Palestine & Historical background of Israel and Palestine

Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

Starvation and Malnutrition: Gaza is facing severe hunger.

Aid workers say more than 175 people have died from not having enough food, including many children.

Medical Emergencies: Hospitals are too crowded, with doctors describing a large number of injured people and patients who are very weak. A British doctor shared how he treated a woman who was pregnant and lost her baby after a bombing destroyed her shelter.

Aid Blockade: The Israeli blockade is still stopping access to food, water, and medical help.
The UN says 500 aid trucks each day are needed to meet basic needs, but far fewer are allowed to enter.

Political Developments

UK and France Push for Recognition: The UK has said it will officially recognize Palestine as a state by September, unless Israel makes progress towards peace.
France has also made similar promises.

Global Protests: Big protests supporting Palestine are happening around the world. In Australia, over 90,000 people marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to ask for an immediate ceasefire and more help.
Daily Deaths: Reports show that dozens of Palestinians are being killed each day, often while trying to reach places where aid is given.
Children at Risk: UNICEF says one in three children in Gaza are going without food for days, and the chance of a famine is getting worse.

Historical Background of Israel & Palestine

Origins in the Late 19th Century

Zionism Emerges: Because of increasing anti-Semitism in Europe, Jewish leaders started the Zionist movement to create a homeland in Palestine, which was part of the Ottoman Empire at the time.
Arab Nationalism:Atthe same time, Arab nations were building their own identity and fighting for independence from foreign rule.

British Mandate & Balfour Declaration

1917 Balfour Declaration: Britain promised a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine, which made tensions between Jews and Arabs grow.
Post-WWI: Britain took control of Palestine under a League of Nations agreement, which led to more Jewish immigration and more resistance from the local people.

Partition & War

1947 UN Partition Plan: The UN proposed splitting Palestine into Jewish and Arab states.Jews accepted the plan, but Arabs refused.
1948 War & Nakba: Israel declared itself a country.
Neighboring Arab states attacked. Over 700,000 Palestinians were made homeless, an event known as the Nakba, meaning "catastrophe" in Arabic.

Occupation & Peace Efforts

1967 Six-Day War: Israel took control of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem, which Palestinians want as part of their future country.
Oslo Accords (1993–1995): This was the first official agreement between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), aiming to create two separate countries.
Progress stopped because of ongoing violence and political changes.

Key Issues Today

Borders & Settlements: There are disagreements over Israeli settlements in the West Bank and where the borders of a future Palestinian state would be.
Jerusalem: Both Israel and Palestine claim Jerusalem as their capital.
Refugees: Millions of Palestinians are still displaced, and the issue of their right to return to their homes is not resolved.