PSIR Simplified

The Palestine conflict is one of the oldest global problems of our time. This problem in the present form originated with the creation of State of Israel on 14 May, 1948 on the and which is considered by Palestinians as their own land. The root cause of this conflict is the demand of separate homeland for Palestinians in the same place where Israel is located and Israel persistent refusal to accept this demand on the ground of security and other regions. Since 1948 there have been many efforts to resolve this issue, but it defied the solution. Over the years, the Palestine-Israel issue has become more complex due to involvement of many actors and concerns. The Arab countries of the Middle east region have been traditionally supporting the cause of Palestinians in this conflict. Thus, the Palestine problem is a part of greater Middle East region, where India has many strategic interests ranging from supply of oil to remittances from Indian working in Middle Eastern countries to transport and trade and investment. India’s policy towards Palestine issue can be best described as a shift from ideological commitment to Palestine Cause during cold war to gradual shift towards strategic pragmatism in the post-cold war era. In Brief, during cold war era India outrightly supported the cause of Palestine in tune with Arab states of the region and even declined to maintain full diplomatic relations with Israel. However, after the end of cold war and with changing global economic and strategic environment, India too made a policy shift in the Middle East. While the ties with Arab countries were further expanded on the one hand, the relations with Israel were also improved on the other. In fact, the prevailing strategic conditions in the Middle east also helps India to pursue this balancing approach as many of the Arab countries like Egypt, UAE and Jordan have also normalized their ties with Israel the period of time.

Background of Palestine Conflict

The Palestine conflict is very complex and longstanding problem of international politics. It has many historical layers and multiple dimensions, which add to its complexity. Itys is historically admitted that the disputed land belonged to Jews in ancient period. However, due to persecution under Roman Empire in ancient times and later due to long Islamic rule over this land, many Jews migrated to Europe, North America and even to India. The Islam spread to Palestine area in 7^th century, which resulted in the construction of Al Aqsa Mosque at the Temple Mount in the old Jerusalem by the fifth Umayyad caliph in the late 7^th century. In modern times the mosque in the Temple Mount of Jews have become a particular point of tension in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Apart from its importance to Muslims, the Temple Mount holds significance for Jews as the site of the Temple of Jerusalem which was destroyed in 70 ce. Muslims believe that it is from this place that Prophet made her last journey to heaven. This Mosque is the most disputed site at present between the supporters of Islam and Jews of Israel as Temple Mount is the place where the old temple of Jews was located. This temple was destroyed by Roman rulers, but its western wall (Wailing wall) is still the most sacred place of Jews. We all know that Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, near Jerusalem. This is how Jerusalem became the contested land between the followers of three religions- Judaism, Islam and Christianity.

Later the Palestine-Israel region came under the control of Ottoman empire. However, the scattered Jews in America and Europe launched a Zionist movement in late 19^th century to claim their ancestral land and establish a Jew state in the area of present-day Israel. During the WWI the British government also supported the demand for a Jewish state in 1917 in area then known as Palestine under the Ottoman empire. The World Zionist Organization was established in in 1897 to launch a movement for independent state of Israel at their ancient land by Theodore Hurzl, who is known as father of Zionism. This support was given by the Belfour Declaration issues in 1917. After the defeat of the Ottoman empire in the WWI, the area of Palestine was placed in the supervision of Britain under the mandate system of League of nations. The mandated regions were those areas which were not capable of self-governing and hence needed external support and supervision till they attain statehood. It was during the British mandate that large n of Jews migrated to Palestine area (the present-day Israel) from different parts of the world.

The British announced to end their mandate in 1948 after the end of WWII, Israel was established as an independent nation on this land in 1948 with the support of European Powers and America.  And since then Palestinians have been fighting for their right for independent homeland. In this fight, Islamic countries have supported Palestinians, but later this support has weakened particularly in the in post-cold war era. America and European countries have extended and continue to extend their support to Israel.  Four major wars along with many smaller have been fought between the two sides in 1948, 1956, 1967 and 1973. military tensions as well as skirmishes between Palestine and Israel have been almost a regular feature since the establishment of Israel in 1948. The crux of the problems revolves around the claims of Israel (Jews) and Palestinians (Muslims) as their homeland on the same piece of land. At present, Palestinians, who adhere to Islam, are living in two enclaves within Israel, namely Gaza strip and West Bank (of Jordan river) and scattered as refugees in many neighbouring countries like Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and other. Many Palestinians are still living in Israel also.

