Cycle of Violence: Israel vs Palestine

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been characterized by periods of violent clashes, political tensions, and failed peace negotiations. Here’s a timeline of key events in the history of this conflict –

~1800 BCE: Biblical Patriarch Abraham settles in Canaan, later known as Land of Israel.
~1200-1000 BCE: Biblical Exodus and conquest of Canaan.
1000-970 BCE: Reign of King David, establishes Jerusalem as capital.
970-931 BCE: Reign of King Solomon, construction of First Temple.
722 BCE: Assyrians conquer northern Kingdom of Israel.
586 BCE: Babylonians destroy First Temple, begin Jewish Babylonian exile.
538-332 BCE: Persian rule allows Jewish return, construction of Second Temple.
332-63 BCE: Hellenistic rule following Alexander the Great’s conquest; leads to Maccabean Revolt.
63 BCE – 313 CE: Roman and Byzantine rule; destruction of Second Temple (70 CE).
313-636 CE: Byzantine rule continues; Jewish population declines under Christian rule.
636 CE: Arab Muslim forces conquer Jerusalem, beginning of Islamic rule.
1099: First Crusade results in Christian conquest of Jerusalem.
1187: Saladin, Muslim leader, recaptures Jerusalem from Crusaders.
1517: Ottoman Empire takes control, ruling until 1917.
1799: Napoleon’s unsuccessful attempt to conquer the region.
1800s: Jewish religious and Zionist movement activity begins to increase.
1882-1903: First Aliyah, early wave of Zionist immigration from Europe.
1896: Theodor Herzl’s “The Jewish State” published, modern Zionism gains momentum.
1897: First Zionist Congress held in Basel, Switzerland.
Late 1800s: Zionist Movement advocates for a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
1917: Balfour Declaration supports a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine.
1920-1947: British Mandate of Palestine, tensions rise between Jewish and Arab communities.
1947: UN proposes partition plan; Jewish leaders accept, Arab leaders reject.
1948: Israel declares independence; Arab-Israeli War ensues. Around 6,000 Israelis and estimated 7,000-15,000 Arabs killed.
1956: Suez Crisis; Israel, UK, and France attack Egypt to regain control of Suez Canal.
1964: Establishment of Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO).
1967: Six-Day War; Israel captures Gaza Strip, West Bank, East Jerusalem, Sinai Peninsula, and Golan Heights.
1973: Yom Kippur War; Egypt and Syria attack Israel on Yom Kippur.
1978-1979: Camp David Accords; Egypt recognizes Israel, Israel returns Sinai to Egypt.
1987: First Intifada begins, lasting until 1993. Over 1,000 Palestinians and 160 Israelis killed.
1993: Oslo Accords; PLO recognizes Israel, Israel grants Palestinian self-governance in Gaza and West Bank.
2000: Second Intifada begins, lasting until 2005. About 3,000 Palestinians and 1,000 Israelis killed.
2005: Israel disengages from Gaza.
2006: Hamas wins Palestinian legislative elections; Israel imposes blockade on Gaza.
2008-2009: Gaza War; around 1,300 Palestinians and 13 Israelis killed.
2012: Operation Pillar of Defense; about 170 Palestinians and 6 Israelis killed.
2014: Operation Protective Edge; over 2,100 Palestinians and 73 Israelis killed.
2018: Great March of Return protests in Gaza; over 200 Palestinians killed.
2021: 11-day conflict; over 250 Palestinians and 13 Israelis killed.
2023: Hamas attacked Israel. Israel retaliated. Over 1200 Israelis and 42000 Palestinians killed. Status – Ongoing.
2024: Hezbollah attacked Israel. Israel retaliated. Status – Ongoing.