Arab–Israeli conflict

{{Short description|Geopolitical conflict in the Middle East}} {{About|the broader conflict between Israel and the Arab world|the specific conflict between Israel and Palestine|Israeli–Palestinian conflict}} {{pp-move}} {{pp-extended|small=yes}} {{use dmy dates|date=May 2025}} {{use American English|date=September 2025}} {{Infobox military conflict | conflict = Arab–Israeli conflict | partof = the [[Cold War]] and [[List of modern conflicts in the Middle East|Middle Eastern proxy conflicts]] | image = Arab-Israeli Conflict Key Players.svg | caption = The main parties in the Arab–Israeli conflict<br>{{Legend-inline|#0066ff|Israel}} {{Legend-inline|#061a01|West Bank and Gaza Strip}} {{legend-inline|#22440a|Syria}} {{legend-inline|#315d12|Iraq}} {{legend-inline|#488420|Egypt}} {{legend-inline|#72c934|Jordan}} {{legend-inline|#b4e54d|Lebanon}} | date = 1948–present<br>(main phase: 15 May 1948 – 26 March 1979<ref>{{cite encyclopedia| url=https://www.britannica.com/event/Arab-Israeli-wars |title=Arab–Israeli wars |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |date=7 July 2023 |access-date=31 May 2018 |archive-date=23 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423232712/https://www.britannica.com/event/Arab-Israeli-wars |url-status=live}}</ref>) | place = [[Middle East]] | status = Ongoing; partial [[Arab–Israeli normalization|normalization]] and [[Arab–Israeli alliance|alliance]]:{{bulleted list |[[Egypt–Israel peace treaty]] (1979) |[[May 17 Agreement|Israel–Lebanon peace treaty attempt]] (1983) |[[Oslo I Accord]] (1993) |[[Israel–Jordan peace treaty]] (1994) |[[Oslo II Accord]] (1995) |[[Abraham Accords]] (2020)|[[Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present)]]}} | territory = {{Collapsible list | title = 1948: | {{bulletedlist | [[1949 Armistice Agreements|Establishment of the State of Israel]] | [[Jordanian annexation of the West Bank|Jordan occupies the West Bank]] | [[Egyptian occupation of the Gaza Strip|Egypt occupies the Gaza Strip]] * Establishment of the [[All-Palestine Protectorate]] (dissolved in 1959)}}}}{{Collapsible list | title = 1956: | {{bulletedlist | [[Suez Crisis|Israel occupies the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula]] from Egypt}}}}{{Collapsible list | title = 1957: | {{bulletedlist | Israel returns the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt}}}}{{Collapsible list | title = 1967: | {{bulletedlist | [[Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip|Israel occupies the Gaza Strip]] from Egypt | [[Israeli occupation of the Sinai Peninsula|Israel occupies the Sinai Peninsula]] from Egypt | [[Israeli occupation of the West Bank|Israel occupies the West Bank]] from Jordan | [[Israeli occupation of the Golan Heights|Israel occupies the Golan Heights]] from Syria}}}}{{Collapsible list | title = 1974: | {{bulletedlist | [[Agreement on Disengagement between Israel and Syria|A buffer zone established in the Golan Heights]] between Israel and Syria}}}}{{Collapsible list | title = 1982: | {{bulletedlist | Israel fully returns the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt ([[Taba, Egypt]] returned in 1989) | [[Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon|Israel occupies southern Lebanon]]}}}}{{Collapsible list | title = 1988: | {{bulletedlist | [[Palestinian Declaration of Independence|Establishment of the State of Palestine]]}}}}{{Collapsible list | title = 1995: | {{bulletedlist | [[West Bank areas in the Oslo II Accord|Division of the West Bank]] * Palestinian governance in [[Palestinian enclaves|Area A and Area B]] * Israeli governance in [[Area C]]}}}}{{Collapsible list | title = 2000: | {{bulletedlist | [[South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000)#2000 Israeli withdrawal and collapse of South Lebanon Army|Israel withdraws from southern Lebanon]]}}}}{{Collapsible list | title = 2005: | {{bulletedlist | [[Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip|Israel disengages from the Gaza Strip]]}}}}{{Collapsible list | title = 2019: | {{bulletedlist | End of Israel's 25-year lease of [[Al Ghamr]] from Jordan}}}}{{Collapsible list | title = 2024: | {{bulletedlist | [[Israeli invasion of Syria (2024–present)|Israel re-occupies the buffer zone in the Golan Heights]] between Israel and Syria}}}} | combatant1 = {{tree list}} *'''{{flag|Israel}}''' **[[Mahal (Israel)|Mahal volunteers]] ([[1948 Arab–Israeli War|1948]]) * {{flag|United Kingdom}} ([[Suez Crisis|1956]]) * {{flagcountry|French Fourth Republic}} ([[Suez Crisis|1956]]) * {{flagicon image|Former Flag of the Lebanese Army.svg}} [[State of Free Lebanon|Free Lebanon]] (1978–1984) * {{flagicon image|Former Flag of the Lebanese Army.svg}} [[South Lebanon Army]] (1984–2000) {{tree list/end}} '''Supported by:'''{{ubl| {{flag|United States}} (1967/[[Operation Nickel Grass|1973]]–present)<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g1TkFQgzp5cC|title=Revisiting the Yom Kippur War|last=Kumaraswamy|first=P. R.|date=2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-136-32895-4|page=235|language=en}}</ref><br>{{flag|Soviet Union|1936}} (1948–1949)<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Rucker |first=Laurent |title=Moscow's Surprise: The Soviet-Israeli Alliance of 1947-1949 |url=https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/publication/CWIHP_WP_461.pdf |journal=Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kramer |first=Martin |date=6 November 2017 |title=Who saved Israel in 1947? |url=https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/martinkramer/files/who_saved_israel_1947.pdf |journal=Mosaic}}</ref><br>{{flagcountry|Czechoslovak Socialist Republic}} ([[Arms shipments from Czechoslovakia to Israel|1948–1949]])<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 November 2020 |title=The Czech arms that saved Israel |url=https://www.jpost.com/international/the-czech-arms-that-saved-israel-650710 |access-date=24 December 2023 |work=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |language=en-US}}</ref><br>{{flag|Netherlands}} ([[Yom Kippur War|1973]])<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 April 2015 |title=Manfred Gerstenfeld on Joop den Uyl 1919–1987 |url=http://jcpa.org/article/manfred-gerstenfeld-on-joop-den-uyl-1919-1987-dromer-en-doordouwer-joop-den-uyl-1919-1987-dreamer-and-pusher-by-anet-bleich/ |access-date=25 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407100750/http://jcpa.org/article/manfred-gerstenfeld-on-joop-den-uyl-1919-1987-dromer-en-doordouwer-joop-den-uyl-1919-1987-dreamer-and-pusher-by-anet-bleich/ |archive-date=7 April 2015}}</ref><br>{{nowrap|{{flagicon image|Flag of Portugal (official).svg}} [[Estado Novo (Portugal)|Portugal]] ([[Operation Nickel Grass|1973]])}}}} | combatant2 = {{tree list}} *{{flag|Arab League}} (1948–1979) **{{flag|Egypt|1972}} (1948–1979) **{{flag|Jordan}} (1948–1994) **{{flag|Lebanon|1943}} (1948–present) **{{flag|Iraq}} (1948–present) **{{flag|Syria}} (1948–present) **{{flag|Saudi Arabia|1938}} (1948–1949) **{{flagcountry|Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen|name=Yemen}} (1948–1949) **{{flagicon image|Palestinian flag 1938.svg|link=}} [[All-Palestine]] (1948–1959) ***[[Army of the Holy War|AHW]] (1947–1949) ***[[Palestinian fedayeen|Fedayeen]] (1949–1964) **{{flag|PLO}} (1964–present) **{{flag|Palestinian Authority}} (1994–present) *'''[[Yom Kippur War#Other countries|1973 Reinforcements]]''' ** {{flag|Saudi Arabia}}<ref>{{cite book |last=Edgar O'Ballance |title=No Victor, No Vanquished: The Yom Kippur War |edition=1979 |pages=28–370 |publisher=[[Barrie & Jenkins]] |isbn=978-0-214-20670-2 |year=1979}}</ref> **{{flag|Algeria}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shazly |first=Saad El |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SPSkaqL945oC |title=The Crossing of the Suez |date=1 January 2003 |publisher=American Mideast Research |isbn=978-0-9604562-2-2 |pages=278 |language=en}}</ref> **{{flagicon|Libya|1972}} [[Libyan Arab Republic|Libya]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://theaviationist.com/2013/06/24/iaf-f-4-vs-nk-mig21/# |title=An unknown story from the Yom Kippur war: Israeli F-4s vs North Korean MiG-21s |work=The Aviationist |date=24 June 2013 |access-date=27 June 2015}}</ref> **{{flag|Kuwait}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rabinovich |first=Abraham |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ri3ftu5NGesC |title=The Yom Kippur War: The Epic Encounter that Transformed the Middle East |date=2004 |publisher=Schocken Books |isbn=978-0-8052-1124-5 |pages=464–465 |language=en}}</ref> **{{flag|Tunisia}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hussain |first=Hamid |date=November 2002 |title=The Fourth Round - A Critical Review of 1973 Arab-Israeli War |url=https://defencejournal.com/2002/nov/4th-round.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116071541/http://www.defencejournal.com/2002/nov/4th-round.htm |archive-date=16 January 2009 |website=Defence Journal}}</ref> **{{flag|Morocco}}<ref>{{cite book |title=Les officiers de Sa Majesté: Les dérives des généraux marocains 1956–2006 |year=2006 |publisher=Fayard |page=107 |isbn=978-2-213-63015-1 |author=Mahjoub Tobji}}</ref> *'''Supported by:''' *{{flag|Soviet Union}} (1955–1991)<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Katz |first=Mark N. |date=1996 |title=Post-Soviet Russian Foreign Policy Towards the Middle East |journal=The Soviet and Post-Soviet Review |volume=23 |issue=1 |pages=235|doi=10.1163/187633296X00159 }}</ref> *{{flag|Cuba}} (1973)<ref name="Ra'anan">Ra'anan, G. D. (1981). ''The Evolution of the Soviet Use of Surrogates in Military Relations with the Third World, with Particular Emphasis on Cuban Participation in Africa''. Santa Monica: Rand Corporation. p. 37</ref>{{tree list/end}} | commander1 = {{unbulleted list |{{flagicon|Israel}} [[David Ben-Gurion]] (1948–1963) |{{flagicon|Israel}} [[Yigael Yadin]] (1948–1952) |{{flagicon|Israel}} [[Yaakov Dori]] (1948–1949) |{{flagicon|Israel}} [[Yitzhak Rabin]]{{Assassinated|Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin}} (1948–1995) |{{flagicon|Israel}} [[Ariel Sharon]] (1948–2005) |{{flagicon|Israel}} [[Ehud Barak]] (1959–2013) | {{flagicon|Israel}} [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] (1996–present) | {{flagicon|Israel}} [[Moshe Dayan]] (1948–1979) |{{flagicon image|Former Flag of the Lebanese Army.svg}} [[Saad Haddad]] (1978–1984) | {{flagicon image|Former Flag of the Lebanese Army.svg}} [[Antoine Lahad]] (1984–2000) <!--end vlist:-->}} | commander2 = {{unbulleted list |{{flagicon|Egypt|1922}} [[Farouk of Egypt|Farouk I]] (1948–1965) | {{flagicon|Egypt|1922}} [[Mohamed Naguib]] (1948–1984) |{{flagicon|Egypt|1958}} [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]] (1948–1970) |{{flagicon|Egypt|1972}} [[Anwar Sadat]] (1948–1978) |{{flagicon|Egypt|1972}} [[Ahmed Ali al-Mwawi]] (1948–1979) |{{Flagicon|Egypt|1972}} [[Saad el-Shazly]] (1948–2011) |{{flagicon|Jordan}} [[Abdullah I of Jordan|Abdullah I]] (1948–1951) |{{flagicon|Jordan}} [[John Bagot Glubb]] (1948–1956) |{{flagicon|Jordan}} [[Hussein of Jordan|Hussein]] (1953–1994) |{{flagicon|Jordan}} [[Habis Majali]] (1948–2001) |{{flagicon|Ba'athist Syria}} [[Hafez al-Assad]] (1948–2000) |{{flagicon image|Palestinian flag 1938.svg|link=}} [[Amin al-Husseini]] (1948–1974) |{{nowrap|{{flagicon image|Palestinian flag 1938.svg|link=}} [[Abdul Qadir al-Husayni]]{{KIA}}}} |{{flagicon image|Palestinian flag 1938.svg|link=}} [[Hasan Salama]]{{KIA}} |{{flagicon image|Arab Liberation Army (bw).svg|20px}} [[Fawzi al-Qawuqji]] (1948–1977)<!--end vlist:-->}} | strength1 = | strength2 = | casualties3 = See [[#Notable wars and violent events|§ Casualties]] for details. }}