Present status of Palestine Problem

The brief historical background of Palestine problem reveals that it has both religious and strategic connotations. The involvement of Islamic States and external players like Israel’s supporters like US and European countries has further complicated the resolution of this conflict. The Shia-Sunni religious fault line and fractions within Palestinians have made the Palestinian issue more complicated. However, with the end of cold war, the hopes for resolution of Palestine issue were generated. A historic deal known as Oslo Accords, 1993-1995 was signed between Israel and Palestinian group PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization). Under the Oslo accord, Palestinians gave recognition to independent state of Israel and Israel agreed for the establishment of independent state for Palestinians.  Israel agreed to grant initially limited autonomy to Palestinians in West bank and Gaza Strip with the autonomous rule of Palestinians. It was assumed that in the later phase the Palestinians would get the full statehood in these territories. Accordingly, Palestine National Authority (PNA) was established in 1994 in West bank and Gaza strip. Meanwhile, during the second elections to legislature of PNA in 2006, the difference between the extremist Hamas faction and moderate Al Fateh came to the fore. Hamas was founded in 1987 as a radical faction of Palestinians. Its full Arabic name is Ḥarakah al-Muqāwamah al-ʾIslāmiyyah, which translates to the Islamic Resistance Movement. Hamas does not recognize Israel and believes in violent means to pursue the goal of independent Palestine state in place of Israel. In these elections, Hams won the majority seats, but Al Fateh did not hand over power to Hamas. Later in 2007, Hamas captured Gaza strip and started the policy of military actions against Israel. Hamas has been supported by Iran and its Lebanon based Hezbollah.  Since 2007, there have been many rounds of military skirmishes between Israel and Gaza based Hamas militants. Hamas activities have prompted Israel to renege from Oslo accord on the ground of her national security.

The ongoing Gaza conflict between Israel and Hamas (an extremist and militant group of Palestinians) since October, 2023 is the latest in the series of the conflicts between the two sides. The conflict began when the Hamas extremists and other groups launched a coordinated Armed incursion against Israel on 07 October, 2023, in which 1195 Israelis were killed and about 250 Israeli civilian and soldiers were taken hostage by Hamas militants. In retaliation, Israeli armed forces launched a massive military operation against Hamas in Gaza, which is still continuing, amidst few non-serious phases of ceasefire between the two sides. The latest ceasefire between 19 January 2025 to 18 March, 2025, was not renewed, prompting Israel to reinforce its military operation again.  In this conflict, more than 70000 Palestinians, mostly women and children have been killed so far.  According to the United Nations, 1.9 million people were displaced in Gaza as of October 2024 out of a population of 2.2 million people; which created a huge humanitarian crisis in human history.

Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan, September, 2025

In consultation with Israel and Hamas interlocutors, American President Donald Trump unveiled a 20-point Gaza Peace plan on 29 September, 2025. This plan was signed by both parties (Israel and Hamas representative) on 9 October, 2025 and came into force on 10 October, 2025. The UN Security Council approved this plan on 17 November, 2025.

The plan, among other things, involves the following important steps:

1. Immediate ceasefire by Israel and Hamas.
2. Gaza will be declared as terror-free deradicalized zone and will be redeveloped.
3. Release of prisoners of war by both sides.
4. Constitution of Board of Peace, headed by Trump and including many willing countries. This Board will be the highest authority to oversee the implementation of the plan. India is not a member of this Board, but Pakistan has joined it.
5. Disarming the Hamas militants and after that withdrawal of Israel from Gaza. At present] Israel controls 65 percent of Gaza.
6. Establishment of a government of technocrats in Gaza (not politicians) to administer Gaza.
7. Establishment of international stabilizing force consisting of forces from willing countries to maintain peace and order in  Gaza.

Implementation of Gaza Peace Plan

Though Gaza peace plan has led to ceasefire, exchange of refugees, and establishment of Board of Peace. The ceasefire is now imposed since 10 October, 2025, but Israel still continues to take military actions in Gaza from time to time. nearly 1300 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military actions since the peace plan came into force. Meanwhile, the exchange of prisoners was completed between the two sides. Board of Peace was formally established by Trump on 22 January, 2026.

But the Peace plan is now facing the hurdle at step number 5 as Hamas is not willing to surrender their total arms and Israel has declared not to withdraw from Gaza till Hamas disarm completely. At present Israel controls 65 percent of territory in Gaza. Further diplomatic efforts are needed to fully implement the Gaza peace plan.