Six months after a deadly Hamas attack on Israel, the ongoing conflict has led to a high death toll among Gazans, hunger in the strip, and Israeli hostages being held captive. There are no apparent winners, with Hamas possibly facing decimation and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu under pressure. The conflict has also sparked a surge in global antisemitism, causing anxiety in Europe and concerns among American Jews about safety. Anti-Muslim bigotry has also risen as a result of the strife.
A survey commissioned by the American Jewish Committee found that nearly half of U.S. Jewish respondents say they have changed their behavior due to fear of antisemitism. The survey also revealed that large majorities of American Jews and non-Jews think antisemitism in the U.S. is a serious problem. Additionally, the study found that American Jews feel uncertain about their place in American society, with many stating that the status of Jews in the U.S. is less secure compared to one year ago. The rise in antisemitism is attributed to the Israel-Hamas war and its aftermath.
The Gaza–Israel conflict is a localized part of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict beginning in 1948, when 200,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homes, settling in the Gaza Strip as refugees. Since then, Israel has fought 15 wars against the Gaza Strip. The number of Gazans killed in the most recent 2023 war — 27,000 — is higher than the death toll of all other wars of the Arab-Israeli conflict.Israel fought four wars against the Egyptian-administered Gaza Strip: 1948 Palestine War, border attacks of 1949–1956, first occupation of Gaza during the Suez Crisis and the capture of Gaza in 1967. During the first occupation, 1% of Gaza Strip's population was either killed, tortured or imprisoned by Israel. Following two periods of low-level insurgencies, a major conflict between Israelis and Palestinians erupted in the First Intifada (523 Gazans killed). The 1993 Oslo Accords brought a period of calm. But, in 2000 the Second Intifada erupted. Towards the end of the Second Intifada, Israel disengaged from Gaza in 2005, Hamas won the 2006 election and seized control of Gaza in 2007.In 2007, Israel imposed a land, air and sea blockade of the Gaza Strip, turning it into an "open-air prison". The blockade was widely condemned as a form of collective punishment, while Israel defended it as necessary to stop Palestinian rocket attacks. Hamas considered it a declaration of war. A 2008–2009 Israeli invasion of Gaza resulted in more than 1,000 deaths and widespread destruction of homes, schools and hospitals. A 2012 Israeli operation also killed more than 100 people.In 2014, Israel invaded Gaza in a major war that resulted in the deaths of 73 Israelis (mostly soldiers) and 2,251 Palestinians (mostly civilians). The invasion resulted in "unprecedented" destruction, damaging 25% of homes in Gaza city and 70% of homes in Beit Hanoun. After 2014, notable events in the conflict included the "Great March of Return" (2018-2019) and clashes in November 2018, May 2019 and November 2019. The 2021 crisis saw 256 Palestinians and 15 Israelis killed.On October 7, 2023, Palestinian militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people (mostly civilians). Israel responded with bombing Gaza Strip and launching an invasion that has killed more than 29,000 Gazans as of February 2024.
The Fatah–Hamas conflict (Arabic: النزاع بين فتح وحماس, romanized: an-Nizāʿ bayna Fataḥ wa-Ḥamās) is an ongoing political and strategic conflict between Fatah and Hamas, the two main Palestinian political parties in the Palestinian territories, leading to the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip in June 2007. The reconciliation process and unification of Hamas and Fatah administrations remains unfinalized and the situation is deemed a frozen conflict.The Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizens' Rights has found that over 600 Palestinians were killed in the fighting from January 2006 to May 2007. Dozens more were killed or executed in the following years as part of the conflict.
An armed conflict between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups has been taking place chiefly in and around the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel from the Gaza Strip. After clearing Hamas militants from its territory, the Israeli military embarked on an extensive aerial bombardment of the Gaza Strip followed by a large-scale ground invasion beginning on 27 October. Clashes have also occurred in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and with Hezbollah along the Israel–Lebanon border. The hostilities constitute the fifth war of the Gaza–Israel conflict since 2008 and are part of the broader Israeli–Palestinian conflict. They are considered to be the most significant military escalation in the region since the Yom Kippur War 50 years earlier.The Hamas offensive involved 3,000 militants breaching the Gaza–Israel barrier and attacking Israeli communities and military bases. During this attack, 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed, while 253 Israelis and foreigners were taken captive to the Gaza Strip. The attack was proclaimed as a response to the continued Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, the prospect of Arab–Israeli normalization, and the plight of Palestinian refugees and prisoners. In response, Israel declared a state of war, tightened its existing blockade of Gaza and launched one of the most severe bombing campaigns in history, before commencing the ground invasion on 27 October. Israeli forces laid siege to Gaza City on 2 November and moved south to attack Khan Yunis a month later on 3 December; both sieges remain ongoing. Israel's next objective is the capture of Rafah. An estimated 6,000-12,000 militants have been killed during the conflict, and Israel has lost over 200 soldiers during its invasion. A United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian pause passed on 15 November; the seven-day truce took effect at the end of that month.A humanitarian crisis has developed in the Gaza Strip, with healthcare in a state of collapse, shortages of food, clean water, medicine and fuel due to the blockade, electricity and communications blackouts, and potential famine conditions. More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza during the conflict, including over 12,300 children and 8,400 women. Nearly all of Gaza's 2.3 million population have been internally displaced. The widespread civilian deaths have led to accusations of war crimes against both Israel and Hamas. In February 2024 576,000 people were "facing catastrophic levels of deprivation and starvation", stated The United Nations. More than 100 Palestinians were killed by Israeli troops that opened fire when huge crowds raced to pull goods off an aid convoy.The war has had significant international repercussions. Popular protests that primarily call for a ceasefire have occurred across the world. Israel's actions have been denounced by the Islamic world and much of the Global South; South Africa launched an International Court of Justice case alleging that Israel committed genocide. Israel has however received significant support from its traditional Western allies, especially the United States, which vetoed multiple UN Security Council resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire. In response, Iran-backed militias have attacked American military bases in the Middle East, while the Yemeni Houthi movement attacked commercial ships they alleged were linked to Israel, incurring a military response from a number of countries.
Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh expressed openness to continued negotiations with Israel, stating that Israel is responsible for the lack of agreement for a Ramadan truce. Hamas seeks a ceasefire, Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza, the return of displaced Gazans, and increased humanitarian aid access. Israel rejects full troop withdrawal and Prime Minister Netanyahu vows to continue campaign against Hamas. Mediators attempted to secure a truce before Ramadan, but Hamas insists on Israeli commitments. The war in Gaza began after Hamas's October 7 attack, leading to about 1,160 casualties, mostly civilians.
The Israel–Hamas war began on 7 October 2023 when Hamas launched an unprecedented multi-faceted and sustained assault on Israel from the Gaza Strip.As of 29 February 2024, over 30,000 people (29,782 Palestinian and 1,410 Israeli) have been killed in the Israel–Hamas war, including 88 journalists (83 Palestinian, 2 Israeli and 3 Lebanese) and over 136 UNRWA aid workers.On 7 October 2023, 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals, including 764 civilians, were killed, and 248 persons taken hostage during the initial attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip. Since then, over 29,782 Palestinians (the majority of whom were women and minors) in the Gaza Strip have been killed according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The Gaza Health Ministry does not distinguish between combatant and civilian casualties in its reports. The IDF estimated 12,000 Hamas combatants were killed as of 19 February 2024. A further 382 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank by Israel military and settlers. Casualties have also occurred in other parts of Israel, as well as in southern Lebanon, and Syria. Some developments may become known or understood only in retrospect, so this is not an exhaustive list. Events on the ground for which the precise time is known are in Israel Summer Time (UTC+3) until October 29 when Israel Standard Time (UTC+2) resumed.
