Gaza Strip Explained
Israel’s Open-Air Prison. The most densely occupied and poverty-stricken stretches of land on the globe.
Long ago, Palestine experienced a history marked by different rulers, conflicts, and shifting empires. What stands out is the diverse composition of its population, which included a mix of Arabs, encompassing Muslims, Christians, and Jews, coexisting in the same geographic area in Peace.
Before 1917, Jewish communities were dispersed globally, with significant populations in Eastern and Western Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, the United States, and smaller communities in various other regions. These communities faced varying degrees of discrimination and persecution in different parts of the world, which contributed to the desire for a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
1917 — The Balfour Declaration
Briefly, The Balfour Declaration was a statement by the British government in 1917 supporting the idea of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine, which was then part of the Ottoman Empire. It was conveyed in a letter from British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour to Lord Rothschild, a prominent British Jewish leader, and published in the press in November 1917.
The declaration emerged during World War I when the British began considering the future of Palestine and sought to gain the support of Jews.
The declaration used the term “national home,” which was intentionally vague about whether it meant a Jewish state and didn’t specify the exact boundaries of Palestine. It aimed to safeguard the civil and religious rights of Palestinian Arabs, who comprised the majority of the population, and the rights of Jewish communities outside of Palestine.
The Balfour Declaration had significant and lasting effects. It garnered strong support for Zionism among global Jewish communities and played a pivotal role in establishing the British Mandate for Palestine. It contributed to the creation of Israel and remains a major factor in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
This is precisely what we call “ Giving to those who don’t deserve what they don’t have.”
Palestine’s population in 1914 was 689,000, comprising 525,000 Muslims, 94,000 Jews, and 70,000 Christians Based on the work of Roberto Bachi, Sergio Della Pergola the Italian-Israeli demographers.
In 1918, The British assumed authority over Palestine. Subsequently, the League of Nations implemented a British mandate for Palestine in 1923, which included provisions related to the Balfour Declaration and the development of a Jewish national homeland in the region.
The question at hand is, why did Britain and the League of Nations grant an existing territory to a group of people who did not have a nation of their own to establish a new one? Why didn’t they allocate a common area in Europe for this purpose, especially considering that this group was, is, and will likely remain small in numbers?
When it comes to charity, it’s better for someone to offer help using their own means rather than taking it from others.
1933- The Holocaust
The Holocaust was a tragic event during World War II when the Nazis, led by Adolf Hitler, systematically killed approximately six million Jews in Europe and North Africa. This genocide, known as The Holocaust or the Shoah, involved mass murders and horrifying cruelty, including the use of gas chambers at places like Auschwitz in Poland. The scale and horror of the Holocaust became fully known only after the war, leading to increased efforts to establish a Jewish state in Palestine.
One might anticipate them showing empathy and support for the vulnerable. However, it becomes evident that they’ve chosen a path of revenge, directing their violence and excelling in it towards anyone who opposes their plans.
1947- The UN Partition Plan
In 1947, the United Nations divided the land, giving 55% to the Jewish community and less to the Palestinians, even though there were more Palestinians living there. The reality on the ground changed significantly, with the Zionists getting 78% of the historic Palestinian land. This led to the displacement of over 750,000 Palestinians from their homes and the destruction of more than 400 Palestinian villages in what is now Israel.
To delve deeper into the subject, I recommend investigating the following:
1948- The Founding Of Israel and The Nakba
In May 1948, after the British mandate ended, Zionist leaders declared Israel an independent state. This led to the first Arab-Israeli War as several Arab countries invaded.
During this conflict, many Palestinians were displaced from their homes, resulting in what is known as the “Nakba” or catastrophe. Jordan occupied and annexed East Jerusalem, while Egypt occupied a coastal area north of the Sinai Peninsula called the Gaza Strip. Many Palestinian refugees sought shelter in these areas.
Jordan’s territory later became known as the “West Bank,” and Egypt’s as the “Gaza Strip.” Armistice agreements between Israel and its Arab adversaries were reached the following year.
1967- Six-Day War
In 1967, during the Six-Day War, Israel launched preemptive attacks, capturing East Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and the Sinai Peninsula. While Egypt took back Sinai in 1973, Israel occupied the other territories.
1993- 2005: Israeli Annexations and Settlements
In 1980, Israel claimed East Jerusalem as its own, but it hasn’t done the same for the West Bank and Gaza. Instead, it has been building more and more settlements in those areas, which most of the world considers illegal. Israel says the final status of these places will be decided in future talks.
The initial Oslo Accord, referred to as Oslo I, was signed on September 13, 1993, marking the first time the Israeli and Palestinian leadership formally acknowledged each other. Both sides committed to ending their long-standing conflict.
A subsequent agreement, Oslo II, was signed in September 1995 and provided more detailed guidelines for the institutions that were supposed to result from the peace process.
The Oslo Accords aimed to achieve Palestinian self-determination, culminating in the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. This meant that Israel would acknowledge Palestinian claims to national sovereignty. However, these claims were limited to a portion of historic Palestine, with the remainder falling under Israeli sovereignty.
In 2005, due to pressure from both the international community and within Israel, the country removed approximately 9,000 Israeli settlers and its military from Gaza. This meant that the Palestinian Authority, which also had control in parts of the occupied West Bank, was put in charge of governing Gaza.
Until this moment, in addition to military actions, expansion is not solely carried out by the military, as local Jewish settlers now engage in a practice where they approach the homes of Palestinians and try to force them out. They believe that if they don’t do this, someone else will.
Let’s Now Shift Our Focus to The Gaza Strip
Gaza, also known as the Gaza Strip, is a slender strip of land located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bounded by Israel to the east and north and by Egypt to the southwest.
Who holds governance and authority over it?
Hamas, under the leadership of Ismail Haniyeh, has frequently clashed with Palestinian leaders in the West Bank who were part of the negotiation of the Oslo Peace Accords. These clashes stem from their disagreement over recognizing the state of Israel over the Palestinian Land.
In 2006, Hamas won elections in Gaza and subsequently took control of the territory. Since then, no elections have been conducted in Gaza.
Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by many countries, including the U.S., the U.K., and Canada, due to its attacks on Israel, including rocket attacks and suicide bombings in an attempt to free Palestine from the occupation.
Some countries, like New Zealand, consider only Hamas’ military wing as a terrorist group.
Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza following the Hamas takeover, claiming it’s necessary to prevent the import of arms by Hamas and other militant groups.
As a result, Gaza’s economy has suffered, with high unemployment rates, frequent power outages, and contaminated tap water. Palestinians also face restrictions on their movement, making it challenging to travel abroad for work, study, or to visit family.
Putting aside any local government control, they are under occupation, and even the air they breathe is overseen by Israel.
Self-reflection: Is considering any Ukrainian attempts to recover Russian-occupied territory as terrorism equivalent to responding in a similar manner?
Today, more than 2 million Palestinians live in an area of about 140 square miles, making it one of the most densely populated places globally, as stated by an Israeli non-governmental organization called Gisha.
Approximately 40% of Gaza’s residents are under the age of 14, as reported by the CIA. They are KIDS.
The region faces high unemployment, limited electricity availability (only about half the day), and inadequate access to clean water, according to the Israeli organization Gisha.
Furthermore, residents emphasize that Gaza lacks shelters, bunkers, safe routes, or safe zones, making it challenging for families to plan their escape.
I encourage you to stay informed by reading the news and gaining a deeper understanding of the realities and challenges faced by people in that region. It’s essential to empathize with their experiences and exercise compassion, recognizing that they are not white but they are human beings as well.
