The Southern Levant is a geographical region encompassing the southern half of the Levant . It corresponds approximately to modern-day Palestine , Israel and Jordan ; some definitions also include southern Lebanon , southern Syria and/or the Sinai Peninsula . As a strictly geographical description, it is sometimes used by archaeologists and historians to avoid the religious and political connotations of other names for the area.
174-652: Palestine , officially the State of Palestine , is a country in the southern Levant region of West Asia recognized by 146 out of 193 UN member states . It encompasses the Israeli-occupied West Bank , including East Jerusalem , and the Gaza Strip , collectively known as the occupied Palestinian territories , within the broader geographic and historical Palestine region . Palestine shares most of its borders with Israel , and it borders Jordan to
348-474: A Neolithic (New Stone Age). The following Chalcolithic period includes the first evidence of metallurgy with copper making its appearance. However, as stone technology remains prevalent, the name, Chalcolithic (Copper/Stone) age combines the two. Bronze is used for the following periods, but is actually a misnomer for a good part of that time. An Early Bronze Age is divided into three major phases, Early Bronze I, II and III, but copper and not bronze
522-398: A blockade , restrictions on movement , Israeli settlements and settler violence , as well as an overall poor security situation. The questions of Palestine's borders , the legal and diplomatic status of Jerusalem , and the right of return of Palestinian refugees remain unsolved. Despite these challenges, the country maintains an emerging economy and sees frequent tourism . Arabic
696-647: A civil war broke out, and the plan was not implemented. The 1948 Palestine war saw the forcible displacement of most of its predominantly Arab population, and consequently the establishment of Israel, in what Palestinians call the Nakba . In the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel occupied the West Bank and the Gaza Strip , which had been held by Jordan and Egypt respectively. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) declared independence in 1988. In 1993,
870-547: A hot semi-arid climate ( Köppen : BSh) with mild winters and dry hot summers. Spring arrives around March–April and the hottest months are July and August, with the average high being 33 °C (91 °F). The coldest month is January with temperatures usually at 7 °C (45 °F). Rain is scarce and generally falls between November and March, with annual precipitation rates approximately at 4.57 inches (116 mm). Palestine does not have officially recognized national parks or protected areas. However, there are areas within
1044-724: A sovereign state . Southern Levant Like much of Southwestern Asia , the Southern Levant is an arid region consisting mostly of desert and dry steppe , with a thin strip of wetter, temperate climate along the Mediterranean coast. Geographically it is dominated by the Jordan Valley , a section of the Great Rift Valley bisecting the region from north to south, and containing the Sea of Galilee ,
1218-409: A truce (for a period of 10–100 years ) based on the 1967 borders are seen by many as being consistent with a two-state solution , while others state that Hamas retains the long-term objective of establishing one state in former Mandatory Palestine . While the 1988 Hamas charter was widely described as antisemitic , Hamas's 2017 charter removed the antisemitic language and said Hamas's struggle
1392-678: A "clash with the enemies", a "struggle against Zionism" and "conflict with Israel". They wrote that 'Palestine', that is all of the territory that belonged to the British Mandate for Palestine (that is, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea ), should be "liberated" from " Zionism " and transformed into an Islamic Waqf (Islamic charitable endowment ) in which "followers of all religions can coexist in security and safety". Practically speaking, Hamas
1566-409: A 10-year truce, or hudna , to Israel, contingent on the creation of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders. Sheikh Ahmed Yassin indicated that such truce could be extended for 30, 40, or even 100 years, but it would never signal a recognition of Israel. A Hamas official explained that having an indefinite truce with Israel doesn't contradict Hamas's lack of recognition of Israel, comparing it to
1740-599: A 1948 law amended for the purpose, this purported annexation being constitutionally reaffirmed (by implication) in Basic Law: Jerusalem 1980 , but this annexation is not recognised by any other country. In 2010 of the 456,000 people in East Jerusalem, roughly 60% were Palestinians and 40% were Israelis. However, since the late 2000s, Israel's West Bank Security Barrier has effectively re-annexed tens of thousands of Palestinians bearing Israeli ID cards to
1914-545: A Jew takes my home and expels me from it, I will fight him. I don't fight other countries because I want to be at peace with them, I love all people and wish peace for them, even the Jews. The Jews lived with us all of our lives and we never assaulted them, and they held high positions in government and ministries. But if they take my home and make me a refugee like 4 million Palestinians in exile? Who has more right to this land? The Russian immigrant who left this land 2000 years ago or
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#17327717340722088-715: A Jewish homeland. In response to the White Paper, the Zionist community in Palestine organized a strike in 1939, rallying against the restrictions on Jewish immigration and land acquisition. This anti-White Paper strike involved demonstrations, civil disobedience, and a shutdown of businesses. Supported by various Zionist organizations, including the Jewish Agency and the Histadrut (General Federation of Jewish Labor),
2262-791: A Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza . Yassin later added, the hudna could be renewed, even for longer periods, but would never signal a recognition of Israel. In 2005, Hamas signed the Palestinian Cairo Declaration , which confirms "the right of the Palestinian people to resistance in order to end the occupation, establish a Palestinian state with full sovereignty with Jerusalem as its capital" (etc.), aiming to reconcile several Palestinian factions but not describing specific steps or strategies towards Israel. In March 2006, after winning an absolute majority in
2436-650: A Palestinian state on all of the territory that belonged to the British Mandate for Palestine (that is, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea ). In 2006, Hamas signed the Palestinian Prisoners' Document which supports the quest for a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders. This document also recognized authority of the President of the Palestinian National Authority to negotiate with Israel. Hamas also signed
2610-566: A Semitic toponym for the general area dating back to the late second millennium BCE., a reflex of which is also to be found in the Biblical ethnonym Philistines . The term "Palestine" has been used to refer to the area at the southeast corner of the Mediterranean Sea beside Syria . In the 5th century BCE., in his work The Histories Herodotus used the term to describe a "district of Syria, called Palaistine" in which Phoenicians interacted with other maritime peoples. This article uses
2784-542: A ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war , if humanitarian corridors would be opened, and aid would be allowed into Gaza, Hamas would be "ready for political negotiations for a two-state solution with Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine". Haniyeh also praised the support of movements in Yemen , Iraq , Syria and Lebanon for the Palestinian struggle. In January 2024, Khaled Mashal , top Hamas leader until 2017 and now heading
2958-448: A fifty-year armistice. Neither Washington nor Israel replied. Nuancing sheikh Ahmed Yassin 's statements before 2004 about a hudna (truce) with Israel (see above), Hamas's (former) senior adviser Ahmed Yousef has said (at unknown date) that a " hudna " (truce, armistice) is more than a ceasefire and "obliges parties to use the period to seek a permanent, non-violent resolution to their differences." On 28 June 2006, Hamas signed
3132-484: A final status agreement with the Palestinians. The Camp David Summit in 2000 aimed to resolve the remaining issues but concluded without a comprehensive agreement, serving as a milestone in the peace process. A peace summit between Yasser Arafat and Ehud Barak was mediated by Bill Clinton in 2000. It was supposed to be the final agreement ending conflict officially forever. However the agreement failed to address
3306-688: A legitimate actor..." However, Kear goes on to note that without expressly stating it Hamas agreed to respect the Oslo Accords, and by extension Israel's existence: "The signing of the 2007 Mecca Agreement also meant that Hamas had met two of the three stipulations set down by Israel and the Quartet: recognising Israel and respecting all previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements." Graham Usher said that while Hamas did not consider Israel to be legitimate, it accepted Israel as political reality. Tareq Baconi explains that Hamas' implicit recognition of Israel
3480-456: A letter to US President George W. Bush (via University of Maryland 's Jerome Segal ), stating: "We are so concerned about stability and security in the area that we don't mind having a Palestinian state in the 1967 borders and offering a truce for many years", and asking Bush for a dialogue with the Hamas government. A similar message he sent to Israel's leaders. Haniyeh had reportedly proposed
3654-516: A permanent peace agreement. In 2006, Ismail Haniyeh, shortly after being elected as Prime Minister , sent messages both to US President George W. Bush and to Israel's leaders, offering a long-term truce. Neither Israel nor the United States responded. Haniyeh's proposal reportedly was a fifty-year armistice with Israel, if a Palestinian state is created along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. A Hamas official added that