Former President Donald Trump stated in an interview that Israel needs to swiftly finish its conflict with Hamas to achieve victory and regain support, criticizing the prolonged duration and negative impact on public perception. Trump emphasized the importance of ending the conflict promptly to restore normalcy and peace, highlighting concerns about Israel's public relations strategy. He also criticized the release of tapes showing buildings being destroyed, attributing Israel's loss in the public relations war to such actions. Trump's remarks come amid ongoing tensions and criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Hamas, an acronym of its official name, Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya (Arabic: حركة المقاومة الإسلامية, romanized: Ḥarakat al-Muqāwamah al-ʾIslāmiyyah, lit. 'Islamic Resistance Movement'), is a Palestinian Sunni Islamist political and military movement governing parts of the occupied Gaza Strip.Hamas was founded by Palestinian imam and activist Ahmed Yassin in 1987, after the outbreak of the First Intifada against the Israeli occupation. It emerged from his 1973 Mujama al-Islamiya Islamic charity affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. In 2006, Hamas won the Palestinian legislative election by campaigning on Palestinian armed resistance against the Israeli occupation, thus securing a majority in the Palestinian Legislative Council. In 2007, Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip from rival Palestinian faction Fatah, which it has governed since separately from the Palestinian National Authority. This was followed by an Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip with Egyptian support, and multiple wars with Israel, including in 2008–09, 2012, 2014, and 2021. The ongoing 2023 war began after Hamas launched an attack, killing both civilians and soldiers, and taking hostages back to Gaza. The attack has been described as the biggest military setback for Israel since the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, which Israel has responded to in an ongoing ground invasion of Gaza.Hamas promotes Palestinian nationalism in an Islamic context. While initially seeking a state in all of Mandatory Palestine, Hamas began acquiescing to 1967 borders in the agreements it signed with Fatah in 2005, 2006 and 2007 In 2017, Hamas released a new charter that supported a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders without recognizing Israel. Hamas's repeated offers of a truce (for a period of 10–100 years) based on the 1967 borders are seen by many as consistent with a two-state solution, while others say that Hamas retains the long-term objective of establishing one state in former Mandatory Palestine. The 1988 Hamas charter was widely described as antisemitic. The revised 2017 Hamas Charter stated that Hamas's struggle was with Zionists, not Jews. Hamas is widely popular in Palestinian society largely due to its anti-Israeli stance.Hamas has carried out attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians, including suicide bombings and indiscriminate rocket attacks. These actions have led human rights groups to accuse it of war crimes, and Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, Paraguay, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union to designate Hamas as a terrorist organization. In 2018, a motion at the United Nations to condemn Hamas was rejected.
Mirna Alsharif More than 2% of children in Gaza, almost 26,000, have been killed or injured by Israel in the last six months, according to Save the Children. "Children in Gaza have been killed and maimed by Israeli forces at an unprecedented rate," the non-governmental organization said in a news release , this includes more than 13,800 killed in Gaza and 114 killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. "Israeli forces have also hit ambulances, medical aid convoys and access roads, decimating Gazas health system and undermining access to healthcare at the time when the 1.1 million children in Gaza need it most," the organization said. The education system is also under attack in Gaza, where there are over 620,000 registered students, but none have had formal education since Oct.
Hezbollah launched rockets at an Israeli base in northern Israel, followed by Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon. The conflict has resulted in casualties on both sides, with Israel targeting Hezbollah strongholds and Hezbollah responding with rocket attacks. The attacks, part of the ongoing Gaza war, have displaced civilians and raised concerns of a broader regional conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed the situation and emphasized continued action against Hezbollah. Hezbollah's deputy leader warned of further retaliation if Israel escalates the war. The UN temporarily halted food deliveries to northern Gaza amid the violence.
Israel announced measures to ease aid flows into Gaza, including authorizing its southern port of Ashdod to receive aid and opening the Erez crossing into the northern Gaza Strip. This move is seen as a significant shift in Israel's approach and comes after a tense call between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Biden-Netanyahu relationship is strained, with the US expressing difficulty in supporting Israel. These changes mark a potential turning point in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
As of 29 February 2024, over 30,000 people (29,782 Palestinian and 1,410 Israeli) have been killed in the Israel–Hamas war, including 88 journalists (83 Palestinian, 2 Israeli and 3 Lebanese) and over 136 UNRWA aid workers.On 7 October 2023, 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals, including 764 civilians, were killed, and 248 persons taken hostage during the initial attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip. Since then, over 29,782 Palestinians (the majority of whom were women and minors) in the Gaza Strip have been killed according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The Gaza Health Ministry does not distinguish between combatant and civilian casualties in its reports. The IDF estimated 12,000 Hamas combatants were killed as of 19 February 2024. A further 382 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank by Israel military and settlers. Casualties have also occurred in other parts of Israel, as well as in southern Lebanon, and Syria.
An Israeli inquiry revealed that Israeli troops mistakenly targeted aid workers in Gaza, leading to the deaths of seven workers from the World Central Kitchen. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) admitted to violating protocol and firing two officers over the incident. The IDF mistook aid workers for Hamas gunmen, sparking outrage from allies. The incident occurred as the IDF attempted to track down Hamas militants in Gaza, accusing Hamas of infiltrating civilian areas. The aid workers' vehicles were targeted despite not being identified as belonging to the charity, leading to the tragic deaths of workers from various nationalities.
The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is an ongoing military and political conflict in the Levant. Beginning in the mid-20th century, it is one of the world's longest-continuing conflicts. Key areas of the conflict include the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the status of Jerusalem, Israeli settlements, borders, security, water rights, Palestinian freedom of movement, and the Palestinian right of return.The conflict has its origins in the arrival of Jewish immigrants and settlers to Palestine in the late 19th and 20th centuries and the advent of the Zionist movement. The local Arab population opposed Zionism, primarily out of fear of territorial displacement and dispossession. The Zionist movement garnered the support of an imperial power in the 1917 Balfour Declaration issued by Britain, which promised to support the creation of a "Jewish homeland in Palestine". Following World War I, Mandatory Palestine was established, and tensions grew into open sectarian conflict between Jews and Arabs. In 1936, an Arab revolt erupted demanding independence, which the British suppressed.The 1947 United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine triggered the 1948 Palestine war, which saw the expulsion and flight of most Palestinian Arabs, the establishment of Israel on most of the Mandate's territory, and the control of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank by Egypt and Jordan, respectively. In the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel occupied the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (which became known as the Palestinian territories), which is now considered to be the longest military occupation in modern history, and has drawn international condemnation for violating the human rights of the Palestinians.The conflict has claimed many civilian casualties, mostly Palestinian, since its inception. Various attempts have been made to resolve the conflict as part of the Israeli–Palestinian peace process, alongside efforts to resolve the broader Arab–Israeli conflict. Progress towards a negotiated solution between the Israeli government and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was made with the Oslo Accords of 1993–1995. The majority of recent peace efforts have been centred around the two-state solution, which involves the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. Public support for a two-state solution, which formerly enjoyed support from both Israeli Jews and Palestinians, has dwindled in recent years. Official negotiations are mediated by the Quartet on the Middle East, which consists of the United Nations, the United States, Russia, and the European Union. The Arab League, which has proposed the Arab Peace Initiative, is another important actor, along with Egypt and Jordan. Since 2006, the Palestinian side has been split between Fatah dominating the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas that gained control of the Gaza Strip. Attempts to remedy this have been repeated and continuing. Since 2019, the Israeli side has also been experiencing political crisis. The latest round of peace negotiations began in July 2013 but were suspended in 2014. Since 2006, Hamas and Israel have fought five wars, the most recent of which began in 2023 and is ongoing as of March 2024.