Since the [[Israeli Declaration of Independence|declaration of Israel's establishment]] in 1948, conflict has existed between [[Israel]] and the surrounding [[Arab world|Arab countries]], rooted in [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict|conflict over territory]] also claimed by [[Palestinians|Palestinian Arabs]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Palestinian National Charter – Article 6 |url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace+Process/Guide+to+the+Peace+Process/The+Palestinian+National+Charter.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420181057/http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace+Process/Guide+to+the+Peace+Process/The+Palestinian+National+Charter.htm |archive-date=20 April 2013 |access-date=19 January 2013 |publisher=Mfa.gov.il}}</ref> [[Zionists]] viewed the [[region of Palestine]] as the [[Homeland for the Jewish people|Jewish ancestral homeland]], while Arabs saw it as Arab Palestinian land and an essential part of the Arab world. By 1920, sectarian conflict had begun with the [[dissolution of the Ottoman Empire]] and the partition of [[Ottoman Syria]] by the 1916 [[Sykes–Picot Agreement|Sykes–Picot treaty between Britain and France]] that became the basis for the [[Mandate for Palestine]] and the 1917 [[Balfour Declaration]] that expressed British support for "the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people."

The [[Intercommunal conflict in Mandatory Palestine|intercommunal violence]] escalated into [[1947–1948 civil war in Mandatory Palestine|civil war]] in 1947 after the [[United Nations General Assembly|United Nations']] adoption of the [[United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine|Partition Plan for Palestine]], and then into an [[1948 Arab–Israeli War|international war]] in 1948 with the May 14 declaration of the establishment of Israel, the expiration of British Mandate at midnight, and the entry of Arab regular armies the following morning. The [[1948 Palestine war]] ended with the [[1949 Armistice Agreements]], which established the [[Green Line (Israel)|Green Line]]. More wars followed in [[Suez Crisis|1956]], [[Six-Day War|1967]], [[Yom Kippur War|1973]], and [[1982 Lebanon War|1982]].

