) and an Arab state (44%), with Jerusalem under international control.

Jews accepted the plan. Arabs rejected it (they were 67% of the population but were allocated 44% of the land).

### 4. Israel's creation and the Nakba (1948)

On **14 May 1948**, Israel declared independence. The next day, five Arab armies (Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq) invaded. Israel won the war and expanded its territory to **78% of historic Palestine**.

**700,000 Palestinians** fled or were expelled (the **Nakba**, or "catastrophe"). They became refugees in neighbouring countries (Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, West Bank).

**750,000 Jews** from Arab countries fled or were expelled to Israel (often forgotten in the narrative).

### 5. The 1967 War (Six-Day War)

In **1967**, Israel fought Egypt, Jordan, and Syria and won in **six days**. Israel captured:

- **West Bank** (from Jordan)
- **Gaza** (from Egypt)
- **Golan Heights** (from Syria)
- **Sinai Peninsula** (from Egypt, later returned in 1982)

Israel has occupied the West Bank and Gaza since 1967 (57 years). The occupation is illegal under international law.

### 6. The First Intifada (1987–1993)

Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza launched a popular uprising (the **First Intifada**) against Israeli occupation, using protests, strikes, and stone-throwing. Israel responded with force, killing 1,000+ Palestinians.

The Intifada led to the **Oslo Accords** (1993), which created the **Palestinian Authority (PA)** to govern parts of the West Bank and Gaza, and promised a two-state solution within five years. The deadline passed, and no state was created.

### 7. The Second Intifada (2000–2005)

The **Second Intifada** was more violent, with Palestinian suicide bombings and Israeli military operations. **3,000 Palestinians** and **1,000 Israelis** were killed.

Israel built a **separation barrier** (wall/fence) in the West Bank, which reduced suicide bombings but also annexed Palestinian land.

### 8. Gaza disengagement (2005)

Israel withdrew all settlers and soldiers from Gaza in **2005**, ending the occupation. But Israel retained control of Gaza's borders, airspace, and coastline (a **blockade**).

### 9. Hamas takeover (2007)

In **2006**, **Hamas** (an Islamist militant group) won Palestinian elections. In **2007**, Hamas violently took control of Gaza from the Palestinian Authority.

Israel and Egypt imposed a **blockade** on Gaza (restricting movement of people and goods), which remains in place. Gaza is effectively an **open-air prison** with 2 million people.

### 10. Gaza wars (2008–2024)

Israel and Hamas have fought **five major wars** in Gaza:

- **2008–2009**: 1,400 Palestinians killed, 13 Israelis killed
- **2012**: 160 Palestinians killed, 6 Israelis killed
- **2014**: 2,200 Palestinians killed, 73 Israelis killed
- **2021**: 260 Palestinians killed, 13 Israelis killed
- **2023–2024**: 30,000+ Palestinians killed, 1,200+ Israelis killed (ongoing)

Hamas has fired **20,000+ rockets** at Israel since 2001. Israel has bombed Gaza repeatedly, destroying homes, schools, and hospitals.

## The Key Issues

### 1. Borders

**Palestinians want**: The West Bank and Gaza (22% of historic Palestine) for a Palestinian state, with borders based on the **1967 lines** (before Israel occupied the territories).

**Israel wants**: To keep major settlement blocs in the West Bank (10–15% of the territory) and annex the Jordan Valley (for security).

**Problem**: Israel has built **700,000 settlers** in the West Bank, making it difficult to create a contiguous Palestinian state.

### 2. Jerusalem

**Palestinians want**: East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state (including the **Al-Aqsa Mosque**, the third-holiest site in Islam).

**Israel wants**: All of Jerusalem as its capital (including the **Western Wall**, the holiest site in Judaism).

**Problem**: Both sides claim Jerusalem, and neither will compromise.

### 3. Refugees

**Palestinians want**: The **right of return** for 5 million Palestinian refugees (descendants of the 700,000 who fled in 1948) to their ancestral homes in Israel.

**Israel rejects this**: Allowing 5 million Palestinians to return would end Israel's Jewish majority and destroy Israel as a Jewish state.

**Problem**: This is the most intractable issue. Palestinians see the right of return as a fundamental right. Israel sees it as an existential threat.

### 4. Security

**Israel wants**: Security guarantees (demilitarised Palestinian state, Israeli control of borders, no Palestinian army).

**Palestinians want**: Full sovereignty (control of borders, airspace, no Israeli military presence).

**Problem**: Israel does not trust Palestinians to prevent terrorism. Palestinians do not trust Israel to end the occupation.

### 5. Settlements

**Israel has built 700,000 settlers** in the West Bank (illegal under international law). Settlements fragment Palestinian territory and make a two-state solution harder.