The Gaza Strip ( ; Arabic: قِطَاعُ غَزَّةَ Qiṭāʿ Ġazzah [qɪˈtˤɑːʕ ˈɣaz.za]), or simply Gaza, is a polity and the smaller of the two Palestinian territories (the other being the West Bank). On the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, Gaza is bordered by Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the east and north.The territory came into being when it was controlled by Egypt during the 1948 Arab–Israeli war, and became a refuge for Palestinians who fled or were expelled during the 1948 Palestine war. Later, during the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel captured and occupied the Gaza Strip, initiating its decades-long military occupation of the Palestinian territories. The mid-1990s Oslo Accords established the Palestinian Authority (PA) as a limited governing authority, initially led by the secular party Fatah until that party's electoral defeat in 2006 to the Sunni Islamic Hamas. Hamas would then take over the governance of Gaza in a battle the next year, subsequently warring with Israel.In 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew its military forces from Gaza, dismantled its settlements, and implemented a temporary blockade of Gaza. The blockade became indefinite after the 2007 Hamas takeover, supported by Egypt through restrictions on its land border with Gaza. Despite the Israeli disengagement, the United Nations (UN), the International Committee of the Red Cross, and many human-rights organizations continue to consider Gaza to be held under Israeli military occupation, due to what they consider Israel's effective military control over the territory; Israel disputes that it occupies the territory. The land, sea, and air blockade prevents people and goods from freely entering or leaving the territory, leading to Gaza often being called an "open-air prison." The UN, as well as at least 19 human-rights organizations, have urged Israel to lift the blockade. Israel has justified its blockade on the strip with wanting to stop flow of arms, but Palestinians and rights groups say it amounts to collective punishment and exacerbates dire living conditions.The Gaza Strip is 41 kilometres (25 miles) long, from 6 to 12 km (3.7 to 7.5 mi) wide, and has a total area of 365 km2 (141 sq mi). With around 2 million Palestinians on approximately 365 km2 (141 sq mi) of land, Gaza has one of the world's highest population densities. More than 70% of Gaza's population are refugees or descendents of refugees, half of whom are under the age of 18. Sunni Muslims make up most of Gaza's population, with a Palestinian Christian minority. Gaza has an annual population growth rate of 1.99% (2023 est.), the 39th-highest in the world. Gaza's unemployment rate is among the highest in the world, with an overall unemployment rate of 46% and a youth unemployment rate of 70%. The population has one of the highest literacy rates in the world. Gaza has throughout the years been seen as a source of Palestinian nationalism and resistance.
Hamas presented a ceasefire proposal to mediators and the US, suggesting the release of Israeli hostages, including women, children, and elderly, in exchange for freedom for Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's office deemed the proposal's demands unrealistic. Egypt and Qatar are mediating to bridge the gap between Israel and Hamas as Gaza faces a humanitarian crisis. Egyptian President Sisi aims for a ceasefire, increased aid to Gaza, and relocation of displaced Palestinians within the enclave. Concerns arise over a potential Israeli assault on Rafah, where many displaced individuals are residing.
The White House expressed disappointment after Israel canceled a delegation's visit following the US abstention from a UN Security Council vote for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The US remains consistent in supporting a ceasefire and efforts to free hostages held by Hamas. Frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is evident as civilian casualties rise. President Biden's administration sponsored a UN resolution condemning restrictions on aid to Gaza and calls for an immediate ceasefire. Public sentiment in America shows nuanced views on the conflict, with younger demographics more critical of Israel's actions.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged Israel to halt plans for a major ground offensive in southern Gaza to address the escalating humanitarian crisis and protect Palestinian civilians. Tensions have risen between the US and Israel over differing approaches to the conflict with Hamas, with the Biden administration emphasizing the importance of civilian safety and seeking alternative strategies to address the threat. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's decision to cancel a high-level delegation visit in protest of a UN Security Council resolution has further strained relations. Discussions focus on finding solutions other than a ground invasion of Rafah.
Mediators are making progress on a deal for a weekslong cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, with plans to release hostages and prisoners. Israel is considering expanding its offensive to Rafah while negotiations include the release of up to 40 hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The proposed agreement involves a six-week pause in fighting with increased aid to Gaza. Pressure mounts on Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to reach a deal with Hamas amidst ongoing protests in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
The IDF fired lethal precision guided missiles into vehicles carrying aid workers, mistaking them for Hamas fighters based on unsound evidence, leading to the deaths of foreign aid workers and raising ethical questions in combat. The decision to launch airstrikes without proper information sharing and investigation reflects poorly on the military's standards. World Central Kitchen operated at night due to their good relationship with the Israeli military, highlighting the complexities of working in conflict zones. The incident sparked an international outcry, shedding light on similar uninvestigated cases involving Palestinian civilians.
The Arab–Israeli conflict is the phenomenon involving political tension, military conflicts, and other disputes between various Arab countries and Israel, which escalated during the 20th century. The roots of the Arab–Israeli conflict have been attributed to the support by Arab League member countries for the Palestinians, a fellow League member, in the ongoing Israeli–Palestinian conflict; this in turn has been attributed to the simultaneous rise of Zionism and Arab nationalism towards the end of the 19th century, though the two national movements had not clashed until the 1920s.Part of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict arose from the conflicting claims by these movements to the land that formed the British Mandatory Palestine, which was regarded by the Jewish people as their ancestral homeland, while at the same time it was regarded by the Pan-Arab movement as historically and currently belonging to the Arab Palestinians, and in the Pan-Islamic context, as Muslim lands. The sectarian conflict within the British Mandate territory between Palestinian Jews and Arabs escalated into a full-scale Palestinian civil war in 1947. Taking the side of the Palestinian Arabs, especially following the Israeli Declaration of Independence, the neighbouring Arab countries invaded the by-then former Mandate territory in May 1948, commencing the First Arab–Israeli War. Large-scale hostilities mostly ended with ceasefire agreements after the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Peace agreements were signed between Israel and Egypt in 1979, resulting in Israeli withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula and the abolition of the military governance system in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, in favor of Israeli Civil Administration and consequent unilateral annexation of the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem.The nature of the conflict has shifted over the years from the large-scale, regional Arab–Israeli conflict to a more local Israeli–Palestinian conflict, which peaked during the 1982 Lebanon War when Israel intervened in the Lebanese Civil War to oust the Palestinian Liberation Organization from Lebanon. With the decline of the 1987–1993 First Intifada, the interim Oslo Accords led to the creation of the Palestinian National Authority in 1994, within the context of the Israeli–Palestinian peace process. The same year, Israel and Jordan reached a peace accord. In 2002, the Arab League offered recognition of Israel by Arab countries as part of the resolution of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict in the Arab Peace Initiative. The initiative, which has been reconfirmed since, calls for normalizing relations between the Arab League and Israel, in exchange for a full withdrawal by Israel from the occupied territories (including East Jerusalem) and a "just settlement" of the Palestinian refugee problem based on UN Resolution 194. In the 1990s and early 2000s, a ceasefire had been largely maintained between Israel and Syria, while limited warfare continued in Lebanon against Iranian proxy militias. Despite the peace agreements with Egypt and Jordan, the interim peace accords with the Palestinian Authority and the generally existing ceasefire, until the mid-2010s the Arab League and Israel had remained at odds with each other over many issues. Among Arab belligerents in the conflict, Iraq and Syria are the only states who have reached no formal peace accord or treaty with Israel, with both supporting Iran.The Syrian civil war reshuffled the situation near Israel's northern border, putting the Syrian Arab Republic, Hezbollah and the Syrian opposition at odds with each other and complicating their relations with Israel, upon the emerging warfare with Iran. The conflict between Israel and Hamas-ruled Gaza, is also attributed to the Iran–Israel proxy conflict. By 2017, Israel and several Arab Sunni states led by Saudi Arabia formed a semi-official coalition to confront Iran. This move and the Israeli normalization with Gulf states was marked by some as the fading of the Arab–Israeli conflict.