Several peace treaties and other diplomatic and economic accords were signed over the subsequent half-century. In 2002, the Arab League proposed the [[Arab Peace Initiative]],<ref name="Time2">{{Cite magazine |author=Scott MacLeod |date=8 January 2009 |title=Time to Test the Arab Peace Offer |url=http://mideast.blogs.time.com/2009/01/08/time-to-test-the-arab-peace-offer/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090117001303/http://mideast.blogs.time.com/2009/01/08/time-to-test-the-arab-peace-offer/ |archive-date=17 January 2009 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref> although diplomatic activity between Israel and individual Arab countries involved ceasefires and later formal relations with some. By 2020, the [[Abraham Accords]] further calmed relations.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 September 2020 |title=The Arab-Israeli conflict is fading |url=https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2020/09/19/the-arab-israeli-conflict-is-fading |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005195940/https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2020/09/19/the-arab-israeli-conflict-is-fading |archive-date=5 October 2020 |access-date=5 October 2020 |newspaper=The Economist}}</ref> Conflicts between Israel and various Palestinian factions ebbed and flowed, including the 1987–1993 [[First Intifada]], Israel's intervention in the 1975–1990 [[Lebanese Civil War]] to oust the [[Palestine Liberation Organization]] from [[Lebanon]], the 2000–2005 [[Second Intifada]], the 2011–2024 [[Syrian civil war]], and most recently the [[October 7 attacks]] in 2023 and ensuing [[Gaza war]].<ref name="genocide">* {{cite book |last1=Dumper |first1=Michael |title=Routledge Handbook on Palestine |last2=Badran |first2=Amneh |date=2024 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781003031994 |editor-last1=Dumper |editor-first1=Michael |edition=1st |page=2 |chapter=Introduction |doi=10.4324/9781003031994 |quote=In this context we should not overlook the latest turning point in the history of Palestine – the attack by Hamas on 7th October 2023 on Israeli settlements adjacent to Gaza and the subsequent genocidal war that the state of Israel has carried out in the Gaza strip |editor-last2=Badran |editor-first2=Amneh}} * {{cite news |last=Speri |first=Alice |date=20 December 2024 |title=Defining genocide: how a rift over Gaza sparked a crisis among scholars |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/20/genocide-definition-mass-violence-scholars-gaza |access-date=23 December 2024 |work=Guardian}} * {{cite news |last1=Narea |first1=Nicole |date=25 October 2024 |title=Is Israel committing genocide? Reexamining the question, a year later. |url=https://www.vox.com/politics/378913/israel-gaza-genocide-icj |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241027004251/https://www.vox.com/politics/378913/israel-gaza-genocide-icj |archive-date=27 October 2024 |access-date=28 October 2024 |work=[[Vox (website)|Vox]]}} * {{cite report |url=https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/g24/046/11/pdf/g2404611.pdf |title=Anatomy of a Genocide: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese |last1=Albanese |first1=Francesca |author-link1=Francesca Albanese |date=25 March 2024 |publisher=[[United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories]] |page=1 |quote=By analysing the patterns of violence and Israeli policies in its onslaught on Gaza, the present report concludes that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the threshold indicating that Israel has committed genocide has been met}} * {{cite report |url=https://amnesty.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Amnesty-International-Gaza-Genocide-Report-December-4-2024.pdf |title='You Feel Like You Are Subhuman': Israel's Genocide Against Palestinians In Gaza |author=Amnesty International |author-link=Amnesty International |year=2024 |page=13 |quote=This report focuses on the Israeli authorities' policies and actions in Gaza as part of the military offensive they launched in the wake of the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023 while situating them within the broader context of Israel's unlawful occupation, and system of apartheid against Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Israel. It assesses allegations of violations and crimes under international law by Israel in Gaza within the framework of genocide under international law, concluding that there is sufficient evidence to believe that Israel's conduct in Gaza following 7 October 2023 amounts to genocide. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241205121850/https://amnesty.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Amnesty-International-Gaza-Genocide-Report-December-4-2024.pdf |archive-date=5 December 2024 |url-status=live}} * {{cite book |last1=Traverso |first1=Enzo |author-link=Enzo Traverso |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7-8PEQAAQBAJ |title=Gaza Faces History |publisher=Other Press |year=2024 |isbn=978-1-63542-555-0 |page=8 |quote=The only normative definition we have, codified at the United Nations Genocide Convention of 1948, accurately describes the current situation in Palestine ... describes exactly what is happening in Gaza today}} * {{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=12 December 2024 |title=One year of denouncing the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza |url=https://www.fidh.org/en/region/north-africa-middle-east/israel-palestine/one-year-of-denouncing-the-genocide-of-palestinians-in-gaza |access-date=4 June 2025 |website=[[International Federation for Human Rights]] |quote=One year ago, the FIDH International Board, its governing body elected by all its member organisations, recognised, after extensive debate and examination, that Israel was carrying out genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza}} * {{Cite report |url=https://www.btselem.org/sites/default/files/publications/202507_our_genocide_eng.pdf |title=Our Genocide |author=B'Tselem |author-link1=B'Tselem |date=July 2025 |page=86 |quote=The review presented in this report leaves no room for doubt: since October 2023, the Israeli regime has been responsible for carrying out genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Killing tens of thousands of people; causing bodily or mental harm to hundreds of thousands more; destroying homes and civilian infrastructure on a massive scale; starvation, displacement, and denying humanitarian aid — all this is being perpetrated systematically, as part of a coordinated attack aimed at annihilating all facets of life in the Gaza Strip.}}</ref><ref name="genocide_int_law_scholars">{{bulleted list|{{Cite news |last1=Mohyeldin |first1=Ayman |last2=Hamdan |first2=Basel |date=10 December 2024 |url=https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/israel-gaza-genocide-netanyahu-rcna183485 |title=Why Amnesty International and other experts say Israel is committing genocide in Gaza |work=[[MSNBC]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250703062158/https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/israel-gaza-genocide-netanyahu-rcna183485 |archive-date=3 July 2025}}|{{Cite journal |last1=De Vogli |first1=Roberto |last2=Montomoli |first2=Jonathan |last3=Abu-Sittah |first3=Ghassan |last4=Pappé |first4=Ilan |author4-link=Ilan Pappé |date=2025 |title=Break the selective silence on the genocide in Gaza |journal=[[The Lancet]] |volume=406 |issue=10504 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01541-7 |at=[https://www.thelancet.com/cms/10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01541-7/attachment/e415fdee-02dc-4495-8515-f587976a5bb3/mmc1.pdf Supplementary appendix pp. 3–4] |pmid=40752501 }}|{{cite news|last1=van Laarhoven |first1=Kasper |last2=Peek |first2=Eva |last3=Walters |first3=Derk |date=14 May 2025 |title=Zeven gerenommeerde wetenschappers vrijwel eensgezind: Israël pleegt in Gaza genocide |trans-title= |url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/05/14/zeven-gerenommeerde-wetenschappers-vrijwel-eensgezind-israel-pleegt-in-gaza-genocide-a4893293 |access-date=27 May 2025 |newspaper=[[NRC (newspaper)|NRC]] |language=nl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250515114020/https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/05/14/zeven-gerenommeerde-wetenschappers-vrijwel-eensgezind-israel-pleegt-in-gaza-genocide-a4893293 |archive-date=15 May 2025}}|{{Cite news |last1=Tharoor |first1=Ishaan |date=30 July 2025 |title=Leading genocide scholars see a genocide happening in Gaza |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/07/30/israel-genocide-gaza-scholars-historians |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=2 August 2025}}}}</ref>

