According to the YouTube channel Extra History, in 1914, the Ottoman Empire controlled the Middle East; the map illustrates who held power over various parts of the region. The Ottoman government had direct control of Jerusalem. Despite the region being predominantly governed by specific groups residing in major cities, such as Damascus, the Ottoman Empire was riddled with the economic crisis of 1897. Internal uprisings made the kingdom easily exploited and divided by European powers, who viewed the region as a frontier to bolster their imperial ambitions, partly due to its rich resources, including oil. The resulting treaties divided the area into two main parts controlled by Britain or France, with little regard for cultural differences. The Holy Land was promised to no fewer than three powers, which included the Zionists, the British, and the French. The concept of Zionism advocates for the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine. In the Treaty of Versailles, the Allies overlooked the region’s self-determination principle. The San Remo Conference divided the area into mandated territories for British and French control during the same year. The region of modern Palestine and Israel was under British administration.
How were the Countries of Israel and Palestine created?
According to the Anne Frank House, the first President of Israel, David Ben-Gurion, declared the nation of Israel on 14th May 1948 at the Tel Aviv Museum. The next day, the President of the USA, Harry S. Truman, recognised the state. In the previous year, the UN agreed to divide the area between the Jews and Arabs. Both Jewish associations and Arabs disliked the proposal, which led to both sides breaking out into war that lasted a year, won by the Jews. The people who did not leave the region were subsequently called Palestinians from that point on. This is the UN treaty map of the Middle East, which was agreed upon by most parties involved, resulting in the aforementioned war, referred to as the ‘Arab-Israeli’ War of 1948.
21st-century situations involving Israel and Palestine
One of the main reasons why I chose this topic was its relevance to numerous people around the world, either due to personal connections or concern for other human beings losing their lives. According to various sources, including Al Jazeera, which I have mainly used for this section, the conflict began on 7th October 2023 and is currently ongoing. During the months of the conflict, the estimated death toll for Gazans is 61,709, including 17,492 children. The devastation of the bombardment in the region has been incredibly damaging, with 50% of hospitals being partially operational and 88% of schools damaged. These figures may be slightly outdated, as they were last updated on 15th January 2025 by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the World Health Organization, and the Palestinian government. One main reason for the attack is the fact that since 2007, Israel has heavily controlled the Gaza Strip, its territorial waters, and the movement of goods into and out of the region. This has been crucial during the last months of the war, as restricted goods, including food and basic necessities, have caused a massive blockade, further increasing the total death toll of the Gazan population, which stands at 61,709 as of 15th January 2025. There have been multiple attempts at a ceasefire to end the conflict; however, these have been rejected by Israeli military officials, who state, “We are being very cautious,” leaving the future of the war uncertain, particularly as the ceasefire agreement may be expiring sometime in the week between 25th February and 2nd March 2025. Israel is also preparing for the resumption of the war.
By Ikram
Winchmore School Newsroom