The Biden administration is facing criticism over its approach towards Israel, with calls for Hamas to surrender amid ongoing conflict. The White House has engaged with intermediary countries like Qatar and Egypt to facilitate this, emphasizing the need for Hamas to lay down arms. President Biden and officials have reiterated the stance that the conflict could end if Hamas surrenders, highlighting the delicate balance the administration seeks to achieve in the Middle East. Despite pressure on Israel, the White House maintains efforts towards a Hamas surrender.
On 7 October 2023, the paramilitary wings of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, PRC, PFLP and DFLP launched a series of coordinated armed incursions into the Gaza envelope of neighboring Israel, the first invasion of Israeli home territory since the Arab-Israeli War of 1948. The attacks, on a Saturday, initiated the Israel–Hamas war, almost exactly 50 years after Operation Badr and the greater Yom Kippur War of 6 October 1973. Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups named the attacks Operation Al-Aqsa Flood (or Deluge; Arabic: عملية طوفان الأقصى, romanized: ʿamaliyyat ṭūfān al-ʾAqṣā, usually romanised as "Tufan Al-Aqsa" or "Toofan Al-Aqsa"), while in Israel they are referred to as Black Saturday (Hebrew: השבת השחורה) or the Simchat Torah Massacre (הטבח בשמחת תורה), and internationally as the 7 October attack.The attacks began in the early morning with a rocket barrage of at least 3,000 rockets launched against Israel and vehicle-transported and powered paraglider incursions into Israel. Hamas fighters breached the Gaza–Israel barrier, attacking military bases and massacring civilians in neighboring Israeli communities, including in Be'eri, Kfar Aza, and Nir Oz, and at the Nova music festival. The attacks resulted in 1,139 deaths—695 Israeli civilians (including 36 children), 71 foreign nationals, and 373 members of the security forces. Approximately 250 Israeli civilians and soldiers were taken as hostages to the Gaza Strip, including 30 children, with the stated goal to force Israel to release Palestinian prisoners. Numerous accounts of rape and sexual assault by Hamas fighters have been reported, which Hamas has denied.Hamas said its attack was in response to the continued Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, the blockade of the Gaza Strip, the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, rising Israeli settler violence, and recent escalations.At least 44 countries denounced the attack as terrorism, while some Arab and Muslim countries blamed Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories as the root cause of the attack. The day was labeled the bloodiest in Israel's history and the deadliest for Jews since the Holocaust.
American and Israeli officials are holding virtual talks to discuss expanding Israel's conflict against Hamas into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, a move opposed by the U.S. on humanitarian grounds. President Biden has urged Israel to refrain from a large-scale incursion into Rafah to safeguard civilians. The operation in Rafah exposes a deep rift between Israel and the U.S., with the latter calling for more humanitarian aid to Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu insists on entering Rafah to root out Hamas brigades.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) received 8,061 anti-Muslim bias reports in 2023, with nearly half coming after the Hamas attack on Israel in October. The report highlights that 15% of complaints were related to employment bias, 8.5% involved schools, and 7.5% included hate crimes. One tragic case mentioned was the stabbing death of 6-year-old Palestinian American Wadea Al-Fayoume near Chicago. The report, titled 'Fatal: The Resurgence of Anti-Muslim Hate,' reflects on the increase in Islamophobic incidents following a previous drop in 2022.
The Biden administration imposed sanctions on three extremist Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank for harassing and attacking Palestinians to pressure them to leave their land, leading to increased tension between the U.S. and Israel. The move comes amidst friction between President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu over previous sanctions on West Bank settlers. Israel plans to build 3,300 homes in the West Bank, and the impact of the sanctions remains unclear. Israeli banks have been cautious due to previous sanctions, which include travel bans for targeted individuals.
On 7 October 2023, as part of the Hamas-led attack on Israel at the beginning of the Israel–Hamas war, Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups abducted 253 people from Israel to the Gaza Strip, including children, women, and elderly people. In addition to hostages with only Israeli citizenship, almost half of the hostages are foreign nationals or have multiple citizenships. The precise ratio of soldiers and civilians among the captives is unknown. The captives are likely being held in different locations in the Gaza Strip.As of February 14, 2024, 112 hostages were returned alive to Israel, with 105 being released in a prisoner exchange deal, 4 were released by Hamas unilaterally and 3 hostages were rescued by the IDF. 11 bodies of hostages were repatriated to Israel, with 3 of the hostages killed by friendly fire from the IDF and the bodies of 8 hostages repatriated through military operations. 32 hostages were reportedly killed in Hamas captivity according to Israel. According to unconfirmed Israeli intelligence, at least 20 additional hostages may be deceased, with their bodies being held captive in Gaza. As of February 14, 2024, 134 hostages remain in captivity in the Gaza Strip, with 130 hostages abducted on October 7, 2023 and four hostages having been captured earlier.Hamas has offered to release all hostages in exchange for Israel releasing all Palestinian prisoners. By October 2023, Israel held 5,200 Palestinians (including 170 juveniles) in its prisons. Hamas stated its objective was to secure their release. Several countries have been involved in negotiations between Israel and Hamas, with Qatar taking the lead.On 22 November 2023, Israel and Hamas agreed to the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners and a four-day cease-fire in exchange for Hamas's release of approximately 50 of the hostages. The exchange involved hostages from the categories of women and children. As of 30 November 2023, the last day of the ceasefire, 105 civilian hostages had been released, which included 81 people from Israel, 23 Thais and one Filipino. On 12 February 2024, two Argentinian-Israeli civilians were rescued in Operation Golden Hand. As of January 2024, according to Israeli information, Hamas holds 108 hostages alive and 24 bodies.
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, also known as the First Arab–Israeli War, followed the civil war in Mandatory Palestine as the second and final stage of the 1948 Palestine war. It formally began following the end of the British Mandate for Palestine at midnight on 14 May 1948; the Israeli Declaration of Independence had been issued earlier that day, and a military coalition of Arab states entered the territory of Mandatory Palestine in the morning of 15 May.The day after the 29 November 1947 adoption of the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine – which planned to divide the territory into an Arab state, a Jewish state, and the Special International Regime encompassing the cities of Jerusalem and Bethlehem – a civil war began. There had been tension and conflict between Arabs, Jews, and the British since the 1917 Balfour Declaration and the 1920 creation of the British Mandate of Palestine. British policies dissatisfied both Arabs and Jews. Arab opposition developed into the 1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine, while the Jewish opposition developed into the 1944–1947 Jewish insurgency in Palestine.On 15 May 1948, the civil war transformed into a conflict between Israel and the Arab states following the Israeli Declaration of Independence the previous day. Egypt, Transjordan, Syria, and expeditionary forces from Iraq entered Palestine. The invading forces took control of the Arab areas and immediately attacked Israeli forces and several Jewish settlements. The 10 months of fighting took place mostly on the territory of the British Mandate and in the Sinai Peninsula and southern Lebanon, interrupted by several truce periods.As a result of the war, the State of Israel controlled the area that the UN had proposed for the Jewish state, as well as almost 60% of the area proposed for the Arab state, including the Jaffa, Lydda and Ramle area, Upper Galilee, some parts of the Negev and a wide strip along the Tel Aviv–Jerusalem road. Israel also took control of West Jerusalem, which was meant to be part of an international zone for Jerusalem and its environs. Transjordan took control of East Jerusalem and what became known as the West Bank, annexing it the following year. The territory which became the Gaza Strip was occupied by Egypt.Over 700,000 Palestinian Arabs fled or were expelled from their homes in the area that became Israel, marking the beginning of the Palestinian refugee problem, in what they refer to as the Nakba (Arabic for "the catastrophe"). A similar number of Jews moved to Israel during the three years following the war, including 260,000 from the surrounding Arab states.