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#17327717340723828-538: A political scientist at Al Azhar University , wrote in 2008 that Hamas talks "of hudna [temporary ceasefire], not of peace or reconciliation with Israel. They believe over time they will be strong enough to liberate all historic Palestine." Several more authors have warned around 2020, that, if Israel would accept such a proposal (a Palestinian state "in the territories of 1967" combined with a long-term truce), Hamas would retain its objective of establishing one state in former Mandatory Palestine . Hamas originally proposed
4002-545: A significant loss of life and escalating tensions in the occupied territories. 1990 witnessed the imposition of strict measures by the Israeli government, including curfews and closures, in an attempt to suppress the Intifada and maintain control over the occupied territories. The 1990–1991 Gulf War brought increased attention to conflict, leading to heightened diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful resolution. Saddam Hussein
4176-619: A significant step towards self-governance. Israel acknowledged the PLO negotiating team as "representing the Palestinian people", in return for the PLO recognizing Israel's right to exist in peace, acceptance of UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338 , and its rejection of "violence and terrorism". As a result, in 1994 the PLO established the Palestinian National Authority (PNA or PA) territorial administration, that exercises some governmental functions in parts of
4350-648: A state of its own and instead, together with Transjordan , Egypt, and the other members of the Arab League of the time, commenced military action resulting in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War . During the war, Israel gained additional territories that were designated to be part of the Arab state under the UN plan. Egypt occupied the Gaza Strip , and Transjordan occupied and then annexed the West Bank . Egypt initially supported
4524-478: A two-state solution. Ahmed Yassin , the founder of Hamas, said in a 1988 interview, reacting to accusations that 'Hamas hate Jews': "We don't hate Jews and fight Jews because they are Jewish. They are a people of faith and we are a people of faith, and we love all people of faith. If my brother, from my own mother and father and my own faith takes my home and expels me from it, I will fight him. I will fight my cousin if he takes my home and expels me from it. So when
4698-456: Is "the region formerly identified as Syria-Palestine and including Canaan ." Many scholars studying the region's archaeology have adopted the term Levant (including northern and southern halves) as the "term of choice" due to it being a "wider, yet relevant, cultural corpus" that does not have the "political overtones" of Syria-Palestine. A survey of North American dissertations shows the "overwhelming emphasis and scope of these works has been
4872-692: Is a Palestinian nationalist Sunni Islamist political organisation with a military wing called the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades . It has governed the Israeli-occupied Gaza Strip since 2007. The Hamas movement was founded by Palestinian Islamic scholar 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
5046-500: Is also part of the axis of resistance. Even before emergence of Iranian-backed group , Iraq was a strong supporter of Palestine when it was under the Ba'athist government of Saddam Hussein . Turkey is a supporter of Hamas and Qatar has been a key-financial supporter and host Hamas leaders. India was the first non-Arab country to reject the UN partition plan and officially recognized
5220-545: Is among the most extensively excavated regions in the world. The Southern Levant is amongst the oldest inhabited parts of Eurasia, being on one of three plausible routes by which early hominins could have dispersed out of Africa (along with the Bab al Mandab and the Strait of Gibraltar ). Homo erectus left Africa and became the first hominin species to colonise Europe and Asia approximately two million years ago, probably via
5394-418: Is and was at war with Israel's army (later also attacking Israeli civilians) since the spring of 1989 , initially as part of the First Intifada , a general protest movement that gradually turned more riotous and violent. Sheikh Ahmed Yassin , founder of Hamas, who died in 2004 ( killed by Israel ), has at unreported date offered Israel a ten-year hudna (truce, armistice) in return for establishment of
State of Palestine - Misplaced Pages Continue
5568-477: Is combination of several political parties. These should be distinguished from the President of the Palestinian National Authority , Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) and PNA Cabinet , all of which are instead associated with the Palestinian National Authority . The State of Palestine's founding document is the Palestinian Declaration of Independence, and it should be distinguished from
5742-424: Is debated. Hamas leaders have emphasized they do not recognize Israel, but indicate they "have a de facto acceptance of its presence". According to some scholars, Hamas accepted the 1967 borders and thus acknowledged the existence of another entity on the other side, implicitly recognizing Israel and "drop[ping] the call for the destruction of Israel from its manifesto." Other scholars believe that Hamas retains
5916-657: Is divided in three regions, namely the Mount Nablus ( Jabal Nablus ), the Hebron Hills and Jerusalem Mountains ( Jibal al–Quds ). The Samarian Hills and Judean Hills are mountain ranges in the West Bank, with Mount Nabi Yunis at a height of 1,030 metres (3,380 ft) in Hebron Governorate as their highest peak. Until 19th century, Hebron was highest city in the Middle East. While Jerusalem
6090-597: Is followed by a Mamluk period after the conquering power. In 1516–17 the Ottoman Empire conquered the region and gave its name to the period that lasted until 1917–18, when the British conquered it in World War I . Hamas The Islamic Resistance Movement , abbreviated Hamas (an Arabic acronym from Arabic : حركة المقاومة الإسلامية , romanized : Ḥarakat al-Muqāwamah al-ʾIslāmiyyah ),
6264-652: Is followed by the Roman period, with an Early and Late Roman sub-period. The 4th century is recognised as the beginning of the Byzantine period, that lasted until the Arab conquest of the region. The following period is known as Early Arab and sub-periods by the names of reigning dynasties. The Crusader conquest of the region is known, appropriately as the Crusader period , which in part overlaps with Ayyubid rule, and it
6438-625: Is generally broken down into two sub-periods, Middle Bronze IIa and Middle Bronze IIb. Some scholars acknowledge a Middle Bronze III. The next period is known as Late Bronze and is often sub-divided into Late Bronze I and II. The introduction of iron , although relatively rare, especially in the earliest phases, caused the following phase to be named the Iron Age . It is variously sub-divided into Iron I, Iron II and sometimes Iron III, with subdivisions becoming increasingly popular as sequences become better known. Some archaeologists suggest that there in
6612-461: Is in contrast to most Israeli political parties who have long opposed the idea of a Palestinian state . The 1988 Hamas charter proclaims that jihad against Jews is required until Judgement Day. The "governing" 1988 charter of Hamas was said, in 2018, to "openly dedicate(s) Hamas to genocide against the Jewish people", referring to the Hamas 1988 charter, article 7. More authors have characterized
6786-715: Is located on a plateau in the central highlands and is surrounded by valleys. The territory consists of fertile valleys, such as the Jezreel Valley and the Jordan River Valley . Palestine is home to world's largest olive tree, located in Jerusalem. Around 45% of Palestine's land is dedicated to growing olive trees. Palestine features significant lakes and rivers that play a vital role in its geography and ecosystems. The Jordan River flows southward, forming part of Palestine's eastern border and passing through
6960-480: Is not the jurisdiction of one faction, nor the government, but a decision for the Palestinian people." Since then until today, spokesmen of Hamas seem to disagree about their attitudes towards Israel, and debates are running as to whether the original 1988 Hamas charter has since March 2006 become obsolete and irrelevant or on the contrary still spells out Hamas's genuine and ultimate goals (see: 1988 Hamas charter, § Relevance ). The March 2006 Hamas legislative program
7134-589: Is sometimes called " Assyrian " and the following period is universally known as the Persian period. The 333 BCE conquest of the region by Alexander the Great is accepted as the beginning of the Hellenistic period. The Deuterocanonical book 2 Maccabees records: "Apollonius the son of Tharseas, who at that time was governor of Celesyria and Phenicia", Celesyria being the transliteration of Coele-Syria . It
State of Palestine - Misplaced Pages Continue
7308-603: Is the official language of the country. While the majority of Palestinians practice Islam , Christianity also has a presence . Palestine is also a member of several international organizations , including the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation . It has been a non-member observer state of the United Nations since 2012. The term "Palestine" (in Latin, Palæstina ) comes via ancient Greek from
7482-591: Is under Hamas rule). East Jerusalem (comprising the small pre-1967 Jordanian eastern-sector Jerusalem municipality together with a significant area of the pre-1967 West Bank demarcated by Israel in 1967) is administered as part of the Jerusalem District of Israel but is claimed by Palestine as part of the Jerusalem Governorate . It was effectively annexed by Israel in 1967, by application of Israeli law, jurisdiction and administration under
