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Israel-Gaza violence: The conflict explained | Israel-Gaza violence: The conflict explained |
(30 days later) | |
A ceasefire was agreed on 21 May between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. | |
It came after 11 days of fighting, which left at least 255 people dead. Most of those killed were Palestinians in the territory of Gaza. | |
Israel and Hamas both claimed victory in the latest conflict. | Israel and Hamas both claimed victory in the latest conflict. |
The violence in May followed a month of rising tensions in Jerusalem. But the fighting has gone on for decades. | |
A 100-year-old issue | A 100-year-old issue |
Bethlehem in the early 20th century | Bethlehem in the early 20th century |
Britain took control of the area known as Palestine after the ruler of that part of the Middle East, the Ottoman Empire, was defeated in World War One. | |
The land was inhabited by a Jewish minority and Arab majority. | The land was inhabited by a Jewish minority and Arab majority. |
Tensions between the two peoples grew when the international community gave Britain the task of establishing a "national home" in Palestine for Jewish people. | Tensions between the two peoples grew when the international community gave Britain the task of establishing a "national home" in Palestine for Jewish people. |
For Jews it was their ancestral home, but Palestinian Arabs also claimed the land and opposed the move. | |
A Haganah (Jewish Underground) fighter just before the start of the Israeli War of Independence 1948 | A Haganah (Jewish Underground) fighter just before the start of the Israeli War of Independence 1948 |
Between the 1920s and 1940s, the number of Jews arriving there grew, with many fleeing from persecution in Europe and seeking a homeland after the Holocaust of World War Two. | |
Violence between Jews and Arabs, and against British rule, also grew. | Violence between Jews and Arabs, and against British rule, also grew. |
In 1947, the UN voted for Palestine to be split into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem becoming an international city. | In 1947, the UN voted for Palestine to be split into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem becoming an international city. |
That plan was accepted by Jewish leaders but rejected by the Arab side and never implemented. | That plan was accepted by Jewish leaders but rejected by the Arab side and never implemented. |
The soldiers of allied Arab Legion forces fire on Jewish fighters of the Haganah, the Jewish Agency self-defence force in March 1948 | The soldiers of allied Arab Legion forces fire on Jewish fighters of the Haganah, the Jewish Agency self-defence force in March 1948 |
The creation of Israel and the 'Catastrophe' | The creation of Israel and the 'Catastrophe' |
In 1948, unable to solve the problem, British rulers left and Jewish leaders declared the creation of the state of Israel. | In 1948, unable to solve the problem, British rulers left and Jewish leaders declared the creation of the state of Israel. |
Many Palestinians objected and a war followed. Troops from neighbouring Arab countries invaded. | Many Palestinians objected and a war followed. Troops from neighbouring Arab countries invaded. |
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were forced out of their homes in what they call Al Nakba, or the "Catastrophe". | Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were forced out of their homes in what they call Al Nakba, or the "Catastrophe". |
By the time the fighting ended in a ceasefire the following year, Israel controlled most of the territory. | By the time the fighting ended in a ceasefire the following year, Israel controlled most of the territory. |
Jordan occupied land which became known as the West Bank, and Egypt occupied Gaza. | Jordan occupied land which became known as the West Bank, and Egypt occupied Gaza. |
Jerusalem was divided between Israeli forces in the West, and Jordanian forces in the East. | Jerusalem was divided between Israeli forces in the West, and Jordanian forces in the East. |
Because there was never a peace agreement - with each side blaming the other - there were more wars and fighting in the following decades. | |
The map today | The map today |
In another war in 1967, Israel occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank, as well as most of the Syrian Golan Heights, Gaza and the Egyptian Sinai peninsula. | |
Most Palestinian refugees and their descendants live in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as in neighbouring Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. | Most Palestinian refugees and their descendants live in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as in neighbouring Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. |
Neither they nor their descendants have been allowed by Israel to return to their homes - Israel says this would overwhelm the country and threaten its existence as a Jewish state. | Neither they nor their descendants have been allowed by Israel to return to their homes - Israel says this would overwhelm the country and threaten its existence as a Jewish state. |