President Biden reevaluated his approach towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's conduct of the war in Gaza after the deaths of seven World Central Kitchen workers prompted a shift. Secretary of State Antony Blinken outlined specific steps Biden wanted Israel to take, such as opening land crossings for aid deliveries. The U.S. policy on Gaza will depend on Israel's immediate actions. Consideration is being given to placing conditions on military aid to Israel.
US and Israeli officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security advisers, discussed concerns about a possible invasion of Rafah in Gaza during a virtual meeting. Israel agreed to consider US concerns and continue discussions, despite wanting to defeat Hamas in Rafah. Talks were initially delayed after Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu protested a UN Security Council resolution. Biden administration has faced backlash for arms transfers to Israel amid increasing criticism of civilian casualties in Gaza.
The Covenant of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Arabic: ميثاق حركة المقاومة الإسلامية حماس), referred to as the Hamas Covenant or Hamas Charter, was issued by Hamas (the Islamic Resistance Movement) on 18 August 1988 and outlines the organization's founding identity, positions, and aims. In 2017, Hamas unveiled a revised charter, without explicitly revoking the 1988 charter.The original Charter identified Hamas as the Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine and described its members to be god-fearing Muslims raising the banner of Jihad (armed struggle) in "the face of the oppressors." The charter defines the struggle to be against the Jews and calls for the eventual creation of an Islamic Palestinian state in all of former Mandatory Palestine, and the obliteration or dissolution of Israel. The charter has been criticized for it use of antisemitic language, which some commentators have characterized as incitement to genocide. Hamas's 2017 charter removed the antisemitic language and clarified Hamas's struggle was with Zionists, not Jews.Since choosing to run candidates for office in elections, Hamas has downplayed the role of its charter. In direct contradiction of the Charter, in 2008 Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh stated that Hamas would agree to accept a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, and to offer a long-term truce with Israel. In 2010, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal stated that the Charter is "a piece of history and no longer relevant, but cannot be changed for internal reasons". Meshaal also stated that Hamas was ending its association with the Muslim Brotherhood.Unlike the 1988 Charter, the 2017 charter accepted a Palestinian state within the borders that existed before 1967 and maintained Hamas's refusal to recognize the State of Israel, which it terms the "Zionist entity". The 2017 charter refers to an Israeli state within the pre-1967 borders as a transitional state while also advocating for the "liberation of all of Palestine". Views on the 2017 document varied. While some welcomed it as a sign of increased political maturity, an attempt to bridge the gap between moderates and hardliners within Hamas, and a potential step on the way to peace, many others, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, dismissed it as a merely cosmetic effort designed to make Hamas sound more palatable while changing nothing about Hamas' underlying aims and methods.
Families of American citizens kidnapped by Hamas in Israel condemn killings of civilians in Gaza but urge international community to focus on their loved ones still in captivity. They gathered in New York, expressing concern for hostages taken by Hamas half a year ago. Amid condemnation of Israeli military strike in Gaza, President Biden highlighted Gaza's humanitarian situation to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. Family members call attention to the forgotten captives amid ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza.
Turkish authorities have arrested two individuals for allegedly gathering and passing on information to the Israeli spy agency. The suspects gathered data on people and companies of interest to Israel. Dozens of individuals, including private detectives, have been detained in Turkey since January on suspicion of spying for Israel. Turkey and Israel had normalized ties in 2022 but tensions rose after the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Turkish President Erdogan warned of 'serious consequences' if Israel targeted Hamas officials on Turkish soil.
The United States abstained from vetoing the latest UN Security Council resolution aimed at a ceasefire in Gaza, breaking a streak of previous vetoes. This move is seen as a reflection of President Biden's growing frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's ongoing military campaign in Gaza. While Washington downplayed the resolution as non-binding, it has sparked a strong reaction from Netanyahu, emphasizing the strained relations. Advocates are questioning if the Biden administration will leverage its influence to pressure Israel to end abuses in Gaza, as arms transfers to Israel continue despite the shift in stance.
An investigation by Al Jazeera's Sanad verification agency revealed that Israeli drones deliberately targeted three vehicles carrying World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza, leading to the deaths of seven people. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) called the incident a grave accident, attributing it to mistaken identification of the vehicles as being overtaken by Hamas gunmen. As a result, two senior IDF officers were dismissed, with three commanders reprimanded, and potential criminal prosecution for those involved in the attack.
The IDF cell tracked vehicles and fired precision guided missiles, assuming everyone inside was Hamas fighters without evidence, leading to the deaths of aid workers. The failure to communicate details of the aid convoy within the command structure raised ethical concerns. The IDF's decision to launch airstrikes based on unsound evidence is questioned. The incident highlighted the importance of clear communication and ethical considerations in combat operations.
Israel is set to open new routes for humanitarian deliveries into Gaza, including the reopening of the Ashdod Port and access to the Erez Crossing. US President Joe Biden urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow more aid trucks into Gaza following the deaths of seven aid workers. The US National Security Council supports Israel's plan to increase aid flow into Gaza, emphasizing the importance of protecting civilians and aid workers. However, the timeline for opening these routes remains uncertain.
During the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, Israeli women and girls were reportedly raped, assaulted and mutilated by Hamas militants. Hamas is accused of having committing acts of gender-based violence, war crimes and crimes against humanity in keeping with the recognition of The International Criminal Court (ICC) that sexual violence is a war crime and a crime against humanity. Hamas has denied that its fighters committed rape and assault against women.It was reported that some released hostages' testimonies indicated that both female and male hostages had been subjected to sexual violence by their captors while being held by Hamas in Gaza.UN Women condemned the acts of rape by Hamas in early December 2023 and the International Criminal Court court is scheduled to initiate a specific probe into sexual violence.
Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan to the east, the Red Sea to the south, Egypt to the southwest, the Mediterranean Sea to the west, and the Palestinian territories – the West Bank along the east and the Gaza Strip along the southwest. Tel Aviv is the financial, economic, and technological center of the country, while its seat of government is in its proclaimed capital of Jerusalem, although Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem is unrecognized internationally.Israel is located in the Southern Levant, a region known historically as Canaan, Palestine, or the Holy Land. In antiquity, it was home to several Canaanite, Israelite and Jewish kingdoms, and is referred to as the Land of Israel in Jewish tradition. The region was ruled by powers such as the Assyrians, Babylonians, Achaemenids, Greeks, and Romans. During Roman rule, Jews became a minority in Palestine. The region later came under Byzantine and Arab rule. In the Middle Ages, it was part of the Islamic Caliphates, the Crusader Kingdom, and the Ottoman Empire. The late 19th century saw the rise of Zionism, a movement advocating for the establishment of a Jewish homeland. Under the British Mandate placed by the League of Nations after World War I, Jewish immigration to the region increased considerably leading to intercommunal conflict between Jews and the Arab majority. The 1947 UN partition plan triggered a civil war between these groups which would see the expulsion or fleeing of most Palestinians from Mandatory Palestine. The British terminated the Mandate on 14 May 1948, and Israel declared independence on the same day.On 15 May 1948, the armies of five neighboring Arab states invaded the area of the former Mandatory Palestine, starting the First Arab–Israeli War. An armistice in 1949 left Israel in control of more territory than the UN partition plan had called for; no new Arab state was created, as the rest of the former Mandate territory was divided between Egypt, which occupied the Gaza Strip, and Jordan, which annexed the West Bank. The 1967 Six-Day War ended with Israel occupying both the West Bank and Gaza alongside the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula and the Syrian Golan Heights. Israel has since effectively annexed both East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, and has established settlements across the occupied territories, actions which are deemed illegal under international law. Since the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Israel has signed peace treaties with Egypt, returning the Sinai Peninsula, and with Jordan, and more recently normalized relations with several Arab countries. However, efforts to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict have not succeeded. Israel's practices, in the longest military occupation in modern history, have drawn international condemnation for violating the human rights of the Palestinians.The country has a parliamentary system elected by proportional representation. The prime minister serves as head of government, and is elected by the Knesset, Israel's unicameral legislature. Israel has the highest Human Development Index of all countries in the Middle East and is one of the richest countries in the Middle East and Asia, and an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development member since 2010. It has the highest standards of living in the Middle East, and has been ranked as one of the most advanced and technological countries, with a population of nearly 10 million people, as of 2023. It has the world's 29th-largest economy by nominal GDP and 16th by nominal GDP per capita.