7656-495: The 1939 White Paper by the British government aimed to address escalating tensions between Arabs and Jews in Palestine. This policy document imposed restrictions on Jewish immigration and land purchases, with the intention to limit the establishment of a Jewish state. Met with strong opposition from the Zionist movement, the White Paper was perceived as a betrayal of the Balfour Declaration and Zionist aspirations for
7830-465: The 2006 Palestinian legislative elections , Hamas published its government program in which Hamas claimed sovereignty for the Palestinian territories but did not repeat its claim to all of mandatory Palestine , instead declared their willingness to have contacts with Israel "in all mundane affairs: business, trade, health, and labor". The program further stated: "The question of recognizing Israel
8004-454: The 7 October Hamas-led attack on Israel . Hamas has promoted Palestinian nationalism in an Islamic context . While initially seeking a state in all of former Mandatory Palestine it 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
8178-679: The Cairo Declaration in 2005, which emphasized the goal of ending the Israeli occupation and establishing a Palestinian state. On 2 May 2017, Khaled Mashal , chief of the Hamas Political Bureau , presented a new Charter, in which Hamas accepted the establishment of a Palestinian state "on the basis of June 4, 1967 " ( West Bank , Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem ) acceptable. But the new Charter did not recognize Israel nor relinquish Palestinian claims to all of historical Palestine. Many scholars saw Hamas' acceptance of
8352-521: The Cisjordan and Transjordan . The Huleh basin feeds into the upper Jordan, which moves southward through a natural basalt barrier into the Sea of Galilee before dropping several hundred metres as it flows through the Jordan Valley . The Jordan River terminates at the Dead Sea , whose banks, at 400 metres (1,300 feet) below sea level, are the world's lowest point on dry land. The archaeology of
8526-731: The Fatah–Hamas Doha Agreement , agreeing (again) to form an interim national consensus government, which (again) did not materialize. Still in February 2012, according to the Palestinian authority (either the Fatah branch in West Bank or the Hamas branch in Gaza), Hamas forswore the use of violence against Israel ("ceasefire", an Israeli news website called it), followed by a few weeks without violence between Hamas and Israel. But violence between Israel and Palestinian militant groups, in
8700-592: The Government of Palestine . Situated between three continents, the region of Palestine has a tumultuous history as a crossroads for religion, culture, commerce, and politics. The region was among the earliest to see human habitation, agricultural communities and civilization . In the Bronze Age , the Canaanites established city-states influenced by surrounding civilizations, among them Egypt, which ruled
8874-415: The Hamas Political Bureau (thus Hamas' highest leader), again stated that a state "Israel" living next to "a Palestinian state on the borders of 1967" would be acceptable for Hamas – but only if a referendum among "the Palestinian people" would endorse this arrangement. In November 2010, Ismail Haniyeh , also proposed a Palestinian state on 1967 borders, though added three further conditions: "resolution of
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#17327717340729048-619: The Irish Republican Army 's willingness to accept a permanent armistice with the United Kingdom without recognizing the UK's sovereignty over Northern Ireland. Many scholars maintain that Hamas's goal of establishing a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza is an interim solution, while its long-term goal is a single state in all of mandatory Palestine in which Jews live as citizens. Whether Hamas would recognize Israel
9222-433: The Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip , the status of Jerusalem , Israeli settlements , borders, water rights, the permit regime , Palestinian freedom of movement , and the Palestinian right of return . Hamas has attacked Israeli civilians, including using suicide bombings , as well as launching rockets at Israeli cities. A number of countries, including Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand,
9396-504: The Jordan River and the Dead Sea – the lowest point on the Earth's land surface. The Southern Levant has a long history and is one of the areas of the world most intensively investigated by archaeologists. It is considered likely to be the first place that both early hominins and modern humans colonised outside of Africa. Consequently, it has a rich Stone Age archaeology, stretching back as early as 1.5 million years ago. With one of
9570-627: The Muslim Brotherhood . In 2006 Palestinian legislative election , Hamas secured a majority in the Palestinian Legislative Council by campaigning on promises of a corruption-free government and advocating for resistance as a means to liberate Palestine from Israeli occupation. In the Battle of Gaza (2007) , Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip from rival Palestinian faction Fatah , and has since governed
9744-511: The Ottoman Empire , where it set up Mandatory Palestine under the auspices of the League of Nations . During this period, large-scale Jewish immigration allowed by the British authorities led to increased tensions and violence with the local Palestinian Arab population. In 1947, Britain handed the issue to the United Nations, which proposed a partition plan , for two independent Arab and Jewish states and an independent entity for Jerusalem , but
9918-548: The Palestinian National Authority , said: "We have no problem with a sovereign Palestinian state over all our lands within the 1967 borders, living in calm." In February 2007, Hamas signed the Fatah–Hamas Mecca Agreement , stressing "the importance of national unity as basis for (...) confronting the occupation" and "activate and reform the PLO ", but without further details about how to confront or deal with Israel. At
10092-560: The Palestinian National Council or a general referendum "held in the homeland and the Diaspora". Leila Seurat also notes that this document "implicitly recognized the June 1967 borders, agreed on the construction of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as a capital and accepted limitations to the resistance in the territories occupied in 1967", and was produced following consultations with the entire Political Bureau. In an August 2006 interview with The New York Times , Ismail Haniyeh , senior political leader of Hamas and then Prime Minister of
10266-414: The Rift Valley , and less than 50 millimetres (2.0 inches) in the eastern deserts and the Negev . Across the region, precipitation is both highly seasonal―most rain falls between October and May, and hardly any in the summer—and subject to large, unpredictable inter-annual variation. Temperature is also highly variable, with cool winters and hot summers. The Jordan River bisects much of the region into
10440-560: The Sea of Galilee before reaching the Dead Sea. According to Christian traditions, it is site of the baptism of Jesus . The Dead Sea , bordering the country's east is the lowest point on the earth. Jericho , located nearby, is the lowest city in the world. Villages and suburban areas around Jerusalem are home to ancient water bodies. There are several river valleys ( wadi ) across the country. These waterways provide essential resources for agriculture and recreation while supporting various ecosystems. Three terrestrial ecoregions are found in
10614-489: The West Bank and the Gaza Strip. As envisioned in the Oslo Accords, Israel allowed the PLO to establish interim administrative institutions in the Palestinian territories, which came in the form of the PNA. It was given civilian control in Area B and civilian and security control in Area A, and remained without involvement in Area C . The peace process gained opposition from both Palestinians and Israelis. Islamist militant organizations such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad opposed
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#173277173407210788-425: The conclusion of World War I . The failure of Emir Faisal to establish a Greater Syria in the face of French and British colonial claims to the area, also shaped Palestinian elites' efforts to secure local autonomy. In the aftermath of the war Palestine came under British control with the implementation of the British Mandate for Palestine in 1920. The defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I resulted in
10962-422: The eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea , in the world region known variously as the Near East , the Middle East or Western or Southwestern Asia . It is bordered to the east, southeast and southwest by the Syrian , Arabian and Sinai deserts, respectively. Some definitions include parts of these deserts in the region. The Litani River in southern Lebanon is commonly considered the dividing line between
11136-438: The second version of (originally) 'the Palestinians' Prisoners Document' which supports the quest for a Palestinian state "on all territories occupied in 1967". This document also recognized the PLO as "the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people", and states that "the negotiations" should be conducted by PLO and President of the Palestinian National Authority and eventual agreements must be ratified by either
11310-428: The 1967 borders as a tacit acceptance of another entity on the other side while others state that Hamas retains the long-term objective of establishing one state in former Mandatory Palestine . Hamas has repeatedly offered Israel a hudna , Arabic word for armistice , of varying durations (50 years, even a 100 years ). During the hudna both the Israelis and Palestinians would refrain from any violent attacks on
