8/10/2019 23 - Israel Gaza Conflict

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GENERAL AWARENESS SEPTEMBER 2014 23

I SRA EL GA Z A C ON FL I C TFor past two months Israeli forces have been pounding theareas in Gaza strip controlled by Hamas militants, killinghundreds of innocent Palestinians in retaliation to thesporadic rocket attacks by the Hamas militants. This is notthe first time that armed conflict has erupted between Israeland Palestine. The conflict between Arabs led byPalestinians and Israel has its roots in the late 19th andearly 20th century.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:After the First World War,the Britain took the control of the then Palestine,comprising of present day area of Gaza, West bank, Jordanand the Israel. In 1930s, Britain captured Syria also leadingto protests by Arabs. This conflict continues till date.Later, during the Second World War when German Naziforces committed genocide of Jews to punish them forsupport to Britishers, demand for a separate homeland forJews grew strong.

BIRTH OF ISRAEL: On November 29, 1947, the U NGeneral Assembly adopted a resolution recommending thepartition of the then Palestine into an Arab state calledPalestine and a Jewish state called Israel and UN controlledJerusalem. The state of Palestine had two geographicallyseparate parts - West Bank and Gaza strip.

The Israel was declared an independent country on 14thMay 1948. Palestinians, obviously, protested partition oftheir homeland and vowed to get the area evicted of theillegal occupants (Israelis).

Israel on its part never accepted Palestine as independentcountry and demanded that Gaza Strip and West Bankshould be merged with adjoining Egypt and Jordan,respectively.

The attempts by Palestinians supported by Arabs of Egypt,Syria and Jordan to evict Israel from Palestine led to fourwars between them:1948 War of Independence1956 Sinai War1967 Six Day War1973 Yom Kippur WarIn all these wars, the Arabs were defeated by the Israelisbacked as they were by US, Britain and France.

PEACE PROCESSIn 1978, USA and its allies attempted to brokerage peacebetween Israel and Egypt, one of the main player in theregion. Known as Camp David Accord, it was the first suchagreement between Israel and any Arab country. Theyagreed to recognize existence of each other. However, nopeace could be brought between the two warring sides and

frequent armed conflict continued, killing numerous peopleon both sides.

Another major breakthrough came in the shape of the OsloAccord 1993 and 1995 when Israel recognised the PalestineLiberation Organisation led by Yasser Arafat.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTSHowever, peace could never be achieved in reality andarmed skirmishes continue till date. The area in West Bankis presently controlled by militant group called Al-Fateh andthe Gaza Strip is controlled by another militant group calledHamas. Israel controls borders of Gaza and has put it undera under a military siege.

CURRENT PROVOCATIONIN GAZAThe present strife is result of alleged killing of three Israeliyouth by Palestinians. Israel has retaliated by firing its ownrockets and air strikes killing hundreds of Gaza inhabitants.

FUTURE PROSPECTSThere does not seem to be any solution in sight as Hamasrefuses to accept Israel and Israel refuses to accept theexistence of Palestine.