Egyptian authorities arrested 10 activists who accused the government of contributing to the siege of Gaza and called for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador. Egypt has condemned Israel's campaign in Gaza and has played a key role in ceasefire efforts. Public protests are largely banned in Egypt, with criticism of ties to Israel being sensitive. The activists were charged with spreading false information and joining a terror group, often linked to the banned Muslim Brotherhood. Protests against Egypt's cooperation with Israel and restrictions on aid to Gaza have led to arrests.
Israeli settlements, also called Israeli colonies, are the civilian communities built by Israel throughout the Israeli-occupied territories. They are populated by Israeli citizens, almost exclusively of Jewish identity or ethnicity, and were first established after Israel's victory in the Six-Day War of June 1967. The international community considers Israeli settlements to be illegal under international law, but Israel disputes this.Currently, Israeli settlements exist in the West Bank (incl. East Jerusalem), which is claimed by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the sovereign territory of the State of Palestine, and in the Golan Heights, which is internationally recognized as a part of the sovereign territory of Syria. Through the Jerusalem Law and the Golan Heights Law, Israel effectively annexed both territories, though the international community has rejected any change to their status as occupied territory. Although Israel's West Bank settlements have been built on territory administered under military rule rather than civil law, Israeli civil law is "pipelined" into the settlements, such that Israeli citizens living there are treated similarly to those living in Israel. Israel's regulated expansion of existing settlements and construction of new settlements across the West Bank has been condemned by the international community and criticized as an obstacle to the Israeli–Palestinian peace process. In Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (2004), the International Court of Justice found that Israel's settlements and the then-nascent Israeli West Bank barrier were both in violation of international law; part of the latter has been constructed within the West Bank instead of on Israel's side of the Green Line.As of January 2023, there are 144 Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including 12 in East Jerusalem; Israel administers the West Bank as the Judea and Samaria Area, which does not include East Jerusalem. In addition to the settlements, the West Bank is also hosting over 100 Israeli outposts, which are settlements that have not been authorized by the Israeli government. In total, over 450,000 Israeli settlers residing in the West Bank, excluding East Jerusalem, with an additional 220,000 Israeli settlers residing in East Jerusalem. Additionally, over 25,000 Israeli settlers live in Syria's Golan Heights. Between 1967 and 1982, there were 18 settlements established in the Israeli-occupied Sinai Peninsula of Egypt, though these were dismantled by Israel after the Egypt–Israel peace treaty of 1979. Additionally, as part of the Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip in 2005, Israel dismantled all 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip and four settlements in the West Bank.Per the Fourth Geneva Convention, the transfer by an occupying power of its civilian population into the territory it is occupying constitutes a war crime, although Israel disputes that this statute applies to the West Bank. On 20 December 2019, the International Criminal Court announced the opening of an investigation of war crimes in the Palestinian territories. The presence and ongoing expansion of existing settlements by Israel and the construction of outposts is frequently criticized as an obstacle to peace by the PLO, and by a number of third parties, such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the United Nations (UN), Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and the European Union. The UN has repeatedly upheld the view that Israel's construction of settlements in the occupied territories constitutes a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. For decades, the United States also designated Israeli settlements as illegal, but the Trump administration reversed this long-standing policy in November 2019, declaring that "the establishment of Israeli civilian settlements in the West Bank is not per se inconsistent with international law"; this new policy, in turn, was reversed to the original by the Biden administration in February 2024, once again classifying Israeli settlement expansion as "inconsistent with international law" and matching the official positions of the other three members of the Middle East Quartet.
The US is actively preparing for a potential attack by Iran targeting Israeli or American assets in the region, following an Israeli strike in Damascus that killed Iranian commanders. Senior US officials believe an attack by Iran is inevitable, with discussions on the matter between the US and Israeli governments. The Biden administration is concerned about the possibility of a direct strike on Israel by Iran, fearing it could escalate into a wider conflict in the Middle East. Recent drone attacks near US facilities in Syria have heightened tensions and caution in the region.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; Hebrew: צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל , lit. 'The Army for the Defense of Israel'), alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym Tzahal (צה״ל), is the national military of the State of Israel. It consists of three service branches: the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force, and the Israeli Navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security apparatus. The IDF is headed by the Chief of the General Staff, who is subordinate to the Israeli Defense Minister.On the orders of David Ben-Gurion, the IDF was formed on 26 May 1948 and began to operate as a conscript military, drawing its initial recruits from the already-existing paramilitaries of the Yishuv—namely Haganah, the Irgun, and Lehi. It was formed shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence, and has participated in every armed conflict involving Israel. In the wake of the 1979 Egypt–Israel peace treaty and the 1994 Israel–Jordan peace treaty, the IDF underwent a significant strategic realignment. Previously spread across various fronts—Lebanon and Syria in the north, Jordan and Iraq in the east, and Egypt in the south—the IDF redirected its focus towards southern Lebanon and its occupation of the Palestinian territories, the Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. In 2000, the IDF withdrew from Southern Lebanon and in 2005 from Gaza. Conflict between Israel and Islamist groups based in Gaza, notably Hamas, has continued since then. Moreover, notable Israeli–Syrian border incidents have occurred frequently since 2011, due to regional instability caused by the Syrian civil war.Since 1967, the IDF maintains a close security relationship with the United States, including in research and development cooperation, with joint efforts on the F-15I, the Tactical High-Energy Laser, and the Arrow defense systen, among others. The IDF is believed to have maintained an operational nuclear weapons capability since 1967, possibly possessing between 80 and 400 nuclear warheads.
