The Israeli-Palestine Conflict and Resolution

The ninth month of the Muslim Calendar is Ramadan, the Holy month of fasting. During this period of 30 days, Muslims follow a tradition of refraining from food, water or any other drink for that matter, sexual activity and any kind of immoral behaviour.

Muslims are involved in community services by volunteering, performing good deeds and feeding the poor and needy. Further Muslims offer prayers mostly performed in congregation at the Mosque. 

Doesn’t it sound Holy and Peaceful? As fate would have, such peace was shattered when Israeli Police Forces attacked Palestinians at the Al-Aqsa Mosque here in Jerusalem, Israel, the Holy Land of Creation.

Read further, a detailed report, on the ongoing clashes between Israel and Palestine and the long history of the Israeli-Palestine Conflicts.

The Age-Old Dispute for the Holy Land

Founded in 3000 BC, Jerusalem is considered the Holy City by the three major Abrahamic religions- Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

The birth of major nationalist movements among the Jews and Arabs in the late 19th and 20th Centuries marks the roots of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflicts. The end of the World War 2 which marked the fall of major British Colonies was also marked by the dark sides of The Holocaust.

In 1948, the UN proposed a partition of Palestine between Arabs and Jews, wherein 53% of the land was given to the Jewish-majority state (Israel) and the remaining 47% to the Palestinian-majority state (Palestine). 

Despite objections from major Arab Countries, Jewish Paramilitary Groups formed Israel in 1948. This was followed by a deadly war between Israel and its neighbours – Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan in 1948, the first Arab-Israeli War. 

Israel was victorious when the war ended in 1949 and was concluded by Israel occupying more land than what was earlier anticipated in the UN Partition Plan. It had now occupied 78% of what was earlier Palestine.

Israel had control of West Jerusalem, Jordan over West Bank and East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip came under military rule. These events were followed by the Six-Day War of 1967 when Arab Countries once again refused Israel as a State. Once again Israel emerged victorious occupying land than before. Of the land occupied many parts were sacred to Jews. 

These include the East Jerusalem (which encloses the Holy City), Syrian Golan Heights (which is religiously significant as it was the focus of power struggle in the Biblical Period), Egyptian Sinai Peninsula (according to the Bible the word of God came to Prophet Moses at Mount Sinai), West Bank and the Gaza Strip. 

Other than the Sinai Peninsula all the other occupations are still retained by Israel to date. Since 1967, a large amount Palestinian population had been residing in territories occupied by Israel in both West Bank and Gaza Strip. At the same time, Israel has been building settlements for its Jewish population to settle in those occupied territories, after 1967. 

Citizens of both countries and the International Community were able to breathe a sigh of relief in 1993 when the Oslo Accords was signed between the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). This resulted in Palestine controlling over 40% of the West Bank, today and the rest with Israel.

However, for Gaza Strips things haven’t been quite peaceful. It was under Israeli Control since 1967. In 2005, Israel had decided to ‘disengage' from those territories. But in 2007, the Gaza Strip was taken over by Hamas, an Anti-Israel Military Group. 

The militant group is often involved in clashes with Israeli Defense Forces and is also said to have a hand in the recent clashes between Israel and Palestine. Though both Israel and Palestine have claimed their stakes over Jerusalem as their Capital City. International communities disapprove of them both and rather argue that the issue must be resolved through peaceful negotiations. 

Jerusalem Day and Ramadan Prayers: The Recent Tensions

The recent events started with violence on Monday, 10th May which is celebrated as Jerusalem Day by Israelis. It marks the siege of East Jerusalem by Israel during the Six-Day War of 1967. Parades were planned, but their routes were later changed to reduce the tensions.

The violence began in the early hours of Monday when Israeli Police forces open fire at Palestinians who gathered at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound to offer their prayers. Initial reports stated that the police fired rubber bullets, stun grenades and tear gas at the gatherers. 

Initially, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society stated that more than 180 were injured in a press report. About 80 of those Palestinians were reportedly hospitalized and one in ICU. The police from their side informed that 12 of the Israeli forces were injured when Palestinians clashed with the forces.

During the raid, the Jerusalem Day marchers were not allowed into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and the gates were later opened for the Palestinians trapped inside to escape. Police had issued restrictions in the city.

The raid was followed by international condemnation, with the Pakistani PM Imran Khan tweeting, “Strongly condemn Israeli Forces' attack esp. during Ramadan on Palestinians in Qibla-e-Awwal, Al-Aqsa Mosque, violating all norms of humanity & International law.” 

He also added, “We reiterate support for Palestinian people. International community must take timely action to protect Palestinians & their legitimate rights”.  Turkey called it “an attack on all Muslims”. 

Hamas, the Anti-Israel Military Group which controls the Gaza strip issued a warning against the Israeli Government to order its forces to stand down by 15:00 GMT or face a Rocket Strike. Minutes later a rocket strike on Jerusalem took place, with Hamas claiming responsibility for it. 
In response to the rocket strike, the Israeli Army conducts air raids in Gaza, killing a Hamas commander, state sources.

The violence has also been a serious concern for The White House. Sources also confirm that a huge fire broke out in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Monday evening. 

Both the US and UK have also condemned the rocket strike on Jerusalem. While the UK asked for “immediate de-escalation of all sides”, the words of the US stand as a warning, “United States was fully engaged to promote calm in Jerusalem” commented the US State Department Spokesman Ned Price during a news briefing.

Conclusion

Though the attacks made by both sides are condemnable, international communities must come forward to de-escalate the tensions, rather than supporting a specific side. It is often the young, old, the poor and the innocent who are affected by such violence.  

The attack on the people who had gathered to offer their prayers is nonetheless a Human rights violation and the rocket strike at Jerusalem is also condemnable. Jerusalem might be the Holy City of the God of Jews or Palestinians, but it is the Holy City of God who wishes for Peace and welfare of His people and peace is what everyone currently desires.

Written by - Shek
Edited by - Piyush Pandey