== Background ==

=== National movements === {{Main|Israeli–Palestinian conflict}}

[[Antisemitism in the Arab world#Medieval times|Medieval antisemitism in Arabic-speaking lands]] was less than in Europe, but Jews remained subject to persecution.<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t0o9DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA52|title=Jews Among Muslims: Communities in the Precolonial Middle East|chapter=Islam and the Jews: Myth, Counter-Myth, History|author=[[Mark R. Cohen]]|page=52|editor1=Walter Zenner|editor2=Shlomo A. Deshen|publisher=NYU Press|isbn=9780814796764|date=December 1996}}</ref> The rise of [[Zionism]] and [[Arab nationalism]] in the late 19th century is believed by some scholars<ref>''The Oxford Handbook of Jewish Studies'', p. 208</ref> to have caused [[Antisemitism in the Arab world#19th century|a rise in Arab antisemitism]]. The roots of the Arab–Israeli conflict lie in the tensions between Zionism and [[Palestinian nationalism]].{{Citation needed|reason=The Hashemites didn't plan to create a Palestinian state. So I would say this probably not fully accurate, but a partial claim can probably be cited.|date=April 2026}} Territory regarded by the [[Jewish people]] as their [[Homeland for the Jewish people|historical homeland]] is considered by many Arabs as belonging to [[Palestinians]].{{Citation needed|reason=This is more a current claim than a historic claim. Pan-Arabists and Pan-Syrians would not have agreed, but its probably a currently accurate statement.|date=April 2026}} The area was under the control of the [[Ottoman Empire]] for nearly 400 years until its partitioning in the aftermath of the [[Great Arab Revolt]] during [[World War I]]. Approaching the end of their empire, the Ottomans began to assert the primacy of Turks within the empire, while discriminating against Arabs.<ref>Fraser, T.G. ''The Middle East: 1914–1979''. St. Martin's Press, New York. (1980) Pg. 2</ref> The promise of liberation led many Jews and Arabs to support the allied powers during World War I, forging widespread Arab nationalism. Arab nationalism and Zionism began in Europe. The Zionist Congress started in Basel in 1897, while the Arab Club emerged in Paris in 1906.

In the late 19th century Jewish communities began to migrate to Palestine, purchasing land from Ottoman landlords. The late 19th century population in Palestine reached 600,000 – mostly Muslim Arabs, with significant minorities of Jews, Christians, Druze and some [[Samaritans|Samaritan]] and [[Baháʼí Faith|Baháʼí]]. At that time, Jerusalem did not extend beyond the walled area and had a population of a few tens of thousands. Collective farms, known as [[kibbutz]]im, were established, as was the first entirely Jewish city in modern times, [[Tel Aviv]].

During 1915–1916, as World War I was underway, the British High Commissioner in Egypt, Sir [[Henry McMahon]], secretly corresponded with [[Hussein bin Ali, Sharif of Mecca|Husayn ibn 'Ali]], the patriarch of the [[Hashemites|Hashemite]] family and Ottoman governor of Mecca and Medina. McMahon convinced Husayn to lead an Arab revolt against the Ottomans, which had aligned with Germany against Britain and France. McMahon promised that if the Arabs supported Britain in the war, the British government would support an independent Arab state under Hashemite rule in the Arab provinces of the Ottoman Empire, including Palestine. The Arab revolt, led by [[T. E. Lawrence]] ("[[Lawrence of Arabia (film)|Lawrence of Arabia]]") and Husayn's son Faysal, was successful in defeating the Ottomans, and Britain took control over much of this area.

=== Sectarian conflict === {{main|Sectarian conflict in Mandatory Palestine}}

==== First mandate years and the Franco-Syrian war ==== In 1917, British‑led troops (including the [[Jewish Legion]]) captured Palestine from the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman Empire]]; the British government issued the [[Balfour Declaration]], which stated that the government viewed favorably "the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people" but "that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Palestine: The British Mandate, 1917–1948 |url=https://www.library.nd.edu/database/2863/ |access-date=2026-04-24 |website=www.library.nd.edu |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Palestine - British Mandate, Zionism, Conflict {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Palestine/World-War-I-and-after |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260410060308/https://www.britannica.com/place/Palestine/World-War-I-and-after |archive-date=2026-04-10 |access-date=2026-04-24 |work=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Avalon Project - Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry - Appendix IV |url=https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/angap04.asp |access-date=2026-04-24 |website=avalon.law.yale.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=British Mandate for Palestine / 1.0 / encyclopedic |url=https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/british-mandate-for-palestine/ |access-date=2026-04-24 |website=1914-1918-Online (WW1) Encyclopedia |language=en-US}}</ref> The Declaration was a result of the belief of key members of the government, including Prime Minister [[David Lloyd George]], that Jewish support was essential to winning the war; however, the declaration upset the Arab world.<ref>Segev, Tom (2000): ''One Palestine, Complete'', pp. 48–49, Abacus, {{ISBN|978-0-349-11286-2}}.</ref> After the war, the area came under British rule as the [[Mandatory Palestine|British Mandate of Palestine]]. The area mandated to the British in 1923 included what modern Israel, the [[West Bank]], and [[Gaza Strip]]. [[Transjordan (region)|Transjordan]] eventually was carved into a separate British protectorate – the [[Emirate of Transjordan]], which gained autonomous status in 1928 and achieved independence in 1946 with United Nations approved end of the British Mandate.

A major crisis among Arab nationalists took place with the failed establishment of the [[Arab Kingdom of Syria]] in 1920. With the disastrous outcome of the [[Franco-Syrian War]], the self-proclaimed [[Hashemite]] kingdom with its capital in Damascus was defeated and the Hashemite ruler took refuge in [[Mandatory Iraq]]. The crisis saw the first confrontation Arab and Jewish forces in the [[Battle of Tel Hai]] in March 1920. More importantly the collapse of the pan-Arabist kingdom led to the establishment of the Palestinian flavor of Arab nationalism, with the return of [[Amin al-Husseini]] from Damascus to Jerusalem in late 1920.

[[Aliyah|Jewish immigration]] to Mandatory Palestine continued, accompanied by a similar, but less documented, migration in the Arab sector, returning workers from Syria and other areas. Palestinians considered this rapid influx of Jewish immigrants to threaten their homeland and their identity. Jewish policies of purchasing land and prohibiting the Arab employment in Jewish-owned industries and farms enraged Palestinian communities.<ref>Lesch, Ann M. and Tschirgi, Dan. ''Origins and Development of the Arab-Israeli Conflict''. Greenwood Press: West Port, Connecticut. (1998). Pg.47,51</ref>{{verify source|date=August 2012}} Demonstrations were held as early as 1920, protesting what the Arabs felt were unfair preferences for Jewish immigrants in the British mandate. [[1920 Palestine riots|Violence broke out]] later that year in Jerusalem. [[Winston Churchill]]'s [[Churchill White Paper|1922 White Paper]] tried to reassure the Arab population, denying that the creation of a Jewish state was the implication of the Balfour Declaration.

==== 1929 ==== [[1929 Palestine riots|In 1929]], after a demonstration by [[Vladimir Jabotinsky]]'s political group [[Betar]] at the [[Western Wall]], riots started in Jerusalem and expanded throughout Mandatory Palestine; Arabs murdered 67 Jews in [[Hebron]], in what became known as the [[1929 Hebron massacre|Hebron massacre]]. During the week of the 1929 riots, at least 116 Arabs and 133 Jews<ref>''San Francisco Chronicle'', 9 August 2005, "A Time of Change; Israelis, Palestinians and the Disengagement"</ref> were killed and 339 were wounded.<ref>NA 59/8/353/84/867n, 404 Wailing Wall/279 and 280, Archdale Diary and Palestinian Police records.</ref>{{primary source inline|date=August 2023}}

==== 1930s and 1940s ====

By 1931, 17 percent of the population of Mandatory Palestine were Jewish, an increase of six percent since 1922.<ref>Lesch, Ann M. and Tschirgi, Dan. ''Origins and Development of the Arab-Israeli Conflict''. Greenwood Press: West Port, Connecticut. (1998). Pg. 47</ref> Jewish immigration peaked soon after the Nazis came to power in Germany, doubling the Jewish population in Palestine.<ref>Smith, Charles D. ''Palestine and the Arab Israeli Conflict: A History With Documents''. Bedford/St. Martin's: Boston. (2004). Pg. 129</ref>