11484-482: The 1980s, it emerged as a powerful political factor, challenging the influence of the PLO , whose Fatah faction it had played a core role in creating. In December 1987, the Brotherhood adopted a more nationalist and activist line under the name of Hamas. Hamas was initially discretely supported by Israel as a counter-balance to the secular PLO . During the 1990s and early 2000s, the organization conducted numerous suicide bombings and other attacks against Israel. In
11658-436: The 1988 Declaration of Independence, the UN General Assembly officially acknowledged the proclamation and decided to use the designation "Palestine" instead of "Palestine Liberation Organization" in the UN. In spite of this decision, the PLO did not participate at the UN in its capacity of the State of Palestine's government. Violent clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli forces intensified throughout 1989, resulting in
11832-447: The 1988 charter with those that appear in The Protocols of the Elders of Zion . Hamas has called for the annihilation of Israel, and has stated that to be necessary for creating a pan-Islamic empire. On the other hand, Hamas's 2017 charter removed the anti-Semitic language, saying that their struggle is against Zionism and not Jews, while also advancing goals for a Palestinian state which are seen by many as being consistent with
12006-422: The Arab and Islamic nation". "We are called a nation of martyrs and we are proud to sacrifice martyrs". Hamad called the creation of the Jewish state "illogical": "(...) We are the victims of the occupation. Therefore, nobody should blame us for the things we do". On 1 November 2023, Ismail Haniyeh , then incumbent highest Hamas leader (but assassinated by Israel 31 July 2024 ), stated that if Israel agreed to
12180-444: The British Mandate for Palestine in 1922, entrusting Britain with the administration of the region. Throughout the 1920s, Palestine experienced growing resistance from both Jewish and Arab nationalist movements, which manifested in sporadic violence and protests against British policies. In 1929, violent riots erupted in Palestine due to disputes over Jewish immigration and access to the Western Wall in Jerusalem. The 1930s witnessed
12354-427: The Fatah movement from the Gaza Strip, took control there , and since then Hamas occasionally fired rockets from the Gaza Strip on Israel, purportedly to retaliate Israeli aggression against the people of Gaza. In April 2008, former US President Jimmy Carter met with Khaled Mashal , the recognized Hamas leader since 2004. Mashal said to Carter, Hamas would "accept a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders " and accept
12528-584: The Gaza Strip , killing over 42,000 Palestinians, 52% of them women and children according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. On 31 July 2024, Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran , after attending the inauguration ceremony of Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian . In August 2024, Yahya Sinwar , the leader of Hamas in Gaza, was elected chairman of the group, replacing Haniyeh. Per Hamas officials, he
12702-576: The Gaza Strip , with the aim of securing the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel (as part of a prisoner swap). Hamas said its attack was in response to Israel's continued occupation , blockade of Gaza , and settlements expansion , as well as alleged threats to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the plight of Palestinians. There are also reports of sexual violence by Hamas militants, allegations that Hamas has denied. Israel responded by invading
12876-570: The Gaza Strip and southern Israel, also involving Hamas, would soon resume . On 1 May 2017, in a press conference in Doha ( Qatar ) presenting a new charter , Khaled Mashal , chief of the Hamas Political Bureau (thus acknowledged as to be highest Hamas leader), declared that, though Hamas considered the establishment of a Palestinian state "on the basis of June 4, 1967 " ( West Bank , Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem being not under Israeli reign) acceptable, Hamas would in that case still not recognise
13050-501: The Gaza Strip and the West Bank against Israeli occupation. In November 1988, the PLO legislature, while in exile, declared the establishment of the "State of Palestine" . In the month following, it was quickly recognized by many states, including Egypt and Jordan. In the Palestinian Declaration of Independence, the State of Palestine is described as being established on the "Palestinian territory", without explicitly specifying further. After
13224-401: The Gaza Strip by destroying its settlements over there. By 2005, the situation began de-escalating. In 2006, Hamas won in Palestinian legislative elections. This led a political standoff with Fatah. Armed clashes took place across both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The clashes turned into a civil war, which ended in a bloody clashes on the Gaza Strip. As a result, Hamas gained control over all
13398-467: The Gaza Strip with the exception of its borders, airspace, and territorial waters . The division between the West Bank and Gaza complicated efforts to achieve Palestinian unity and negotiate a comprehensive peace agreement with Israel . Multiple rounds of reconciliation talks were held, but no lasting agreement was reached. The division also hindered the establishment of a unified Palestinian state and led to different governance structures and policies in
13572-581: The Gaza Strip. In July 1988, Jordan ceded its claims to the West Bank —with the exception of guardianship over Haram al-Sharif—to the PLO. After Israel captured and occupied the West Bank from Jordan and Gaza Strip from Egypt, it began to establish Israeli settlements there. Administration of the Arab population of these territories was performed by the Israeli Civil Administration of the Coordinator of Government Activities in
13746-421: The Hamas diaspora office – in contradiction with Haniyeh's proclamation from November 2023 – repeated his stance from 1 May 2017: a (preliminary) Palestinian state "on the 1967 borders", that is "21 per cent of Palestine", would be accepted by Hamas but not as the permanent "two-state solution" which "The West" since a long time envisions and promotes; "our Palestinian project" remains "our right in Palestine from
13920-620: The Holocaust. In 1946, a bombing orchestrated by the Irgun at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem resulted in the deaths of 91 people, including British officials, civilians, and hotel staff. Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Shamir , who later became political leaders in the state of Israel, were behind these terrorist attacks. The Exodus 1947 incident unfolded when a ship carrying Jewish Holocaust survivors, who sought refuge in Palestine,
14094-522: The Israeli troops from the church. Between 2003 and 2004, people from Qawasameh tribe in Hebron were either killed or blew themselves in suicide bombing. Ariel Sharon ordered construction of barriers across Palestinian-controlled areas and Israeli settlements in the West Bank to prevent future attacks. Saddam Hussein provided financial support to Palestinian militants from Iraq during the intifada period, from 2000 until his overthrow in 2003. A peace proposal
14268-466: The Oslo II Accord . Area A forms 18% of the West Bank by area, and is administered by the Palestinian government. Area B forms 22% of the West Bank, and is under Palestinian civil control, and joint Israeli-Palestinian security control. Area C , except East Jerusalem, forms 60% of the West Bank, and is administered by the Israeli Civil Administration , however, the Palestinian government provides
14442-548: The Oslo Years brought a great prosperity to the government-controlled areas, despite some economic issues. The Palestinian Authority built the country's second airport in Gaza, after the Jerusalem International Airport . Inaugural ceremony of the airport was attended by Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela . In 1999, Ehud Barak assumed the position of Israeli Prime Minister, renewing efforts to reach
14616-542: The PLC), and Fatah took control of the West Bank. From 2007, the Gaza Strip was governed by Hamas, and the West Bank by the Fatah party led Palestinian Authority. International efforts to revive the peace process continued. The United States, under the leadership of different administrations, made various attempts to broker negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. However, significant obstacles such as settlement expansion,
14790-581: The PLO as the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people" and reaffirmed "their right to establish an independent state of urgency." In November 1974, the PLO was recognized as competent on all matters concerning the question of Palestine by the UN General Assembly granting them observer status as a "non-state entity" at the UN. Through the Camp David Accords of 1979, Egypt signaled an end to any claim of its own over
14964-527: The PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people. The PLO's executive committee acts as the government, empowered by the PNC. It is full-time member of the Arab League , the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Union for the Mediterranean . Sweden took a significant step in 2013 by upgrading the status of the Palestinian representative office to a full embassy. They became the first EU member state outside
15138-564: The PLO signed the Oslo peace accords with Israel, creating limited PLO governance in the West Bank and Gaza Strip through the Palestinian Authority (PA). Israel withdrew from Gaza in its unilateral disengagement in 2005, but the territory is still considered to be under military occupation and has been blockaded by Israel. In 2007, internal divisions between political factions led to a takeover of Gaza by Hamas . Since then,
15312-544: The Palestinian Authority. Foreign relations are maintained in the framework of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs . The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) represents the State of Palestine and maintains embassies in countries that recognize it. It also participates in international organizations as a member, associate, or observer. In some cases, due to conflicting sources, it is difficult to determine if
