During, the First World War (1917), Britain promised to establish independent states for both Arabs and Jews, in case of fall of Ottoman Empire. However, the conqueror, instead of creating two states as promised, initially in 1918, settled 100,000, Jews and then again after the aftermath of the Second World War, sent 250,000 Jewish refugees earlier stranded in displaced person camps of Europe.
Trump’s evacuation plan for Gaza has ignited intense international criticism.
Despite US President Harry Truman’s pressure the British declined to lift its ban on immigration and admit 100,000 Jews. Thus settling them once again in Palestinian areas. The sole objective behind increasing settlement of Jews was to convert majority population into a minority population in Palestinian-dominated areas. Therefore, it can be said, “Middle East; a region of 19 countries, came under flames, as a result of irrational divisions by British Rulers of the occupied area”.
Anyhow, Britain, handed over 56 percent of the area to Jewish minority during 1947 and 1948. Though Palestinians were in a majority but they were deprived of establishing a separate Independent state for themselves. On the other hand, Arab rulers of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen protested but failed to make any impact . Instead they pulled back their support from the Palestinians and gave preference to safeguard their national interests.
Meanwhile, due to liberal immigration policies, thousands of Jews from all over the world migrated and got asylum in Europe and USA. With each passing day, Jews got a strong foothold by capturing business in the overall US economy. According to Pew Research Organization, “overall U.S. Jews fall in high income earning group, their household income is $100,000 annually, which is much higher than the American group.
Moreover, 50 per cent Jews are living very comfortably whereas three-in-ten are meeting their basic expenses with a little money and the remaining though hard pressed are meeting their basic expenses. Migration of Jews in Israeli-occupied area of Gaza is still continuing against the wishes of the Palestinians.
Consequently, a troublesome situation resulted in starting the Palestinian armed struggle against Israel that then spread all over the Middle eastern region. USA and some western countries openly started supporting the Tel Aviv political stance, of establishing Jewish colonies, their defence and development, growing and strengthening economy, nuclear programme, supplying of conventional weapons against Arab countries and Palestinians.
Netanyahu and Trump’s policies signal an aggressive shift in regional dynamics.
On the other hand, many freedom fighters groups including, Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Al-Fatah, Hamas, Hizbulla, Hizbul Mujahedeen emerged and started resistance due to Israeli brutal actions in occupied areas. Later on, a time came when Palestinian freedom fighters and groups successfully forced Israelis to leave some areas and handover the control of Gaza Strip and WestBank to them. However, three major Arab wars were fought between rivals, which resulted in bloodshed, and an unending conflict.
In recent most past, Hamas launched its deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, prompting the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to engage in aerial campaigns and ground operations within the Gaza Strip. Efforts to free more than one hundred remaining Israeli and foreign hostages taken by Hamas have been largely unsuccessful, and their location and health status are unknown.
Almost two million Gazans—more than 85 percent of the population—have fled their homes since October 2023. Recent casualty estimates from the Hamas-run Gazan Health Ministry place the death toll in Gaza at around 46 645 , though hard evidence of this claim is not possible due to limited international access to the strip. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is attempting to facilitate a ceasefire and hostage release deal between the two parties.
Anyhow, sparking of this conflict increased regional tensions across the Middle East. Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon have engaged in cross-border conflicts with the IDF, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have shot missiles at Israel and commercial ships in the Red Sea, and other Iran-backed groups have launched dozens of attacks on U.S. military positions in Iraq and Syria. (For more on the direct confrontation between Iran and Israel and the role of the United States, visit the “Confrontation with Iran” page. For more on the direct confrontation between Hezbollah and Israel, visit the “Instability in Lebanon” page).
As per agreement, ceasefire of Hamas and Israel War took place on 19 January 2025, a day before President Trump took over the US throne. The agreement will be concluded in three phases. It started with temporary ceasefire, release of Israeli and Palestinian captives, and return of displaced Palestinians in their destroyed homes. Since October 7, 2023, Israel has killed at least 47500 Palestinians and injured 110,000 – an average of 100 Palestinians killed every day over the past 475 days.
Global actors, including the UNO, reject the proposed plan as violating human rights.
Tel Aviv carried out air raids on Gaza even after the agreement which resulted in more killings and injuries. Gaza’s estimated population is around 2.3 million people, half of whom are children and out of that only six percent population is left since the war began. In short, October 7, 23 conflict was converted into a Middle East Continental War, and if not stopped by resolving the issue between them it may convert into Third World War.
Three phases of recently concluded agreement between Israel and Hamas have been completed but still it seems to be provisional in nature since Tel Aviv is constantly targeting the Lebanese and the Gazans. Except returning of prisoners and temporary ceasefire, no glaring outcome has been noticed so far since Israel is determined to push Palestinians out of Gaza. USA is supporting every illegal and inhuman action against Palestinians.
On February 4, 25, after one to one dialogue, in a joint press conference, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and United States President Donald Trump expressed the Palestinian evacuation plan and stressed that Jordan and Egypt should accomodate the Palestinians and vacate Gaza. President Trump has shocked the world when he stated his intention of landing US forces for Gaza takeover.
Later on, Trump’s foreign office took a “U turn” to cover the presidential statement by stating that in fact, he had meant to say that the US troops would help with the cleaning and rebuilding of Gaza. But Trump has retreated from his intention of first purchasing or taking control over Gaza land, then evacuation, developing and rebuilding of Gaza. About Iranian nuclear program, he added that Washington would be ready to have a nuclear agreement with Iran instead of attacking her. At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu showed determination to implement the Trump Plan and stressed that Iran would not be allowed to develop nuclear capability.
UNO, China, Russia, Pakistan, Arab countries, Iran, and Palestinians have totally rejected Trump’s plan of Palestinian evacuation from Gaza and asked Israel to stop its brutality towards Palestinians immediately. OIC Foreign Ministers conference is going to be held on February 27 this year and it aims to deliberate on current Middle East development for defeating Netanyahu and Trump collaboration, stand shoulder to shoulder with Palestinians, and reconstruction of demolished Palestinian areas by Israel in war.
The plan underscores the urgent need for renewed diplomatic efforts and a two-state solution.
Conflict resolution lies, firstly, if, Israel agrees to accept division of land into two independent states, i.e. “Palestine” having Jerusalem as its capital and immediate evacuation of Israeli forces from Gaza, rebuilding of the West Bank and Gaza would then be a result of the proposed two states creation.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.