In the mid-1930s [[Izz ad-Din al-Qassam]] arrived from Syria and established the [[Black Hand (Palestine)|Black Hand]], an anti-Zionist and anti-British militant organization. He recruited and arranged military training for peasants, and by 1935 he had enlisted between 200 and 800 men. The cells were equipped with bombs and firearms, which they used to kill Jewish settlers in the area, as well as engaging in a campaign of vandalism of Jewish settler plantations.<ref name=segev>{{cite book |last=Segev |first=Tom |author-link=Tom Segev |title=One Palestine, Complete |year=1999 |publisher=Metropolitan Books |isbn=978-0-8050-4848-3 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/onepalestinecomp00sege/page/360 360–362] |url=https://archive.org/details/onepalestinecomp00sege/page/360 }}</ref> By 1936, escalating tensions led to the [[1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine]].<ref>Lesch, Ann M. and Tschirgi, Dan. ''Origins and Development of the Arab-Israeli Conflict''. Greenwood Press: West Port, Connecticut. (1998). Pg.</ref>

In response to Arab pressure,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-53356391/struggle-against-jewish-immigration.html |title=The Struggle against Jewish Immigration to Palestine |access-date=20 April 2010 |work=Middle Eastern Studies |date=1 July 1998 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070227171726/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-53356391/struggle-against-jewish-immigration.html |archive-date=27 February 2007 }}</ref> the British Mandate authorities greatly reduced the number of Jewish immigrants to Palestine (see [[White Paper of 1939]] and the {{SS|Exodus}}). These restrictions remained in place until the end of the mandate, which coincided with the Nazi [[Holocaust]] and the flight of [[Jewish refugees]] from Europe. As a consequence, most Jewish entrants to Mandatory Palestine were considered illegal (see [[Aliyah Bet]]), intensifying tensions. Following several failed diplomatic attempts to solve the problem, the British asked the United Nations for help. On 15 May 1947, the General Assembly appointed a committee, the [[UNSCOP]], composed of representatives from eleven states.<ref>[https://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/F5A49E57095C35B685256BCF0075D9C2 A/RES/106 (S-1)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806072438/http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/F5A49E57095C35B685256BCF0075D9C2 |date=6 August 2012 }} of 15 May 1947 General Assembly Resolution 106 Constituting the UNSCOP: Retrieved 12 May 2012</ref> The US, the USSR and other major powers were not represented.<ref>Smith, Charles D. ''Palestine and the Arab Israeli Conflict: A History With Documents''. Bedford/St. Martin's: Boston. (2004). Pg. 186</ref> After five weeks of in-country study, the Committee offered<ref>{{cite web|url=http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf/9a798adbf322aff38525617b006d88d7/07175de9fa2de563852568d3006e10f3?OpenDocument |title= General Assembly: A/364: 3 September 1947: Retrieved 10 May 2012 |publisher=United Nations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603150222/http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf/9a798adbf322aff38525617b006d88d7/07175de9fa2de563852568d3006e10f3?OpenDocument |archive-date=3 June 2012 }}</ref> a majority and a minority plan. The majority proposed a Plan of Partition with Economic Union. The minority proposed The Independent State of Palestine. With only slight modifications, the former was adopted in [[United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181|resolution 181(II)]] of 29 November 1947.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf/0/7f0af2bd897689b785256c330061d253 |title=A/RES/181(II) of 29 November 1947 |publisher=United Nations |year=1947 |access-date=12 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524094913/http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf/0/7f0af2bd897689b785256c330061d253 |archive-date=24 May 2012 }}</ref> The Resolution was adopted by 33 votes to 13 with 10 abstentions. All six un-member Arab states voted no. On the ground, Arab and Jewish Palestinians fought to control strategic positions in the region. Major atrocities were committed by both sides.<ref>Fraser, T.G. ''The Middle East: 1914–1979''. St. Martin's Press, New York. (1980). Pg. 41</ref>

=== Civil war === {{Main|1947–1948 civil war in Mandatory Palestine}}

[[File:1947-UN-Partition-Plan-1949-Armistice-Comparison.svg|thumb|upright|alt=Map comparing the borders of the 1947 partition plan and the armistice of 1949.|{{Partition Plan-Armistice Lines comparison map legend}}]]

Just before the end of the mandate, the [[Haganah]] launched [[List of battles and operations in the 1948 Palestine war|offensives]] in which they gained control over all the territory allocated by the UN to the Jewish State, creating a flood of refugees and capturing the towns of [[Tiberias]], [[Haifa]], [[Safad]], [[Beisan]] and, in effect, [[Jaffa]].

Early in 1948 the United Kingdom announced its firm intention to terminate its mandate in Palestine on 14 May.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |author=Stefan Brooks |editor=[[Spencer C. Tucker]] |encyclopedia=The Encyclopedia of the Arab-Israeli Conflict |title=Palestine, British Mandate for |year=2008 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |volume=3 |location=Santa Barbara, California |isbn=978-1-85109-842-2 |pages=770}}</ref> In response, US President [[Harry S. Truman|Truman]] made a statement on 25 March [[Truman trusteeship proposal|proposing UN trusteeship]] rather than partition, stating that: {{blockquote|unfortunately, it has become clear that the partition plan cannot be carried out at this time by peaceful means. [...] unless emergency action is taken, there will be no public authority in Palestine on that date capable of preserving law and order. Violence and bloodshed will descend upon the Holy Land. Large-scale fighting among the people of that country will be the inevitable result.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mideastweb.org/trusteeship.htm|title=United States Proposal for Temporary United Nations Trusteeship for Palestine Source: Department of State Bulletin|volume=18|issue=457|date=4 April 1948|page=451|publisher=Mideastweb.org|access-date=13 February 2011|archive-date=9 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309041551/http://www.mideastweb.org/trusteeship.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

== History == {{For timeline}}

=== 1948 Arab–Israeli War === {{Main|1948 Arab–Israeli War}}

On 14 May 1948, the day on which the British Mandate expired, the [[Jewish People's Council]] gathered at the Tel Aviv Museum and approved a proclamation that declared [[Declaration of Establishment of State of Israel|the establishment]] of a [[Jewish state]] in [[Eretz Israel]], to be known as the [[State of Israel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace+Process/Guide+to+the+Peace+Process/Declaration+of+Establishment+of+State+of+Israel.htm |title=Declaration of Establishment of State of Israel: 14 May 1948 |publisher=Mfa.gov.il |access-date=19 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116103234/http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace%2BProcess/Guide%2Bto%2Bthe%2BPeace%2BProcess/Declaration%2Bof%2BEstablishment%2Bof%2BState%2Bof%2BIsrael.htm |archive-date=16 January 2013 }}</ref>

The borders of the new state were not delineated. An official [[:s:Cablegram from the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States to the Secretary-General of the United Nations|cablegram from the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States]] to the UN Secretary-General on 15 May 1948 stated publicly that Arab Governments found "themselves compelled to intervene for the sole purpose of restoring peace and security and establishing law and order in Palestine" in Clause 10(e). Further in Clause 10(e): {{blockquote|The Governments of the Arab States hereby confirm at this stage the view that had been repeatedly declared by them on previous occasions, such as the London Conference and before the United Nations mainly, the only fair and just solution to the problem of Palestine is the creation of United State of Palestine based upon the democratic principles ...}}

That day, the armies of [[Kingdom of Egypt|Egypt]], Lebanon, [[Syrian Republic (1946–63)|Syria]], Jordan and [[Kingdom of Iraq|Iraq]] invaded, launching the [[1948 Arab–Israeli War]]. The nascent [[Israeli Defense Force]] repulsed the Arab forces, extending the nascent state's borders beyond the original UNSCOP partition.<ref>Smith, Charles D. ''Palestine and the Arab Israeli Conflict: A History With Documents''. Bedford/St. Martin's: Boston. (2004). Pg. 198</ref> By December 1948, Israel controlled most of Mandate Palestine west of the [[Jordan River]]. The remainder of the Mandate consisted of what became the nation of Jordan, the area that came to be called the [[West Bank]] (controlled by Jordan), and the [[Gaza Strip]] (controlled by Egypt). Before and during this conflict, 713,000<ref>General Progress Report and Supplementary Report of the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, Covering the period from 11 December 1949 to 23 October 1950, GA A/1367/Rev.1 23 October 1950</ref> Palestinian Arabs were expelled or fled, becoming [[Palestinian refugees]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Palestinian Diaspora|url=http://www.globalexchange.org/country/palestine/diaspora|publisher=Global Exchange|access-date=12 December 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130101221315/http://www.globalexchange.org/country/palestine/diaspora|archive-date=1 January 2013}}</ref>