The history of Israel covers an area of the Southern Levant also known as Canaan, Palestine or the Holy Land, which is the geographical location of the modern states of Israel and Palestine. From a prehistory as part of the critical Levantine corridor, which witnessed waves of early humans out of Africa, to the emergence of Natufian culture c. 10th millennium BCE, the region entered the Bronze Age c. 2,000 BCE with the development of Canaanite civilization, before being vassalized by Egypt in the Late Bronze Age. In the Iron Age, the kingdoms of Israel and Judah were established, entities that were central to the origins of the Jewish and Samaritan peoples as well as the Abrahamic faith tradition. This has given rise to Judaism, Samaritanism, Christianity, Islam, Druzism, Baha'ism, and a variety of other religious movements. Throughout the course of human history, the Land of Israel has come under the sway or control of various polities and, as a result, it has historically hosted a wide variety of ethnic groups.In the following centuries, the Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian Empires conquered the region. The Ptolemies and the Seleucids vied for control over the region during the Hellenistic period. However, with the establishment of the Hasmonean dynasty, the local Jewish population maintained independence for a century before being incorporated into the Roman Republic. As a result of the Jewish-Roman Wars in the 1st and 2nd centuries CE, many Jews were killed, displaced or sold into slavery. Following the advent of Christianity, which was adopted by the Greco-Roman world under the influence of the Roman Empire, the region's demographics shifted towards newfound Christians, who replaced Jews as the majority of the population by the 4th century. However, shortly after Islam was consolidated across the Arabian Peninsula under Muhammad, Byzantine Christian rule over the Land of Israel was superseded by the Arab conquest of the Levant in the 7th century. From the 11th century to the 13th century, the Land of Israel became the centre for intermittent religious wars between Christian and Muslim armies as part of the Crusades. In the 13th century, the Land of Israel became subject to the Mongol invasions and conquests, though these were locally routed by the Mamluk Sultanate, under whose rule it remained until the 16th century. The Mamluks were eventually defeated by the Ottoman Empire, and the region became an Ottoman province until the 20th century.The late 19th century saw the widespread consolidation of a Jewish nationalist movement known as Zionism, as part of which aliyah (Jewish return to the Land of Israel from the diaspora) increased. During World War I, the Sinai and Palestine campaign of the Allies led to the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire. Britain was granted control of the region by League of Nations mandate, in what became known as Mandatory Palestine. The British government publicly committed itself to the creation of a Jewish homeland. Arab nationalism opposed this design, asserting Arab rights over the former Ottoman territories and seeking to prevent Jewish migration. As a result, Arab–Jewish tensions grew in the succeeding decades of British administration.In 1948, the Israeli Declaration of Independence sparked the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, which resulted in the 1948 Palestinian expulsion and flight and subsequently led to waves of Jewish emigration from other parts of the Middle East. Today, approximately 43 percent of the global Jewish population resides in Israel. In 1979, the Egypt–Israel peace treaty was signed, based on the Camp David Accords. In 1993, Israel signed the Oslo I Accord with the Palestine Liberation Organization, which was followed by the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority. In 1994, the Israel–Jordan peace treaty was signed. Despite efforts to finalize the peace agreement, the conflict continues to play a major role in Israeli and international political, social, and economic life.
Seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen (WCK) were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, including three British nationals and individuals from Poland, Australia, the US, Canada, and a Palestinian driver. The workers were part of a convoy hit as they left a warehouse in Deir al Balah. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu acknowledged the airstrike, expressing regret for the unintended incident. Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron called the deaths unacceptable, prompting Israel to launch a review into the circumstances of the strike.
Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy has been suspended following an online dispute with UK foreign secretary Lord Cameron regarding aid into Gaza. The UK Foreign Office sought clarification on Levy's posts, questioning if they represented Israel's official stance. Levy, who previously worked in a defense ministry body overseeing Palestinian policies, immigrated from the UK to Israel in 2014. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu criticized English-language public diplomacy amid Levy's suspension. The UK and US have called for increased humanitarian access to Gaza amid concerns of an imminent famine.
In Pictures Tens of thousands of people across the world have staged rallies to mark Al-Quds Day (or simply, Quds Day), an international day expressing support for Palestine and opposition to the ongoing Israeli occupation. The annual day of solidarity falls on the last Friday of Ramadan. People gathered in Iran, Malaysia, Indonesia, Iraq and Lebanon, among many other countries. This year, demonstrations took on a special urgency as anger spilled over across the Muslim world because of Israels war on Gaza that has killed more than 33,000 Palestinians in six months. Tel Aviv has ignored calls for an immediate ceasefire.
The White House is investigating reports that the Israeli army has been using an AI system named 'Lavender' to identify alleged Hamas terrorists, potentially marking them as targets for air strikes. Israeli intelligence officers admitted to classifying 37,000 Palestinians as suspected militants with this AI assistance. President Biden reportedly threatened to condition US support based on Israeli protection of civilians and aid workers. Despite Israel denying Lavender's role, the AI misidentified targets 10% of the time. The AI was trained on decades-long surveillance data of Palestinian populations.
Joaquin Phoenix, Debra Winger, Chloe Fineman, and other Jewish Hollywood creatives signed a letter supporting Jonathan Glazer's controversial Oscars speech that critics interpreted as comparing Israel to Nazis and Hamas. The letter accuses critics of suppressing free speech in Hollywood and defends Glazer's remarks. In response, over 1,000 Jewish Hollywood creatives had previously condemned Glazer's speech for fueling anti-Jewish sentiments globally.
Israeli Jews or Jewish Israelis (Hebrew: יהודים ישראלים, romanized: Yehudim Yisre'elim) are Israeli citizens and nationals who are Jewish through either their Jewish ethnicity and/or their adherence to religious Judaism. The term also includes the descendants of Jewish Israelis who have emigrated and settled outside of the State of Israel, where they are predominantly found in the Western world. The overwhelming majority of Israeli Jews speak Hebrew, a Semitic language, as their native tongue.The Jewish population in Israel comprises all of the communities of the Jewish diaspora, including Ashkenazi Jews, Sephardic Jews, Mizrahi Jews, Beta Israel, Cochin Jews, Bene Israel, Karaite Jews, and many other groups. The Israeli Jewish community manifests a wide range of Jewish cultural traditions and encompasses the full spectrum of religious observance ranging from the Haredim, who practice a strict observance of Orthodox Judaism, through Conservative and Reform Judaism to the Hilonim, who maintain a secular Jewish lifestyle. Among Israel's Jewish population, over 25 percent of schoolchildren and over 35 percent of all newborns are of mixed Ashkenazi and Sephardic/Mizrahi descent, and these figures have been increasing by approximately 0.5 percent annually. Over 50 percent of the entire Israeli Jewish population is of at least partial Sephardic/Mizrahi descent.Despite the ongoing debate over the question of determining Jewish identity among Israeli Jews, the Jewish status of a person, which is considered a matter of nationality by the Israeli government, is registered and controlled by the Israeli Interior Ministry, which requires a person to meet the Halakhic definition to be registered as a Jew. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, the Israeli Jewish population stood at 7,181,000 people in 2023, comprising 73% percent of the total population of Israel (if the Arab populations in East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights are included).A 2008 study by the Israel Democracy Institute shows that a plurality of Israeli Jews (47 percent) identify as Jews first and as Israelis second, and that only 39 percent consider themselves to be Israelis first and foremost.Jews living in the Holy Land prior to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 were commonly referred to in English as "Palestinian Jews" (in reference to the Palestine region and its British Mandate) and in Hebrew as haYishuv haYehudi be'Eretz Yisra'el (lit. 'the Hebrew settlement/community in the Land of Israel'), in short Yishuv.
McDonald's is buying back its franchises in Israel from Alonyal Limited, the CEO and owner, after over 30 years of operation, encompassing 225 restaurants and 5,000 employees. The move follows a decline in sales due to tensions in the Middle East. The agreement ensures retaining employees and operations on equivalent terms. McDonald's president reaffirmed commitment to the Israeli market. The decision came after a boycott linked to the Israel-Hamas war, with Muslim-majority countries distancing themselves from McDonald's. The conflict significantly impacted the company's performance, especially in the Middle East and Malaysia.