15486-574: The Palestinian government signed the Hebron Protocol , which outlined the redeployment of Israeli forces from parts of Hebron in the West Bank, granting the government greater control over the city. Israel and the Palestinian government signed the Wye River Memorandum in 1998, aiming to advance the implementation of the Oslo Accords. The agreement included provisions for Israeli withdrawals and security cooperation. The period of
15660-630: The Palestinian legislative election of January 2006, Hamas gained a large majority of seats in the Palestinian Parliament , defeating the ruling Fatah party. After the elections, conflicts arose between Hamas and Fatah, which they were unable to resolve. In June 2007, Hamas defeated Fatah in a series of violent clashes , and since that time Hamas has governed the Gaza portion of the Palestinian Territories , while at
15834-852: The Palestinian refugee issues, status of Jerusalem and Israeli security concerns. Both sides blamed each other for the summit failures. This became of the main triggers for the uprising that would happen next. In September 2000, then opposition leader from the Likud Party – Ariel Sharon made a proactive visit to the Temple Mount and delivered a controversial speech, which angered Palestinian Jerusalemites . The tensions escalated into riots. Bloody clashes took place around Jerusalem. Escalating violence resulted closure of Jerusalem Airport , which haven't operated till date. More and more riots between Jews and Arabs took place in October 2000 in Israel. In
16008-715: The Persian Empire in the late 330s BCE, beginning Hellenization . Though Palestinian elites, in particular urban notable families who worked within the Ottoman bureaucracy, generally retained their loyalty to the Ottomans, they also played a significant role proportionately in the rise of Arab nationalism , and the Pan-Arabic movements that arose in response to both the emergence of the Young Turks movement and
16182-726: The Southern Levant and the Northern Levant (i.e. Syria ), or sometimes the Orontes River , also in Lebanon. For the most part, the climate of the Southern Levant is arid or semi-arid , however a narrow strip along the coast experiences a temperate , Mediterranean climate due to its proximity to the sea. Average annual rainfall decreases sharply away from the coast, from over 1,000 millimetres (39 inches) per year in Galilee , to 200–400 millimetres (7.9–15.7 inches) in
16356-639: The Southern Levant. During this phase of the Pleistocene epoch the region was wetter and greener, allowing H. erectus to find places with fresh water as it followed other African animals that were dispersing out of Africa at the same time. One such location was ' Ubeidiya , on the southern shore of the Sea of Galilee , where some of the oldest hominin remains in Eurasia have been discovered, dating to between 1.2 million and 1.5 million years ago. Several Stone Ages , when stone tools prevailed and make up
16530-755: The Territories and by local municipal councils present since before the Israeli takeover. In 1980, Israel decided to freeze elections for these councils and to establish instead Village Leagues, whose officials were under Israeli influence. Later this model became ineffective for both Israel and the Palestinians, and the Village Leagues began to break up, with the last being the Hebron League, dissolved in February 1988. The first Intifada broke out in 1987, characterized by widespread protests, strikes, and acts of civil disobedience by Palestinians in
16704-755: The UN General Assembly passed a resolution demanding Palestinian sovereignty over natural resources in the occupied territories. It called on Israel to cease exploitation and damage while granting Palestinians the right to seek restitution. In 1988, the State of Palestine's declaration of independence was acknowledged by the General Assembly with Resolution 43/177 . In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 67/19 , granting Palestine " non-member observer state " status, effectively recognizing it as
16878-520: The UN adopted a partition plan for a two-state solution in the remaining territory of the mandate. The plan was accepted by the Jewish leadership but rejected by the Arab leaders, and Britain refused to implement the plan. On the eve of final British withdrawal, the Jewish Agency for Israel , headed by David Ben-Gurion , declared the establishment of the State of Israel according to the proposed UN plan. The Arab Higher Committee did not declare
17052-630: The United Arab Emirates deteriorated, when it signed normalization agreement with Israel . During the Sri Lankan Civil War , the PLO provided training for Tamil rebels to fight against the Sri Lankan government . The Republic of Ireland , Venezuela and South Africa are political allies of Palestine and have strongly advocated for establishment of independent Palestine. As a result of the ongoing war , support for
17226-727: The United Kingdom, and the United States have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization . In 2018, a motion at the United Nations to condemn Hamas was rejected. Hamas is an acronym of the Arabic phrase حركة المقاومة الإسلامية or Ḥarakah al-Muqāwamah al-ʾIslāmiyyah , meaning "Islamic Resistance Movement". This acronym, HMS, was glossed in the 1988 Hamas Covenant by the Arabic word ḥamās ( حماس ) which itself means "zeal", "strength", or "bravery". Hamas
17400-448: The West Bank has been governed in part by the Fatah -led PA, while the Gaza Strip has remained under the control of Hamas . Israel has constructed large settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem since 1967, where currently more than 670,000 Israeli settlers , which are illegal under international law . Currently, the biggest challenges to the country include ineffective government, Israeli occupation, Islamist factions,
17574-504: The West Bank that are considered to have ecological and cultural significance and are being managed with conservation efforts. These areas are often referred to as nature reserves or protected zones. Located near Jericho in the West Bank, Wadi Qelt is a desert valley with unique flora and fauna. The reserve is known for its rugged landscapes, natural springs, and historical sites such as the St. George Monastery . Efforts have been made to protect
17748-428: The West Bank, leaving East Jerusalem within the barrier with a small Israeli majority (60%). Under Oslo Accords, Jerusalem was proposed to be included in future negotiations and according to Israel, Oslo Accords prohibits the Palestinian Authority to operates in Jerusalem. However, certain parts of Jerusalem, those neighborhoods which are located outside the historic Old City but are part of East Jerusalem, were allotted to
17922-675: The anti-White Paper strike aimed to protest and challenge the limitations imposed by the British government. In the late 1930s and 1940s, several Zionist militant groups, including the Irgun , Hagana , and Lehi , carried out acts of violence against British military and civilian targets in their pursuit of an independent Jewish state. While the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini , collaborated with Nazi Germany during World War II, not all Muslims supported his actions, and there were instances where Muslims helped rescue Jews during
18096-716: The area in the Late Bronze Age. During the Iron Age , two related Israelite kingdoms, Israel and Judah , controlled much of Palestine, while the Philistines occupied its southern coast. The Assyrians conquered the region in the 8th century BCE, then the Babylonians in c. 601 BCE, followed by the Persians who conquered the Babylonian Empire in 539 BCE. Alexander the Great conquered
18270-413: The area: Eastern Mediterranean conifer–sclerophyllous–broadleaf forests , Arabian Desert , and Mesopotamian shrub desert . Palestine has a number of environmental issues; issues facing the Gaza Strip include desertification ; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment ; water-borne diseases ; soil degradation ; and depletion and contamination of underground water resources. In the West Bank, many of
18444-535: The armistice would renew automatically each time. In mid-2006, University of Maryland 's Jerome Segal suggested that a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders and a truce for many years could be considered Hamas's de facto recognition of Israel. A similar proposal was once again offered by Hamas to Israel in November 2006. In November 2008, in a meeting, on Gaza Strip soil, with 11 European members of parliaments, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh re-stated that Hamas
18618-533: The attack and responded by conducting attacks on civilians across Israel. In 1994, Baruch Goldstein , an Israeli extremist shot 29 people to death in Hebron, known as the Cave of the Patriarchs massacre . These events led an increase in Palestinian opposition to the peace process. Tragically, in 1995, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by Yigal Amir – an extremist, causing political instability in
18792-577: The basic conventions indicate a number of Stone Ages , followed by a Copper/Stone Age, in turn followed by a Bronze Age . The names given to them, derived from the Greek , are also used widely for other regions. The different ages in turn are often divided up into sequential or sometimes parallel chrono-cultural facies, sometimes called “cultures” or “periods”. Sometimes their names are derived from European prehistory , at other times from local sites, often where they were first discovered. Archaeologically, it
18966-570: The biodiversity and natural beauty of the area. The Judaean Desert is popular for "Judaean Camels". Qalqilya Zoo in Qalqilya Governorate , is the only zoo currently active in the country. Gaza Zoo was closed due to poor conditions. Israeli government have built various national parks in the Area C, which is also considered illegal under international law. Palestine operates a semi-presidential system of government. The country consists of
