Timelines: Palestine Shrinking / Expanding Israel |VANISHING PALESTINE
Understanding the Context: Settler-Colonialism, Nakba, and Occupation
To understand the current crisis in Palestine, it is crucial to grasp the historical context, which spans over a century. What is often framed as a complex “conflict” is described by many sources as a struggle against Zionist and Israeli settler-colonialism.
Key historical aspects and concepts include:
- The Palestinian Question: This refers to the Palestinian people’s struggle against a settler-colonial project that, for over a century, has aimed at erasing Palestinians and claiming their land.
- Zionism: Defined as the political ideology behind establishing and maintaining a Jewish demographic majority in Palestine through the state of Israel, often at the expense of the native Palestinian population. Early Zionist leaders intended to drive out native Palestinians and settle Jewish people in their place, an objective that some sources argue continues to guide Israeli policies today through practices like illegal settlements, the siege of Gaza, and displacement.
- The Nakba (Catastrophe): This refers to the ethnic cleansing of Palestine that occurred in 1948, resulting in the displacement of over 750,000 Palestinians from their homes. They have been denied the right to return for over seven decades, making the millions of Palestinian refugees scattered globally the world’s most protracted refugee crisis. The deliberate ethnic cleansing by Zionist militias during the Nakba is supported by the historical record.
- The Naksa (Setback): This term is used to describe the aftermath of the 1967 war, which led to further Palestinian displacement and the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza.
- The Occupation: Israel continues to occupy the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Settlements built in these occupied territories are considered illegal under international law and are seen as a major hurdle to the realisation of a viable Palestinian state. The blockade of Gaza since 2007 is also part of this ongoing control.
- Challenging Misinformation: While the situation is often described as “very complicated,” some sources argue this framing is used to dissuade engagement and that the conflict is understandable. There is a prevalence of distorted narratives and myths that require debunking to arrive at an accurate understanding.
Understanding this history, including key periods like the British Mandate and the Intifadas, provides essential context for the current health and humanitarian crisis. Resources are available to learn more and challenge misinformation.