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu ( NET-ən-YAH-hoo; Hebrew: בִּנְיָמִין נְתַנְיָהוּ, romanized: Binyāmīn Nētanyāhū, pronounced [binjaˈmin netanˈjahu] ; born 21 October 1949) is an Israeli politician who has been serving as the prime minister of Israel since 2022, having previously held the office from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2009 to 2021. He is the chairman of the Likud party. Netanyahu is the longest-serving prime minister in the country's history, having served for a total of over 16 years. He is also the first prime minister to have been born in Israel after its establishment.Born in Tel Aviv to secular Jewish parents, Netanyahu was raised in Jerusalem and in Philadelphia in the United States. He returned to Israel in 1967 to join the Israel Defense Forces. He became a team leader in the Sayeret Matkal special forces and took part in several missions, achieving the rank of captain before being honorably discharged. After graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Netanyahu became an economic consultant for the Boston Consulting Group. He moved back to Israel in 1978 to found the Yonatan Netanyahu Anti-Terror Institute. From 1984 to 1988, Netanyahu was Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations. Netanyahu rose to prominence after being elected as the chairman of Likud in 1993, becoming Leader of the Opposition. In the 1996 election, Netanyahu beat Shimon Peres, becoming the first Israeli prime minister elected directly by popular vote, and its youngest-ever. Netanyahu and Likud were heavily defeated in the 1999 election by Ehud Barak's One Israel alliance; and Netanyahu chose to retire from politics entirely, entering the private sector. Netanyahu later returned to politics, and served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Finance under Ariel Sharon. During the latter position, he initiated reforms of the Israeli economy that led to significant growth, before ultimately resigning over disagreements regarding the Gaza disengagement plan.Netanyahu returned to the leadership of Likud in December 2005 after Sharon stepped down to form a new party, Kadima. He was the leader of the opposition from 2006 to 2009. After the 2009 election, Netanyahu formed a coalition government with other right-wing parties and was sworn in as prime minister for a second time. He went on to lead Likud to victory in the 2013 and 2015 elections. A period of political deadlock ensued after three consecutive elections in 2019 and 2020 failed to produce a government, which was solved after a coalition rotation agreement was reached between Netanyahu and centrist Blue and White alliance's Benny Gantz. The coalition collapsed in December 2020, before the rotation could take place, and a new election was held in March 2021. In his penultimate government, Netanyahu led Israel's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis. In June 2021, after Naftali Bennett formed a government with Yair Lapid, Netanyahu was removed from the premiership, becoming opposition leader for the third time, before returning as prime minister again after forming a coalition with right-wing parties after the 2022 election. Netanyahu and his coalition partners pursued a wide-ranging judicial reform, which was met with a polarized reaction, with opponents holding mass protests across the country over the first nine months of 2023. On 7 October 2023, Israel suffered a large-scale attack by Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups, triggering the Israel–Hamas war. Due to the Israeli government's failure to anticipate the attack, Netanyahu has been heavily criticized by opponents for presiding over Israel's biggest intelligence failure in 50 years, and massive protests calling for his removal from office have been held.Netanyahu made his closeness to Donald Trump, a personal friend since the 1980s, central to his political appeal in Israel from 2016. During Trump's presidency, the United States recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and brokered the Abraham Accords, a series of normalization agreements between Israel and various Arab states. Netanyahu has faced international criticism over his decades-long policy as prime minister of expanding Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, deemed illegal under international law. In 2019, Netanyahu was indicted on charges of breach of trust, bribery, and fraud, following a three-year investigation, due to which he relinquished all his ministerial posts, except for the position of prime minister.
Poland is demanding compensation from Israel for the family of Damian Sobol, a Polish food aid worker killed in a Gaza airstrike along with six others. The Polish deputy foreign minister handed a diplomatic note to Israel's ambassador, requesting a transparent investigation and involving the district prosecutor's office in the inquiry. Israel expressed deep apologies and commitment to a thorough investigation after dismissing two officers and reprimanding three others involved in the drone strikes that killed the aid workers.
A three-ship convoy has departed from Cyprus to the Gaza Strip carrying nearly 400 tonnes of food and supplies to address the imminent famine in the besieged enclave amidst Israel's ongoing war. The aid includes ready-to-eat items, such as rice, pasta, flour, legumes, canned vegetables, proteins, and dates, traditionally eaten during Ramadan. The mission, supported by the United Arab Emirates and Cyprus, aims to assist Gazans facing hunger and displacement, with the US planning to build a floating pier for aid reception.
An Israeli investigation into the killing of seven aid workers found that incorrect assumptions, decision-making mistakes, and violations of engagement rules led to their deaths. The IDF admitted to a grave mistake due to mistaken identification, errors in decision-making, and an attack against Standard Operating Procedures. Three Britons, a Polish national, an Australian, a dual US-Canadian citizen, and a Palestinian driver were among those killed. The IDF released interim findings after pressure to explain the incident, dismissing two senior officers for rules of engagement violations.
Early general elections for both the Prime Minister and the Knesset were held in Israel on 17 May 1999 following a vote of no confidence in the government; the incumbent Likud Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ran for re-election.This election was only the second time in Israeli history an election had been held for the Prime Minister's post in addition to elections for the Knesset. The first such election, in 1996 had been an extremely tight contest between Likud's Benjamin Netanyahu on the right, and Labor's Shimon Peres on the left; the right had won by less than one percent (about 29,000 votes).Ehud Barak, promising peace talks and withdrawal from Lebanon by July 2000, won the election.
The Israeli military has dismissed two officers and reprimanded three others for a mistaken attack in central Gaza that killed seven aid workers, believing they were targeting Hamas fighters. The United States-based charity World Central Kitchen (WCK) called for an independent investigation and CEO Erin Gore emphasized the need for Israel to assure the safety of humanitarian aid workers. The Israeli military accepted responsibility for the incident, attributing it to a serious failure in identification, decision-making errors, and deviation from Standard Operating Procedures. US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, stressed the importance of prioritizing civilian protection to prevent such incidents in the future.
Islamophobia is the irrational and unjustified fear of, hatred of, or prejudice against the religion of Islam or Muslims in general, especially when seen as a geopolitical force or a source of terrorism.The scope and precise definition of the term Islamophobia is the subject of debate. Some scholars consider it to be a form of xenophobia or racism, some consider Islamophobia and racism to be closely related or partially overlapping phenomena, while others dispute any relationship, primarily on the grounds that religion is not a race. For some critics, Islamophobia is an expression that, by confusing hatred of Muslims with criticism of Islam, equates racism against Muslims with criticism of religious beliefs and practices, which is legitimate in a secular democracy. The causes of Islamophobia are also the subject of debate, most notably between commentators who have posited an increase in Islamophobia resulting from the September 11 attacks, the rise of the militant group Islamic State, other terror attacks in Europe and the United States by Islamic extremists, those who associated it with the increased presence of Muslims in the United States and in the European Union, and others who view it as a response to the emergence of a global Muslim identity.On 15 March 2022, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution by consensus which was introduced by Pakistan on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation that proclaimed March 15 as 'International Day to Combat Islamophobia'.
Jacob Flickinger, a US-Canadian aid worker with World Central Kitchen, was among seven aid workers killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza. His parents mentioned that Jacob, a new father, felt the need to help others despite hesitation. He was described as a passionate individual who served in the military and was driven by his work. The incident has sparked outrage among world leaders.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan likened questions about a report of President Biden's anger and swearing over poll numbers to a 'when did you stop beating your spouse' question. Sullivan refuted the report, stating he had never seen Biden react in such a manner. The report claimed Biden shouted and swore upon hearing about declining poll numbers in battleground states due to his handling of the Israel-Hamas war. Biden's interactions with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu were also discussed, with Sullivan explaining the gap in calls as part of normal diplomatic processes.
Scholars have studied and debated Muslim attitudes towards Jews, as well as the treatment of Jews in Islamic thought and societies throughout the history of Islam. Parts of the Islamic literary sources give mention to certain Jewish groups present in the past or present, which has led to debates. Some of this overlaps with Islamic remarks on non-Muslim religious groups in general.With the rise of Islam in Arabia in the 7th century CE and its subsequent spread during the early Muslim conquests, Jews, alongside many other peoples, became subject to the rule of Islamic polities. Their quality of life under Muslim rule varied considerably in different periods, as did the attitudes of the rulers, government officials, the clergy, and the general population towards Jews, ranging from tolerance to persecution.
https://www.theguardian.com/profile/jonathanfreedland
ABC News
Yahoo! News
https://apnews.com/author/julia-frankel
https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
Ivana Kottasová
NY Post
PANORA
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
PANORA
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
PANORA
Wikipedia