19140-661: The borders of 1967, with Jerusalem as its capital, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and the resolution of the issue of refugees," but only if such arrangement would be endorsed by "a referendum" held among all Palestinians: in Gaza, West Bank, and the diaspora. In May 2011, Hamas and Fatah signed an agreement in Cairo , agreeing to form a ('national unity') government and appoint the Ministers "in consensus between them", but it contained no remarks about how to confront or deal with Israel. In February 2012, Hamas and Fatah signed
19314-488: The bulk of artifacts, are followed by periods when other technologies came into use. They lent their names to the different periods. The basic framework for the southern Levant is, as follows: Paleolithic or Old Stone Age is often divided up into phases called, from early-to-late: Lower Paleolithic , Middle Paleolithic and Upper Paleolithic. An Epipaleolithic (latest Paleolithic) period, also known as Mesolithic (transition to Neolithic) follows and is, in turn succeeded by
19488-406: The country have increased. Since Israel's invasion of Gaza , many countries in support of Palestinians have officially recognized the country. This includes Armenia , Spain , Norway , The Bahamas , Jamaica , Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago . The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) declared the establishment of the State of Palestine on 15 November 1988. There is a wide range of views on
19662-488: The creation of an All-Palestine Government but disbanded it in 1959. Transjordan never recognized it and instead decided to incorporate the West Bank with its own territory to form Jordan . The annexation was ratified in 1950 but was rejected by the international community. In 1964, when the West Bank was controlled by Jordan, the Palestine Liberation Organization was established there with
19836-452: The dismantling of their rule. In 1920, the League of Nations granted Britain the mandate to govern Palestine, leading to the subsequent period of British administration. In 1917, Jerusalem was captured by British forces led by General Allenby , marking the end of Ottoman rule in the city. By 1920, tensions escalated between Jewish and Arab communities, resulting in violent clashes and riots across Palestine. The League of Nations approved
20010-577: The earliest sites for urban settlements, it also corresponds to the western parts of the Fertile Crescent . The Southern Levant refers to the lower half of the Levant but there is some variance of geographical definition, with the widest definition including Israel , Palestine , Jordan , Lebanon , southern Syria and the Sinai Desert . In the field of archaeology, the southern Levant
20184-484: The east and Egypt to the southwest. It has a total land area of 6,020 square kilometres (2,320 sq mi) while its population exceeds five million people. Its proclaimed capital is Jerusalem , while Ramallah serves as its administrative center. Gaza City was its largest city prior to evacuations in 2023 . Situated at a continental crossroad , the region of Palestine was ruled by various empires and experienced various demographic changes from antiquity to
20358-401: The east, and Israel to the north, south, and west. Palestine shares its maritime borders with Israel , Egypt and Cyprus . Thus, the two enclaves constituting the area claimed by the State of Palestine have no geographical border with one another, being separated by Israel. These areas would constitute the world's 163rd largest country by land area . The West Bank is a mountainous region. It
20532-625: The education and medical services to the 150,000 Palestinians in the area, an arrangement agreed upon in the Oslo II accord by Israeli and Palestinian leadership. More than 99% of Area C is off limits to Palestinians, due to security concerns and is a point of ongoing negotiation. There are about 330,000 Israelis living in settlements in Area C. Although Area C is under martial law , Israelis living there are entitled to full civic rights . Palestinian enclaves currently under Palestinian administration in red ( Areas A and B ; not including Gaza Strip, which
20706-729: The former communist bloc to officially recognize the state of Palestine. Members of the Arab League and member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation have strongly supported the country's position in its conflict with Israel . Iran have been strongest ally of Palestine since the Islamic revolution and provide military support to Palestinian fedayeen and militant groups including Hamas through its Axis of Resistance , which includes military coalition of governments and rebels from Iraq , Syria , Lebanon and Yemen . Hamas
20880-484: The future of Palestinian aspirations for statehood. The status quo remains challenging for Palestinians, with ongoing issues of occupation, settlement expansion, restricted movement, and economic hardships. The most recent outbreak of violence in the region is the Israel-Hamas war (2023–present), involving fighting between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian forces in the Gaza Strip, with a simultaneous spillover of
21054-553: The goal to confront Israel. The Palestinian National Charter of the PLO defines the boundaries of Palestine as the whole remaining territory of the mandate, including Israel. The Six-Day War in 1967, when Israel fought against Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, ended with Israel occupying the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, besides other territories. Following the Six-Day War, the PLO moved to Jordan, but later relocated to Lebanon in 1971. The October 1974 Arab League summit designated
21228-532: The government. Jerusalem including Haram ash-Sharif , is claimed as capital by Palestine, which has been under occupation by Israel . Currently the temporary administration center is in Ramallah , which is 10 km from Jerusalem. Muqata hosts state ministries and representative office. In 2000, a government building was built in Jerusalem suburb of Abu Dis , to house office of Yasser Arafat and Palestinian parliament. Since second intifada , condition of
21402-677: The institutions that are associated with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which includes President of the State of Palestine – appointed by the Palestinian Central Council , Palestinian National Council – the legislature that established the State of Palestine and Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization – performs the functions of a government in exile, maintaining an extensive foreign-relations network. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)
21576-454: The issue of refugees ", "the release of Palestinian prisoners", and "Jerusalem as its capital"; and he made the same reservation as Mashal in May 2010 had made, that a Palestinian referendum needed to endorse this arrangement. On December 1, 2010, Ismail Haniyeh (senior Hamas leader, see above), in a news conference in Gaza , repeated his November 2010 message: "We accept a Palestinian state on
21750-518: The legal status of the State of Palestine, both among international states and legal scholars. The existence of a state of Palestine is recognized by the states that have established bilateral diplomatic relations with it. In January 2015, the International Criminal Court affirmed Palestine's "State" status after its UN observer recognition, a move condemned by Israeli leaders as a form of "diplomatic terrorism." In December 2015,
21924-820: The long-term objective of establishing one state in former Mandatory Palestine . Mousa Abu Marzook , then the vice-president of Hamas' Political Bureau, explained in 2011, that while Hamas did not recognize Israel as a state, it considered the existence of Israel as " amr waqi " (or fait accompli , meaning something that has happened and cannot be changed). He called this " de facto recognition" of Israel. According to Martin Kear, Israel treats "any form of resistance from Palestinians as acts of terrorism", and therefore responds to any resistance with extraordinary force. In contrast, writes Kear, Hamas operationalizes "...its resistance to Israeli occupation through its invocation of jihad ... Accordingly, Hamas refuses to recognise Israel as
22098-531: The modern era. Being a bridge between Asia and Africa , it was treading ground for the Nile and Mesopotamian armies and merchants from North Africa , China and India . The region is known for its religious significance. The ongoing Israeli–Palestinian conflict dates back to the rise of the Zionist movement , supported by the United Kingdom during World War I . The war saw Britain occupying Palestine from
22272-490: The new Hamas stance. On 19 June 2008, Hamas and Israel agreed to a six-month cease-fire, which Hamas declared finished at 18 December amidst mutual accusations of breaching the agreed conditions. Meanwhile, in November 2008, in a meeting with 11 European members of parliaments, Hamas senior official Ismail Haniyeh repeated what he had written in June 2006 to U.S. President George W. Bush but with one extra condition: Hamas
22446-414: The occupation of West Bank and Gaza Strip and release all Palestinian prisoners . But the 1999 proposal omitted two difficult issues: the issue of Palestinian refugees and the recognition of Israel. The idea was that Israel and Hamas would use the period of calm to continue negotiating these two difficult issues until they reached a final peace agreement, at which point the temporary peace would convert into
22620-530: The one who left 40 years ago? We don't hate the Jews, we only ask for them to give us our rights." In its early days , Hamas functioned as a social-religious charity center . Its members armed themselves for the ongoing resistance against the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories , and in August 1988 published their first charter in which Hamas stated that "Israel" should be "eliminated" through
