🇵🇸 The Complex History of Palestine: From Ottoman Rule to Contemporary Struggles

Last Updated on July 20, 2024

In the heart of the Middle East, flanked by Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and the Mediterranean Sea, lies the historically significant region of Palestine. Throughout centuries, Muslims, Christians, and Jews harmoniously coexisted under the umbrella of the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire, fostering a rich tapestry of cultural diversity. By 1914, the population stood at 84% Muslim, 11% Christian, and 6% Jewish, showcasing the mosaic of religious and ethnic backgrounds.

The winds of change swept through during the First World War, as Britain promised support for the liberation of Arab peoples from Ottoman rule. However, behind closed doors, Britain and France had already brokered the Sykes-Picot Agreement in 1916, dividing the Middle East among themselves. This clandestine arrangement left Britain in control of Iraq, Palestine, Jordan, and the Trucial states, while France claimed Syria, Lebanon, and Turkish Cilicia.

Amidst the restructuring of the Ottoman empire in 1917, British foreign secretary Arthur Balfour committed to facilitating the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine. British occupation persisted until 1948, shaping the course of the region’s destiny.

As 1947 dawned, Britain sought the guidance of the newly established United Nations to determine the future of Palestine. Despite Jews constituting only a third of the population, the UN recommended the creation of a Jewish state on 56% of the land. The Palestinian people rejected the partition, yet Israel unilaterally declared its establishment in 1948, leading to the Nakba (“catastrophe”) that resulted in the ethnic cleansing of two-thirds of the Palestinian population.

Since the 1967 war, the West Bank and Gaza Strip have endured illegal Israeli military rule, collectively termed the “Occupied Palestinian Territories.” In a controversial move, East Jerusalem was annexed by Israel in 1967. For more than six decades, Palestinians have been denied the fundamental right to self-determination and statehood, perpetuating a cycle of unresolved conflicts in the region.