**Palestinians want**: All settlements dismantled.

**Israel wants**: To keep major settlement blocs (10–15% of the West Bank).

**Problem**: Dismantling settlements is politically impossible in Israel (settlers are a powerful lobby), but keeping them makes a Palestinian state unviable.

## The Two-State Solution

The **two-state solution** (Israel and Palestine side-by-side) is the international consensus, supported by:

- **The UN** (since 1947)
- **The USA** (officially, though support has wavered)
- **The EU**
- **The UK**
- **Most Arab countries**

**What it would look like**:

- **Israel**: 78% of historic Palestine (current borders)
- **Palestine**: West Bank and Gaza (22% of historic Palestine), with East Jerusalem as capital
- **Borders**: Based on 1967 lines, with land swaps (Israel keeps some settlements, Palestine gets equivalent land)
- **Refugees**: Compensation and resettlement (not return to Israel)
- **Security**: Demilitarised Palestinian state, international peacekeepers

**Why it has not happened**:

- **Israeli settlements**: 700,000 settlers in the West Bank make it politically and physically difficult to create a Palestinian state
- **Hamas**: Rejects Israel's existence and uses violence, making Israelis distrust peace
- **Lack of political will**: Israeli and Palestinian leaders prioritise staying in power over making peace
- **Extremists on both sides**: Oppose compromise and use violence to sabotage peace efforts

## The One-State Reality

Many analysts say the two-state solution is **dead** because Israeli settlements have made it impossible to create a viable Palestinian state. The reality is a **one-state** situation:

- **Israel controls all the territory** (Israel, West Bank, Gaza)
- **Palestinians lack sovereignty** (no state, no control of borders, no army)
- **Two separate legal systems**: Israelis have full rights, Palestinians in the West Bank have limited rights, Palestinians in Gaza are blockaded

Human rights groups (Amnesty, Human Rights Watch, B'Tselem) call this **apartheid** — a system of domination and oppression based on ethnicity.

Israel rejects this, saying the situation is temporary (pending a peace deal) and necessary for security.

## The UK's Position

The UK supports:

- **Two-state solution** (Israel and Palestine)
- **End to Israeli settlements** (illegal under international law)
- **End to Hamas violence**
- **Humanitarian aid to Gaza**

But the UK has limited influence, and its position is often seen as pro-Israel (the UK sells arms to Israel and has close intelligence ties).

## The Bottom Line

The conflict stems from competing claims to the same land: Jews claim historical/religious ties (ancient Israel 1000 BCE), Palestinians claim continuous habitation for centuries. Israel was created in 1948 after UN partition, leading to war and 700,000 Palestinian refugees (Nakba), with Israel controlling 78% of historic Palestine. The West Bank and Gaza (22% of historic Palestine) have been occupied by Israel since 1967, with 700,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank making two-state solution harder. Hamas controls Gaza (2 million people) and has fired 20,000+ rockets at Israel since 2001, while Israel has blockaded Gaza since 2007, creating humanitarian crisis. The two-state solution (Israel and Palestine side-by-side) is supported by most countries but blocked by Israeli settlements, Hamas violence, and lack of political will. The Israel-Palestine conflict is one of the world's most intractable, with no end in sight. Both sides have legitimate grievances, both have committed atrocities, and both are trapped in a cycle of violence and mistrust. Peace requires compromise, but extremists on both sides oppose it, and the international community has failed to force a solution. Until leaders on both sides prioritise peace over power, the conflict will continue, and more people will die.

## Frequently asked questions

### Who was there first, Jews or Palestinians?

Both have ancient ties to the land. Jews lived in the region from 1000 BCE until Roman expulsion in 70-135 CE, with small communities remaining. Arabs/Palestinians have lived there continuously since the 7th century CE. The question of 'who was there first' is used by both sides to justify claims, but it does not resolve the modern conflict — both peoples live there now and have legitimate claims.

### Is Israel an apartheid state?

Disputed. Human rights groups (Amnesty, Human Rights Watch, B'Tselem) say Israel practices apartheid in the occupied territories (West Bank, Gaza) through separate legal systems, movement restrictions, and settlement expansion. Israel rejects this, saying security measures are necessary to prevent terrorism. Within Israel proper, Arab citizens (20% of population) have equal legal rights but face discrimination.

### Can there ever be peace?

Possibly, but it requires compromise from both sides. A two-state solution (Israel and Palestine) is the most realistic option, but it requires Israel to dismantle settlements, Palestine to accept Israel's existence, and both sides to compromise on Jerusalem, refugees, and borders. Trust is low, extremists on both sides oppose compromise, and the international community has failed to force a solution.

## Sources

- [UN — Question of Palestine](https://www.un.org/unispal/)
- [BBC News — Israel-Palestine coverage](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/middle_east)
- [The Guardian — Israel-Palestine](https://www.theguardian.com/world/israel-and-the-palestinians)
- [UK Government — Middle East policy](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-development-office)

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