During the war, Israel conducted a [[biological warfare]] campaign codenamed [[Operation Cast Thy Bread|Cast Thy Bread]] to covertly poison Palestinian wells to prevent villagers from returning.<ref>{{cite news |date=14 October 2022 |title=Israel Poisoned Palestinian Land to Build West Bank Settlement in 1970s, Documents Reveal |work=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2022-10-14/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/documents-confirm-israelis-poisoned-arab-wells-in-1948/00000183-d2b2-d8cc-afc7-fefed64d0000 |url-access=subscription |access-date=6 August 2023 |archive-date=18 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818072320/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2022-10-14/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/documents-confirm-israelis-poisoned-arab-wells-in-1948/00000183-d2b2-d8cc-afc7-fefed64d0000 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-forces-poisoned-palestine-wells-during-1948-nakba |title=Israeli forces 'poisoned wells in Palestinian villages' during 1948 Nakba, unearthed documents show |work=The New Arab |date=15 October 2022 |access-date=6 August 2023 |archive-date=25 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725223342/https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-forces-poisoned-palestine-wells-during-1948-nakba |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3932421/documents-reveal-israeli-army-poisoned-water-wells-palestinian-towns-during |title=Documents Reveal Israeli Army Poisoned Water Wells in Palestinian Towns During 1948 War |work=Asharq al-Awsat |date=15 October 2022 |access-date=6 August 2023 |archive-date=25 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725224846/https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3932421/documents-reveal-israeli-army-poisoned-water-wells-palestinian-towns-during |url-status=live }}</ref> Many Palestinians fled from the areas taken by Israel as a response to massacres of Arab towns by militant Jewish organizations like the [[Irgun]] and the [[Lehi (group)|Lehi]] (See [[Deir Yassin massacre]]). The war came to an end with the signing of the [[1949 Armistice Agreements]] between Israel and each of its Arab neighbors.

The status of Jewish citizens in Arab states worsened during the war. Anti-Jewish riots erupted throughout the Arab World in December 1947. Jewish communities were hit particularly hard in [[1947 Aleppo pogrom|Aleppo]], Syria and British-controlled [[1947 Aden riots|Aden]], with hundreds of dead and injured. In [[Libya]], Jews were deprived of citizenship, and in [[Iraq]], their property was seized.{{context inline|date=June 2015}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Aharoni |first=Ada |url=http://taylorandfrancis.metapress.com/content/w91udxrhc7cf5a86 |title=The Forced Migration of Jews from Arab Countries |publisher=[[Routledge]] |volume=15 |issue=1 |date=March 2003 |access-date=27 May 2008 |archive-date=7 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207171955/http://taylorandfrancis.metapress.com/content/w91udxrhc7cf5a86 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Egypt expelled most of its foreign community, including Jews, after the [[Suez Crisis|Suez crisis]] in 1956,<ref>{{cite book |last=Gorman |first=Anthony |title=Historians, State and Politics in Twentieth Century Egypt: Contesting the Nation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZWE2i6PBJvIC&pg=PA174 |publisher=[[Psychology Press]] |year=2003 |pages=174–175 |isbn=978-0-415-29753-0}}</ref> while [[Algeria]] deprived its French citizens, including Jews, of citizenship upon its independence in 1962.<ref>Algerian Nationality Code, Law no. 63-69 of 27 March 1963, section 34</ref> Over the course of twenty years, some [[Jewish exodus from Arab and Muslim countries|850,000 Jews from Arab countries]] emigrated.<ref>{{cite news |title=Group seeks justice for 'forgotten' Jews |first=Warren |last=Hoge |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/world/americas/04iht-nations.4.8182206.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=5 November 2007 |access-date=7 June 2015 |archive-date=11 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411211005/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/world/americas/04iht-nations.4.8182206.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

===1949–1967=== Following Israel's victory in the [[1948 Arab–Israeli War]], Jews living in the West Bank or Gaza were expelled to Israel. Arabs caught on the Palestinian side of the ceasefire line could not return to their homes in Israel. Those on the Israeli side were not formally expelled, although many fled. Responsibility for the exodus remains disputed.<ref>Erskine Childers, "The Other Exodus", ''The Spectator'', 12 May 1961, reprinted in [[Walter Laqueur]] (ed.) ''The Israel-Arab Reader: A Documentary History of the Middle East Conflict'', (1969) rev.ed. Pelican, 1970 pp. 179–188 p.183.</ref><ref name=Morris2004>{{cite book |last=Morris |first=Benny |author-link=Benny Morris |year=2004 |title=The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem Revisited |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |location=Cambridge |edition=2nd |isbn=978-0-679-42120-7}}</ref>{{rp|114}} Historian [[Benny Morris]] claimed that the "decisive cause" of Palestinian departure was predominantly Jewish forces' actions (physical expulsions, military assaults on residential areas, fear of fighting, abandonment of nearby villages, incitement propaganda), while Arab leadership orders were decisive in only 6 of 392 villages.<ref name=Morris2004 />{{rp|xiv–xviii}} Over 700,000 Jews emigrated to Israel from 1948 to 1952, including ~285,000 from Arab countries.<ref>[http://www.jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/English/Jewish+Education/Compelling+Content/Jewish+History/Zionist+History/Zionist+Aliyot/1940s.htm '1942–1951'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011030256/http://www.jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/English/Jewish+Education/Compelling+Content/Jewish+History/Zionist+History/Zionist+Aliyot/1940s.htm |date=11 October 2008 }}, Jewish Agency for Israel.</ref><ref name=neumann>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200726101723/http://repec.iza.org/RePEc/Discussionpaper/dp89.pdf Aliyeh to Israel: Immigration under Conditions of Adversity] – Shoshana Neumann, Bar-Ilan University, page 10. Asia: Yemen – 45,127 (6.7), Turkey – 34,647 (5), Iraq – 124,225 (18), Iran – 25,971 (3.8), Syria and Lebanon – 3,162 (0.5), Eden – 3,320 (0.5); Africa: Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria – 52,565 (7.7), Libya – 32,130 (4.6) (Keren-Hayesod, 1953). Note: The numbers add up to 286,500 (without Turkey, see also: [[History of the Jews in Turkey]]).</ref>