22794-816: The other of responsibility. In late December 2008, Israel attacked Gaza , withdrawing its forces in mid-January 2009. Since 2009, Hamas has faced multiple military confrontations with Israel, notably the 2012 and 2014 Gaza Wars, leading to substantial casualties. Hamas has maintained control over Gaza, often clashing with the Palestinian Authority led by Fatah. Efforts at reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah have seen limited success. Hamas continued to face international isolation and blockades, while engaging in sporadic rocket attacks and tunnel construction activities against Israel. On October 7, 2023, Hamas and other Palestinian militants attacked Israel killing nearly 1,200 Israelis, about two thirds of them civilians. Approximately 250 Israeli civilians and soldiers were taken back to
22968-462: The other. Under Islamic international law , a hudna is a binding and the Qur'an prohibits its violation. Hamas's spokesperson, Ahmed Yousef , said that a "hudna" is more than a ceasefire and it "obliges parties to use the period to seek a permanent, non-violent resolution to their differences." Hamas first proposed Israel with a hudna, long-term armistice, in 1999. In exchange Israel would have to end
23142-628: The outbreak of the Arab Revolt , as Arab nationalists demanded an end to Jewish immigration and the establishment of an independent Arab state. In response to the Arab Revolt, the British deployed military forces and implemented stringent security measures in an effort to quell the uprising. Arab nationalist groups, led by the Arab Higher Committee , called for an end to Jewish immigration and land sales to Jews. The issuance of
23316-417: The participation is on behalf of the State of Palestine, the PLO as a non-state entity, or the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). The Vatican shifted recognition to the State of Palestine in May 2015, following the 2012 UN vote. This change aligned with the Holy See's evolving position. Currently, 146 UN member states (75%) recognize the State of Palestine. Though some do not recognize it, they acknowledge
23490-444: The presumed multiple number of indirect deaths). A number of conflicting statements since then were made by Hamas senior leaders regarding the Hamas policy towards Israel. On 24 October, Ghazi Hamad —member of the decision-making Hamas Political Bureau —explained the 7 October attack: "Israel is a country that has no place on our land. We must remove that country because it constitutes a security, military and political catastrophe to
23664-557: The region. The first-ever Palestinian general elections took place in 1996, resulting in Arafat's re-election as president and the formation of a Palestinian Legislative Council . Initiating the implementation of the Oslo Accords, Israel began redeploying its forces from select Palestinian cities in the West Bank in 1997. Negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority continued, albeit with slow progress and contentious debates on Jerusalem, settlements, and refugees in 1998. In 1997, Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu and
23838-411: The right of Israel "to live as a neighbour" if such a deal would be approved by a referendum among the "Palestinians". Nevertheless, Mashal did not offer a unilateral ceasefire (as Carter had suggested him to do). The US State Department showed utter indifference for Mashal's new stance; Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert even refused to meet with Carter in Jerusalem , not to mention paying attention to
24012-450: The same issues apply; although fresh water is much more plentiful, access is restricted by the ongoing dispute . Temperatures in Palestine vary widely. The climate in the West Bank is mostly Mediterranean , slightly cooler at elevated areas compared with the shoreline, west to the area. In the east, the West Bank includes much of the Judean Desert including the western shoreline of the Dead Sea, characterised by dry and hot climate. Gaza has
24186-416: The same month, two Israeli soldiers were lynched and killed in Ramallah . Between November and December clashes between Palestinians and Israelis increased further. In 2001 Taba summit was held between Israel and Palestine. But the summit failed to implement and Ariel Sharon became prime minister in the 2001 elections. By 2001, attacks from Palestinian militant groups towards Israel increased. Gaza Airport
24360-446: The same time they were ousted from government positions in the West Bank . Israel and Egypt then imposed an economic blockade on Gaza and largely sealed their borders with the territory. After acquiring control of Gaza, Hamas-affiliated and other militias launched rocket attacks upon Israel, which Hamas ceased in June 2008 following an Egyptian -brokered ceasefire. The ceasefire broke down late in 2008, with each side accusing
24534-411: The sea to the river ", which Hamas will not give up, therefore Hamas will not recognise the legitimacy of "the usurping entity [Israel]". Hamas Member of Parliament Khalil al-Hayya , also deputy chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, told the Associated Press in April 2024 that Hamas is willing to agree to a truce of five years or more with Israel and that it would lay down its weapons and convert into
24708-514: The sea to the river ." In 2022, Yahya Sinwar cautioned Israelis that Hamas would one day "march through your walls to uproot your regime." In a flash attack on 7 October 2023 , Hamas and associates murdered 767 civilians and killed a further 376 security personnel of the state of Israel . Israel retaliated with warfare in the Gaza Strip , aiming at Hamas militants but also harming much civilian infrastructure and directly killing tens of thousands of civilians, as admitted even by Israel (not counting
24882-405: The southern Levant is generally conceived as a series of phases or stages in human cultural and evolutionary development based, for the most part, on tool technology for early pre-historic, proto-historic and early historic periods. Later phases are generally associated with historical periods and are named accordingly. While there is no single, accepted sequence that all archaeologists agree upon,
25056-548: The southern Levant, an area formerly identified as Syria-Palestine including Canaan", but with most modern Ph.D. dissertations using the terms 'Israel' and 'Canaan'. The term "Southern Levant" has also been criticized as imprecise and an awkward name. The term Southern Levant has been described in academic discourse as a "at least a strictly geographical" description of the region, avoiding religious and political connotations of names such as " Canaan ", " Holy Land ", " Land of Israel ", or "Palestine". The Southern Levant lies on
25230-404: The statehood declaration. Once a strong ally of Palestine , India have strengthen its ties with Israel since 1991. However India still supports the legitimacy of Palestine's issue. Muammar Gaddafi of Libya was a supporter of Palestinian independence and was sought as a mediator in the Arab–Israeli conflict, when he presented a one-state peace offer titled Isratin in 2000. Relations with
25404-415: The statehood of Israel and not relinquish their goal of liberating all of Palestine from " the Zionist project ". Around 2018, a Hamas finance minister has suggested that a "long-term ceasefire as understood by Hamas [ hudna ] and a two-state settlement are the same". In 2021 Hamas organized and financed a conference among 250 Gaza citizens about the future management of the State of Palestine following
25578-418: The status of Jerusalem, borders , and the right of return for Palestinian refugees , remained unresolved. In recent years, diplomatic initiatives have emerged, including the normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab states , known as the Abraham Accords . These agreements, while not directly addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, have reshaped regional dynamics and raised questions about
25752-402: The subsequent weakening of Ottoman power in World War 1. The onset of the Zionist movement , which sought to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine, also exercised a strong influence on Palestinian national consciousness. Abdul Hamid , the last sultan of the Ottoman Empire, opposed the Zionist movement's efforts in Palestine. The end of the Ottoman Empire's rule in Palestine coincided with
25926-412: The takeover of Israel which was predicted to come soon. According to the conclusions of the conference, the Jewish Israeli fighters would be killed, while the peaceful individuals could be integrated or be allowed to leave. At the same time the highly skilled and educated would be prevented from leaving. In 2020 Ismail Haniyeh said in an interview that one of the principles of Hamas was "Palestine from
26100-416: The terms "Palestine", "State of Palestine", "occupied Palestinian territory (oPt or OPT)" interchangeably depending on context. Specifically, the term "occupied Palestinian territory" refers as a whole to the geographical area of the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967. Palestine can, depending on contexts, be referred to as a country or a state, and its authorities can generally be identified as
26274-439: The territory of Gaza. Hundreds of people were killed in the civil war, including militants and civilians. Since then Hamas has gained more independence in its military practices. Since 2007, Israel has been leading a partial blockade on Gaza. Another peace summit was organized by the Arab League in 2007, with the same offer which was presented in 2002 summit. However the peace process could not progress. The PNA gained full control of
26448-405: The territory separately from the Palestinian National Authority . After Hamas's takeover, Israel significantly intensified existing movement restrictions and imposed a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip . Egypt began its blockade of Gaza in 2007. This was followed by multiple wars with Israel, including those in 2008–09 , 2012 , 2014 , 2021 , and an ongoing one since 2023 , which began with