Israeli military commanders arrive in East Jerusalem, after Israeli forces seized East Jerusalem, during the Six Day War in 1967 | Israeli military commanders arrive in East Jerusalem, after Israeli forces seized East Jerusalem, during the Six Day War in 1967 |
Israel still occupies the West Bank, and although it pulled out of Gaza the UN still regards that piece of land as occupied territory. | |
Israel claims the whole of Jerusalem as its capital, while the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state. The US is one of only a handful of countries to recognise Israel's claim to the whole of the city. | Israel claims the whole of Jerusalem as its capital, while the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state. The US is one of only a handful of countries to recognise Israel's claim to the whole of the city. |
What is Hamas? | What is Hamas? |
The child victims of the Israel-Gaza conflict | The child victims of the Israel-Gaza conflict |
Life in the Gaza Strip | Life in the Gaza Strip |
In the past 50 years Israel has built settlements in these areas, where more than 600,000 Jews now live. | In the past 50 years Israel has built settlements in these areas, where more than 600,000 Jews now live. |
Palestinians say these are illegal under international law and are obstacles to peace, but Israel denies this. | Palestinians say these are illegal under international law and are obstacles to peace, but Israel denies this. |
What's happening now? | What's happening now? |
Tensions are often high between Israel and Palestinians living in East Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank. | Tensions are often high between Israel and Palestinians living in East Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank. |
Gaza is ruled by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has fought Israel many times. Israel and Egypt tightly control Gaza's borders to stop weapons getting to Hamas. | Gaza is ruled by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has fought Israel many times. Israel and Egypt tightly control Gaza's borders to stop weapons getting to Hamas. |
Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank say they are suffering because of Israeli actions and restrictions. Israel says it is only acting to protect itself from Palestinian violence. | |
The threatened eviction of some Palestinian families in East Jerusalem has also caused rising anger. | The threatened eviction of some Palestinian families in East Jerusalem has also caused rising anger. |
Palestinians celebrate the ceasefire in Gaza City | Palestinians celebrate the ceasefire in Gaza City |
What are the main problems? | What are the main problems? |
There are a number of issues which Israel and the Palestinians cannot agree on. | There are a number of issues which Israel and the Palestinians cannot agree on. |
These include: what should happen to Palestinian refugees; whether Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank should stay or be removed; whether the two sides should share Jerusalem; and - perhaps most tricky of all - whether a Palestinian state should be created alongside Israel. | |
Peace talks have been taking place on and off for more than 25 years, but so far have not solved the conflict. | Peace talks have been taking place on and off for more than 25 years, but so far have not solved the conflict. |
What does the future hold? | What does the future hold? |
In short, the situation isn't going to be sorted out any time soon. | In short, the situation isn't going to be sorted out any time soon. |
The most recent peace plan, prepared by the United States when Donald Trump was president, was called "the deal of the century" by Israel's then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But it was been dismissed by the Palestinians as one-sided and never got off the ground. | |
Any future peace deal will need both sides to agree to resolve complex issues. | Any future peace deal will need both sides to agree to resolve complex issues. |
The BBC's Middle East editor, Jeremy Bowen, says the latest round of violence in May was the fourth big war between Hamas and Israel since 2008. | |
He's seen previous wars end like this before: "Similar things have been said by both sides in claiming victory and then essentially the seeds of the next conflict are sown. | He's seen previous wars end like this before: "Similar things have been said by both sides in claiming victory and then essentially the seeds of the next conflict are sown. |
"I can tell you one thing for certain - that if the status quo does not change favourably, there will be another round of this." | "I can tell you one thing for certain - that if the status quo does not change favourably, there will be another round of this." |
Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. | Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. |
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. | Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. |