Palestine was a small area of land in the Middle East. It was ruled by the Ottoman empire from 1517 to 1917. In 1881, there was the first large-scale migration of Jews in Palestine after they faced brutalities from all over the world. Jews believed that they needed their own country where they would be secure. Jews made their migration to Palestine as they considered Jerusalem (a part of the then Palestine) as one of their holiest places. At that time, the entire region including the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Jerusalem belonged to Palestine which was ruled by the Ottoman Empire and there was no Israel, West Bank or Gaza Strip and all religions including Christians, Muslims and Jews used to live together peacefully.
In 1915 during the First World War, Britain, France and Arab revolutionaries were fighting against the Ottoman Empire and hence the Britishers promised the Arab revolutionaries to give them the area of Palestine if they supported them in the war against the Ottoman empire. Similarly, they promised Jews to create another country for Jewish people near Palestine. After the First World War ended in 1918, Britishers took control of the entire area of Palestine until 1948.
In 1947, the United Nations proposed a partition plan with 55% of the area to Jewish people (Israel) and 45% to the Arab state (Palestine). However, Jerusalem was to stay under International control as it was an area of conflict for Israel and Palestine.
In 1948, Britishers flew from Palestine and Israel declared itself as an independent state. Israel considers Jerusalem as its eternal unified capital although this status is not recognised internationally.
Since 1967, Israeli people had started making their settlements and outposts across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in contravention of International law because some fanatic Israelis claimed the entire West Bank area as their area.
Israelis had established many permanent settlements in the West Bank and the Palestinians were living in bits and pieces in the West Bank. In 1994, when the Palestinian government was established for the first time, the entire area of the West Bank was agreed to be divided in three parts, one belonging to Palestine, the second belonging to Israel and the third belonging to both.
The Gaza Strip
Gaza is a 140 mile stretch of land located along the Mediterranean coast between Egypt and Israel. Gaza was in the control of Israel until 2005 when Hamas won elections and took control of it and Israel had to withdraw their troops. Earlier it was under the control of Israel when Israel captured it from Egypt in 1967. Before Israel became a nation, the majority of people dwelling in the region were Arabs who lived in what was then known as Palestine.
Today, Palestine includes some areas of the West Bank and the Gaza strip which is currently ruled by Hamas.
Arab people who call this territory as their home are known as Palestinians. More than 135 United Nation members excluding Israel and some other countries recognise Palestine as an independent state.
Hamas
Hamas is the largest Palestinian Islamist political group/ terrorist organisation which was created back in 1987 as a result of Palestinians uprising against Israel in the areas of West Bank and Gaza. Hamas took control of the Gaza strip in 2006 and Israel withdrew their troops. Hamas’s charter defines historic Palestine – including present-day Israel – as Islamic land and it rules out any permanent peace with the Jewish state.
Al-Aqsa-Mosque
Holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims, a 35 acres of land in Jerusalem’s Old City has been a focal point of inter-religious tension for decades.
The place is known as the Temple Mount (Har Habayit in Hebrew) to Jews and Haram-al-sharif to Muslims. It is the third holiest place in Islam after Mecca and Medina.
The Temple Mount refers to the elevated plaza above the Western Wall in Jerusalem that was the site of both of Judaism’s ancient temples. The Al-Aqsa-Mosque was built on the top of the temple mount.
Christians consider Jerusalem as their workplace as Jesus Christ preached here and spoke to his disciples and was also crucified here.
Jews consider Temple Mount as their holy place as Prophet Abraham demonstrated his devotion to God there by taking his son Issac to be sacrificed.
According to Quran in the year 621, Prophet Muhammad came to Jeruselam from Mecca and from here only, he ascented to heaven. After moving to heaven, Prophet Muhammad received orders from Allah about the principles of Islam. A few years later, Muslims built a mosque in Jerusalem and named it Al-Aqsa. Muslims considered this place as their holy place because Prophet Muhammad started Islam from there.
This place belonged to Jews in the very beginning, then it was captured by Muslims and then Christians. However, Muslims again regained control over it after some years and the holy place was administered by the Waqf (an Islamic trust).
In 1967, Israel captured East Jerusalem from Jordan and annexed its jurisdiction and administration which is considered an illegal act under International law. However, Israel did not make any changes in the administrative control of the temple mount.
Later in 1994, Israel and Jordan entered into a peace treaty, according to which an Islamic trust known as Waqf would be taking care of the Al-aqsa-mosque (as it is one of the holiest places for Muslims) under the guardianship of Jordan. The effect of this agreement was that the Jews were allowed to visit the place in the capacity of tourists but they couldn’t worship there. Tensions prevailed over both sides regarding the treaty, which had boiled over into violence.
At present, the site is under Israeli sovereignty but is administered by the Muslim Waqf.
Every year Israel celebrates Jerusalem day in the 2nd week of May to commemorate its capture of Jerusalem. This year it was celebrated on 9th May, 2021. This provoked Palestinians as they also want Jerusalem as their future capital.
On 10th May, 2021, the Israeli Supreme Court delivered a judgement, which added fuel to fire, directing seven Palestinian families to evict their houses in Al-aqsa-mosque’s neighbourhood in Jerusalem as this place belonged to Jews religious organisation before 1948. This judgement sparked even more protests by Palestinians across Israel as well as Jerusalem. People started protesting near Al-aqsa-mosque too. The Israeli police lathicharged the protestors. The police were also accused of preventing Muslims from worshipping there and that too during Ramadan. Thereafter, violent clashes erupted between the Palestinians protestors and the Israeli police.
Due to these series of events, the Palestinian political front Hamas suddenly attacked cities of Israel with rockets and Israel retaliated with anti-dome missiles.
More than 100 people have died as of now in this fight.
The issue of conflict here is completely religious but the question that arises is which religion preaches killing of innocent people and the answer is none.
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This article has been authored by Pranav. He is an advocate based in India and can be connected at Pranav J | LinkedIn . You may also whatsapp him at +91 9991189110 to give your feedback.