In 1956, Egypt closed the [[Straits of Tiran]] to Israeli shipping and blockaded the [[Gulf of Aqaba]], contravening the [[Convention of Constantinople|Constantinople Convention of 1888]]. Israel supporters viewed this as violating the [[1949 Armistice Agreements]].<ref name="Sachar455">[[Howard Sachar|Sachar, Howard M.]] (1976). ''A History of Israel: From the Rise of Zionism to Our Time''. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. p. 455. {{ISBN|978-0-394-48564-5}}</ref><ref name="State Dept: Background Note: Israel">{{cite web| url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3581.htm| title=Background Note: Israel| access-date=4 March 2007| publisher=US State Department| archive-date=21 January 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121022132/https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3581.htm| url-status=live}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=February 2015}} On 26 July 1956, Egypt nationalized the [[Suez Canal Company]] and closed the canal to Israeli shipping.<ref name="BBC: 1956: Egypt Seizes Suez Canal">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/26/newsid_2701000/2701603.stm |title=1956: Egypt Seizes Suez Canal |access-date=4 March 2007 |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=26 July 1956 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317034109/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/26/newsid_2701000/2701603.stm |archive-date=17 March 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> Israel invaded the [[Sinai Peninsula]] on 29 October with British and French support. During the [[Suez Crisis]], Israel captured the [[Gaza Strip]] and Sinai. The United States and United Nations advocated a ceasefire.<ref name="BBC: 1956: Egypt Seizes Suez Canal" /><ref name="Mideast Web: UN GA Resolution 997">{{cite web |url=http://www.mideastweb.org/ga997.htm |title=UN GA Resolution 997 |access-date=4 March 2007 |publisher=Mideast Web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021217025345/http://www.mideastweb.org/ga997.htm |archive-date=17 December 2002 |url-status=live}}</ref> Israel then withdrew from Egyptian territory. Egypt allowed regional navigation freedom and Sinai demilitarization. The [[United Nations Emergency Force]] (UNEF) deployed to oversee demilitarization.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Israel |encyclopedia=MSN Encarta |url=http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761575008_10/Israel.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060522193526/http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761575008_10/Israel.html |archive-date=22 May 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> UNEF operated only on the Egyptian side, as Israel refused deployment on its territory.<ref name="UN: Middle East – UNEF I, Background" />

Israel established a [[National Water Carrier of Israel|national water carrier]] in 1964, an engineering project to transfer its [[Jordan River]] allocation southward to enable mass [[Negev]] settlement. Arabs attempted a Jordan headwaters diversion, escalating the [[War over Water (Jordan river)|Israel–Syria conflict]].<ref name="JordanGov: The Disaster of 1967" />

The [[Palestine Liberation Organization]] (PLO) formed in 1964 with a charter committing to "[t]he liberation of Palestine [which] will destroy the Zionist and imperialist presence..." (Article 22, 1968).On 19 May 1967, Egypt expelled UNEF observers<ref name="UN: Middle East – UNEF I, Background">{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/dpko/co_mission/unef1backgr2.html |title=UN: Middle East – UNEF I, Background |access-date=4 March 2007 |publisher=[[United Nations]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070327073949/http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/dpko/co_mission/unef1backgr2.html |archive-date=27 March 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> and deployed 100,000 troops in Sinai.<ref name="MFA: The Arab-Israeli Wars">{{cite web |url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/History/Modern+History/Centenary+of+Zionism/The+Arab-Israeli+Wars.htm |title=The Arab-Israeli Wars |access-date=4 March 2007 |date=2 September 2003 |last=Lorch |first=Netanel |publisher=Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070309115843/http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/history/modern%2Bhistory/centenary%2Bof%2Bzionism/the%2Barab-israeli%2Bwars.htm |archive-date=9 March 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> It again closed the [[Straits of Tiran]] to Israeli shipping,<ref name="The Times: Egypt Closes Gulf of Aqaba to Israel Ships">'Egypt Closes Gulf Of Aqaba To Israel Ships: Defiant move by Nasser raises Middle East tension', ''[[The Times]]'', Tuesday, 23 May 1967; pg. 1; Issue 56948; col A.</ref><ref name="JordanGov: The Disaster of 1967">{{cite web |url=http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/his_periods3.html| title=The Disaster of 1967 |access-date=4 March 2007 |publisher=The Jordanian Government |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219000135/http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/his_periods3.html |archive-date=19 February 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> reverting to 1956 blockade conditions.

Jordan signed a defense pact with Egypt on 30 May 1967. Egypt mobilized Sinai units, crossed UN lines, and massed on Israel's southern border. Israel attacked Egypt on 5 June. The [[Israeli Air Force]] destroyed most Egyptian airpower in a surprise strike, then eliminated Jordanian, Syrian, and Iraqi forces,<ref>{{cite book |last=Morris |first=Benny |author-link=Benny Morris |title=Righteous victims: a history of the Zionist-Arab conflict, 1881–2001 |year=2001 |location=New York |isbn=978-0-679-74475-7 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/righteousvictims00morr_0/page/316 316–318] |edition=1st |publisher=[[Vintage Books]] |url=https://archive.org/details/righteousvictims00morr_0/page/316}}</ref> enabling Israel's [[Six-Day War]] victory.<ref name="MFA: The Arab-Israeli Wars" /><ref name="JordanGov: The Disaster of 1967" /> Israel gained the Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank (including [[East Jerusalem]]), [[Shebaa farms]], and the [[Golan Heights]].

===1967–1973=== {{See also|Closure of the Suez Canal (1967–1975)}} [[File:Bridge Crossing.jpg|thumb|Egyptian forces crossing the Suez Canal on 7 October 1973]] Arab leaders [[Khartoum Resolution|met in Khartoum]] in August 1967 to address the war and Arab policy toward Israel. They agreed on no recognition, no peace, and no negotiations with Israel—the "three no's".<ref name="SIS: President Mubarak Interview with Israeli TV">{{cite web|url=http://www.sis.gov.eg/En/Politics/Presidency/President/Interview/000001/0401050300000000000154.htm |title=President Mubarak Interview with Israeli TV |access-date=4 March 2007 |date=15 February 2006 |publisher=Egyptian State Information Service |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928001621/http://www.sis.gov.eg/En/Politics/Presidency/President/Interview/000001/0401050300000000000154.htm |archive-date=28 September 2007}}</ref> Abd al-Azim Ramadan argued this left war as the only option.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Meital |first1=Yoram |title=The Khartoum Conference and Egyptian Policy after the 1967 War: A Reexamination |journal=[[Middle East Journal]] |date=2000 |volume=54 |issue=1 |pages=64–82 |jstor=4329432 |url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/4329432 |access-date=15 June 2021 |archive-date=11 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611042750/https://www.jstor.org/stable/4329432 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Egypt launched the [[War of Attrition]] in 1967 to wear down Israel and force Sinai concessions.<ref name="Britannica: The War of Attrition">{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-219430/Israel |title=Israel: The War of Attrition |access-date=3 March 2007 |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070222164659/https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-219430/Israel |archive-date=22 February 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> It ended after [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]]'s 1970 death. Successor [[Anwar Sadat]] expelled 15,000 Soviet advisors to court U.S. help to pressure Israel on territorial return.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.state.gov/milestones/1969-1976/arab-israeli-war-1973 |title=MILESTONES: 1969–1976 – Arab-Israeli War, 1973 |publisher=US Department of State |date=31 October 2013 |access-date=2 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702000000/https://history.state.gov/milestones/1969-1976/arab-israeli-war-1973 |archive-date=2 July 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 6 October 1973, Syria and Egypt surprise-attacked Israel on [[Yom Kippur]]. Israel needed three days to mobilize fully.<ref name="Britannica: The Yom Kippur War">{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-219432/Israel |title=Israel: The Yom Kippur War |access-date=3 March 2007 |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |archive-date=18 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070518065823/http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-219432/Israel |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Encarta: Arab-Israeli War of 1973">{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761564886/Arab-Israeli_War_of_1973.html |title=Arab-Israeli War of 1973 |access-date=4 March 2007 |encyclopedia=Encarta Encyclopedia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031205103623/http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761564886/Arab-Israeli_War_of_1973.html |archive-date=5 December 2003 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Other Arab states reinforced them and imposed an oil embargo on the U.S., Japan, and Western Europe, quadrupling prices.<ref>Smith, Charles D. (2006) ''Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict'', New York: Bedford, p. 329.</ref> The [[Yom Kippur War]] enabled U.S.–Soviet indirect confrontation. As Israel reversed momentum, the USSR threatened intervention. Fearing [[Nuclear warfare|nuclear escalation]], the U.S. brokered a ceasefire on 25 October.<ref name="Britannica: The Yom Kippur War" /><ref name="Encarta: Arab-Israeli War of 1973" /> ===1974–2000===