26622-435: The time of signing that 2007 agreement, Mousa Abu Marzook , Deputy Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau , underlined his view of the Hamas position: "I can recognize the presence of Israel as a fait accompli (amr wâqi') or, as the French say, a de facto recognition, but this does not mean that I recognize Israel as a state". More Hamas leaders, through the years, have made similar statements. In June 2007, Hamas ousted
26796-439: The town made this site unsuitable to operate as a capital, either temporarily or permanently. Nevertheless, the Palestinian entity have maintained their presence in the city. As few parts of the city is also under Palestinian control and many some countries have their consulates in Jerusalem. The State of Palestine is divided into sixteen administrative divisions . The governorates in the West Bank are grouped into three areas per
26970-512: The transition from the Late Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age, the large cultural differences are explained by foreign invasion, that is, the introduction of new ethnicity. More recent evidence indicates that the large culture changes were not the result of a foreign invasion. Rather, the Iron Age people of the southern Levant were related to their Bronze Age predecessors. The post-Iron Age is generally thought of as historical and accordingly names of periods reflect this. The very latest Iron Age phase
27144-440: The two territories. Throughout this period, there were sporadic outbreaks of violence and tensions between Palestinians and Israelis. Since 2001, Incidents of rocket attacks from Gaza into Israeli territory and Israeli military operations in response often resulted in casualties and further strained the situation. Following the inter-Palestinian conflict in 2006, Hamas took over control of the Gaza Strip (it already had majority in
27318-423: The unrelated PLO Palestinian National Covenant and PNA Palestine Basic Law . The Palestinian government is divided into two geographic entities – the Palestinian Authority governed by Fatah, which has partial control over the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, which is under control of the militant group Hamas. Fatah is a secular party , which was founded by Yasser Arafat and enjoys relatively good relations with
27492-501: The violent language against all Jews in the original Hamas charter as genocidal , incitement to genocide , or antisemitic . The charter attributes collective responsibility to Jews, not just Israelis, for various global issues, including both World Wars. The American Interest magazine has wrote that the charter "echoes" Nazi propaganda in claiming that Jews profited during World War II . Jeffrey Goldberg , editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine, has compared statements in
27666-418: The war occurring in the West Bank . Areas claimed by the country, known as the Palestinian territories , lie in the Southern Levant of the Middle East region. Palestine is part of the Fertile Crescent , along with Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Syria. The Gaza Strip borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Egypt to the south, and Israel to the north and east. The West Bank is bordered by Jordan to
27840-439: The western powers. On other hand, Hamas is a militant group , based on Palestinian nationalist and Islamic ideology , inspired by the Muslim Brotherhood . Hamas has tense relations with the United States, but receives support from Iran. Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine is another popular secular party, which was founded by George Habash . Mahmoud Abbas is the president of the country since 2005. Mohammad Shtayyeh
28014-458: Was a supporter of Palestinian cause and won support from Arafat during the war. Following the invasion of Kuwait , Saddam surprised the international community by presenting a peace offer to Israel and withdrawing Iraqi forces from Kuwait, in exchange of withdrawal from the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem and Golan Heights. Though the peace offer was rejected, Saddam then ordered firing of scud missiles into Israeli territory. This movement
28188-465: Was destroyed in an airstrike by the Israeli army in 2001, claiming itself in retaliation to previous attacks by Hamas. In January 2002, the IDF Shayetet 13 naval commandos captured the Karine A , a freighter carrying weapons from Iran towards Israel. UNSC Resolution 1397 was passed, which reaffirmed a two-state solution and laid the groundwork for a road map for peace . Another attack by Hamas left 30 people killed in Netanya . A peace summit
28362-433: Was elected due to his considerable popularity in the Arab and Islamic worlds following the 7 October attacks and his strong connections with Iran and the " Axis of Resistance ," an informal Iranian-led political and military coalition. On 16 October 2024, IDF troops killed Sinwar during a routine patrol and a chance encounter in southern Rafah. Hamas' policy towards Israel has evolved. Historically, Hamas envisioned
28536-421: Was established in 1987, and allegedly has its origins in Egypt 's Muslim Brotherhood movement, which had been active in the Gaza Strip since the 1950s and gained influence through a network of mosques and various charitable and social organizations. Unlike other Palestinian factions, after the Israeli occupation of Gaza in 1967 , the Brotherhood in Gaza refused to join the resistance boycott against Israel. In
28710-401: Was further explained on 6 June 2006 by Hamas' MP Riad Mustafa: "Hamas will never recognize Israel", but if a popular Palestinian referendum would endorse a peace agreement including recognition of Israel, "we would of course accept their verdict". Also on 6 June 2006, Ismail Haniyeh , senior political leader of Hamas and at that time Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority , sent
28884-461: Was intercepted by the British navy, leading to clashes and the eventual deportation of the refugees back to Europe. During World War II , Palestine served as a strategically significant location for British military operations against Axis forces in North Africa . In 1947, the United Nations proposed a partition plan for Palestine, suggesting separate Jewish and Arab states, but it was rejected by Arab nations while accepted by Jewish leaders. In 1947,
29058-415: Was made in 2003, which was supported by Arafat and rejected by Sharon. In 2004 Hamas's leader and co-founder Ahmed Yassin was assassinated by the Israeli army in Gaza. Yasser Arafat was confined to his headquarters in Ramallah. On 11 November, Yasser Arafat died in Paris. In the first week of 2005, Mahmoud Abbas was elected as the president of the State of Palestine. In 2005, Israel completely withdrew from
29232-411: Was organized by the Arab League in Beirut , which was endorsed by Arafat and nearly ignored by Israel. In 2002, Israel launched Operation Defensive Shield after the Passover massacre . Heavy fighting between IDF and Palestinian fighters took place in Jenin . The Church of the Nativity was besieged by the IDF for one week until successful negotiations took place, which resulted withdrawal of
29406-441: Was supported by Palestinians. The war also led expulsion of Palestinians from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia , as their government supported Iraq . In 1993, the Oslo Accords were signed between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), leading to the establishment of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and a potential path to peace. Yasser Arafat was elected as president of the newly formed Palestinian Authority in 1994, marking
29580-432: Was the most common metal in use, while stone technology continued to contribute the bulk of tools . Early Bronze III is followed by another period, alternately named Early Bronze IV, Middle Bronze I, Intermediate Bronze or Early Bronze-Middle Bronze. In this period the name is apt; true bronze (a tin alloy of copper ) makes its appearance in this time span. The next period is generally known as Middle Bronze II and
29754-425: Was the prime minister of Palestine, who resigned in 2024. In 2024, Mohammad Mustafa was appointed as the new prime minister of the country, after resigning of Shtayyeh. Yahya Sinwar was leader of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip before his death on 16 October, 2024. According to Freedom House , the PNA governs Palestine in an authoritarian manner, including by repressing activists and journalists critical of
29928-413: Was willing to accept a Palestinian state "in the territories of 1967 " ( Gaza Strip and West Bank ), and offered Israel a long-term truce if Israel recognized the Palestinians' national rights ; and stated that Israel rejected this proposal. A Hamas finance minister around 2018 contended that such a "long-term ceasefire as understood by Hamas and a two-state settlement are the same". Mkhaimer Abusada,
30102-578: Was willing to accept a Palestinian state "in the territories of 1967 " and offered Israel a long-term truce if Israel recognized the Palestinians' national rights – which he said Israel had declined. In September 2009, Ismail Haniyeh , head of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip , wrote to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon – like he had told the New York Times in August 2006: "We would never thwart efforts to create an independent Palestinian state with borders [from] June 4, 1967, with Jerusalem as its capital." In May 2010, Khaled Mashal , chairman of
30276-418: Was with Zionists , not Jews. It has been debated whether the charter has reflected an actual change in policy. In terms of foreign policy, Hamas has historically sought out relations with Egypt, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Turkey; some of its relations have been impacted by the Arab Spring . Hamas and Israel have engaged in protracted armed conflict . Key aspects of the conflict include
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