A Century of Israeli-Palestinian Struggle:
For Israelis and Palestinians, the day October 7, 2023 stands as a grim reminder of the ongoing conflict that has plagued their lands for over a century. This day marked one of the darkest in their shared history, as thousands fell victim to violence and brutality, reminiscent of past tragedies, like the Holocaust and the Nakba. The aftermath of the October 7 attacks has only deepened the wounds of both nations, with Israel vowing to pursue Total Victory over the Palestinian Hamas Movement, and the Palestinians mourning the loss of tens of thousands of lives and the displacement of millions.

At the heart of this conflict lies a complex web of historical grievances, territorial disputes and ideological differences. From the early days of Zionist aspirations in the late 19th Century to the present, Israeli and Palestinian leaders have grappled with irreconcilable visions of nationhood and sovereignty. Figures, like David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister, recognised the deep-seated divide between Jews and Arabs, concluding that conflict management, rather than resolution, was the only feasible approach.

The roots of the conflict trace back to the British Mandate Period, marked by the Balfour Declaration of 1917, which expressed support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine. The influx of Jewish immigrants, coupled with Arab resistance, laid the foundation for decades of tension and violence. The 1948 Arab-Israeli War, following the UN partition plan, resulted in the establishment of the State of Israel and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, shaping the contours of the conflict for generations to come.

Subsequent wars, including the Six-Day War of 1967 and the Yom Kippur War of 1973, further entrenched the divide, with Israel gaining control of territories, like the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Attempts at peace, such as the Oslo Accords of the 1990s, offered fleeting hope, but ultimately succumbed to cycles of violence and extremism. The failure of international peace initiatives, including the ill-fated Deal of the Century, underscored the deep-seated mistrust and unwillingness to compromise on both sides.

In recent years, efforts to manage the conflict have given way to escalating violence and humanitarian crises. Israel’s blockade of Gaza, aimed at containing Hamas, has exacerbated suffering among the Palestinian population, while Hamas’ rocket attacks have threatened civilian lives in Israeli communities. The aftermath of the October 7 attacks serves as a stark reminder of the catastrophic consequences of failed conflict management strategies.

As the conflict persists, the prospect of a lasting solution remains elusive. Both Israelis and Palestinians cling to deeply held narratives of identity and belonging, making compromise a distant prospect. Yet, amid the devastation and despair, there is a glimmer of hope that lies in the recognition of shared humanity and the imperative of compassionate management of the conflict.

In the aftermath of the October 7 attacks, world leaders must heed the lessons of history and prioritise pragmatic approaches to de-escalation and reconciliation. Instead of futile peace plans, efforts should focus on alleviating human suffering and creating conditions for coexistence. Only through imaginative, resourceful and compassionate management of the conflict can Israelis and Palestinians begin to envision a future free from the spectre of violence and despair.

The road ahead is fraught with challenges, but the alternative – a continuation of the cycle of violence and suffering – is untenable. As the world grapples with the enduring conflict, it is imperative to remember that the path to peace begins with a willingness to acknowledge the humanity of the other, and a commitment to seek common ground in the pursuit of a just and equitable resolution.

This article was published by Talk Diplomacy on April 27, 2024.

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Published by Koushik Das

Koushik Das (born on May 16, 1976 in Kolkata) is a career journalist. Based in the Indian capital of New Delhi, Koushik writes mainly about foreign policies and current geopolitical issues, and rarely about other topics. His own political ideas are highly influenced by Antonio Gramsci, Louis Althusser, Michel Foucault, Michael Oakeshott and others. English philosopher and political theorist Oakeshott (Dec 11, 1901-Dec 19, 1990) says that “in political activity, men sail a boundless and bottomless sea. There is neither harbour for shelter nor floor for anchorage, neither starting-place, nor appointed destination. But we have to keep afloat”. (Rationalism in Politics, 1962) As a student of Political Science, Koushik loves to share his views on issues, which have great impacts on his thought process (and also on India, South Asia and of course on the global community), with his readers through his website – Boundless Ocean of Politics. By doing so, he tries to keep himself afloat. You will find some of his articles in https://inserbia.info/today/ (https://inserbia.info/today/author/kou_das13_i/), as he has been trying to assess the global geopolitics since 2003. You can also mail him at kousdas@gmail.com View all posts by Koushik Das