====Egypt==== {{Further|Egypt–Israel relations}} [[File:Begin, Carter and Sadat at Camp David 1978.jpg|right|thumb|Begin, Carter and Sadat at Camp David on 7 September 1978]] Following [[Camp David Accords]] in September 1978,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Milestones in the History of U.S. Foreign Relations - Office of the Historian |url=https://history.state.gov/milestones/1977-1980/camp-david |access-date=2026-01-18 |website=history.state.gov}}</ref> Israel and Egypt signed a [[Egypt–Israel peace treaty|peace treaty]] on 26 March 1979.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AIPAC - The Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty, 40 Years On: Providing Mutual Peace and Security, Heralding Broad |url=https://www.aipac.org/resources/eyptian-israeli-peace-treaty-bkxyg-apblj-j2mel |access-date=2026-01-18 |website=AIPAC |language=en-US}}</ref> Under its terms, the [[Sinai Peninsula]] was returned to Egyptian hands,<ref>{{Cite web |title=ISRAEL LOWERS FLAG, GIVES TOWN IN SINAI BACK TO EGYPTIANS |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/05/26/archives/israel-lowers-flag-gives-town-in-sinai-back-to-egyptians.html |access-date=18 January 2026 |website=www.nytimes.com}}</ref> and the Gaza Strip remained under Israeli control.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Milestones in the History of U.S. Foreign Relations - Office of the Historian |url=https://history.state.gov/milestones/1977-1980/camp-david |access-date=2026-01-18 |website=history.state.gov}}</ref> The agreement also provided for the free passage of Israeli ships through the Suez Canal and recognition of the [[Straits of Tiran]] and the [[Gulf of Aqaba]] as international waterways.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty |url=https://embassies.gov.il/egypt/en/news/israel-egypt-peace-treaty |access-date=18 January 2026 |website=embassies.gov.il}}</ref> Further terms required Egypt to severely limit the amount of troops and equipment it could deploy in the Sinai.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The New Triangle of Egypt, Israel, and Hamas {{!}} The Washington Institute |url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/new-triangle-egypt-israel-and-hamas |access-date=2026-01-18 |website=www.washingtoninstitute.org |language=en}}</ref>

====Jordan==== {{Further|Israel–Jordan relations}} In October 1994, Israel and Jordan signed a [[Israel–Jordan peace treaty|peace agreement]], which stipulated mutual cooperation, an end of hostilities, formalizing the Israel-Jordan border, and resolved other issues. Their conflict had cost roughly 18.3 billion dollars. Its signing was closely linked with the efforts to create peace between Israel and the [[Palestine Liberation Organization]] (PLO). It was signed at the southern border crossing of [[Arabah]] on 26 October 1994.

====Iraq==== {{Further|Iraq–Israel relations}} Israel and Iraq had been foes since 1948. Iraq participated in the [[1948 Arab–Israeli War]], and later backed Egypt and Syria in the 1967 and 1973 wars.

In June 1981, Israel attacked and destroyed newly built Iraqi nuclear facilities in [[Operation Opera]].

During the 1991 [[Gulf War]], Iraq [[Iraqi rocket attacks on Israel|fired 39 Scud missiles]] into Israel, in the hopes of uniting the Arab world against the coalition seeking to liberate [[Kuwait]]. The United States prevailed upon, Israel to not respond to this attack in order to prevent a wider war.

====Lebanon==== {{main|Israeli–Lebanese conflict}}

{{Further|Israel–Lebanon relations|Palestinian insurgency in South Lebanon}} In 1970, following an extended [[Black September in Jordan|civil war]], King Hussein expelled the [[Palestine Liberation Organization]] from Jordan. September 1970 is known as [[Black September]] in Arab history and is sometimes referred to as the "era of regrettable events".<ref>{{cite book |last=Shlaim |first=Avi |author-link=Avi Shlaim |title=Lion of Jordan; The life of King Hussein in War in Peace |date=2007 |page=301}}</ref> The violence resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people, the vast majority Palestinians.<ref>Massad, Joseph Andoni. "Colonial Effects: The Making of National Identity in Jordan", pg. 342.</ref> Armed conflict lasted until July 1971 with the expulsion, when thousands of Palestinian fighters migrated to Lebanon.

The PLO established a ''de facto'' autonomous zone from which it staged raids into Israel. PLO helped destabilize Lebanon and trigger the 1975 [[Lebanese Civil War]]. In 1978, Israel launched [[Operation Litani]], in which it together with the [[Free Lebanon Army]] forced the PLO to retreat north of the [[Litani river]]. In 1981 another conflict between Israel and the PLO broke out, which ended with a ceasefire agreement. In June 1982, [[1982 Lebanon War|Israel invaded Lebanon]] in alliance with Christian factions of the Lebanese government. Within two months the PLO agreed to move across the river.

In March 1983, Israel and Lebanon signed a [[17 May Agreement|normalization agreement]]. However, President [[Amine Gemayel]] nullified the truce in March 1984 under pressure from Syria. In 1985, Israeli forces withdrew to a 15&nbsp;km wide strip along Lebanon's southern border. The conflict continued on a lower scale. In 1993 and 1996, Israel launched major operations against the [[Hezbollah]] militia. In May 2000, the new Israeli government of [[Ehud Barak]] withdrew from Lebanon, fulfilling an election promise ahead of a deadline. The withdrawal lead to the immediate collapse of the [[South Lebanon Army]], and many members were either arrested or fled to Israel.

====Palestinians==== {{Further|Israeli–Palestinian conflict}} The 1970s were marked by major, international terrorist attacks, including the [[Lod Airport massacre]] and the [[Munich massacre|Munich Olympics Massacre]] in 1972, and the [[Operation Entebbe|Entebbe Hostage Taking]] in 1976, with over 100 Jewish hostages kidnapped and held in Uganda.

In December 1987, the [[First Intifada]] began. It was a Palestinian uprising against Israeli rule in the [[Palestinian territories]].<ref>"Uprising by Palestinians against Israeli rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip territories", Intifada, Microsoft Encarta.</ref> The rebellion began in the [[Jabalia Camp|Jabalia refugee camp]] and quickly spread. Palestinian actions ranged from civil disobedience to violence. In addition to general strikes, boycotts on Israeli products, graffiti and barricades, demonstrations included youths throwing stones at Israeli soldiers. The army responded to the demonstrations with live ammunition, beatings and mass arrests, bringing international condemnation. The PLO, which had never been recognized as the Palestinians' representative, was invited to peace negotiations after it recognized Israel and renounced terrorism.

[[File:Bill Clinton, Yitzhak Rabin, Yasser Arafat at the White House 1993-09-13.jpg|thumb|[[Yitzhak Rabin]], [[Bill Clinton]], and [[Yasser Arafat]] at the Oslo Accords signing ceremony on 13 September 1993]]

In mid-1993, Israeli and Palestinian representatives engaged in peace talks in Oslo, Norway. As a result, in September 1993, Israel and the PLO signed the [[Oslo Accords]], known as the ''Declaration of Principles'' or Oslo I. In [[Israel–Palestine Liberation Organization letters of recognition|side letters]], Israel recognized the PLO as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, while the PLO recognized Israel's right to exist and renounced terrorism, violence and its [[Calls for the destruction of Israel|mission to destroy Israel]]. Oslo II was signed in 1995.<ref>[https://remix.aljazeera.com/aje/PalestineRemix/the-price-of-oslo.html#/14 The Oslo II agreement] Retrieved 5 March 2024</ref>

===2000–2005=== The [[Al-Aqsa Intifada]] launched a [[List of Palestinian suicide attacks|series of suicide bombings]] and attacks. The Israeli army launched [[Operation Defensive Shield]] in March 2002. It was Israel's largest military operation since the Six-Day War.<ref>{{cite book| publisher=Yedioth Aharonoth Books and Chemed Books and it had a very big conflict| isbn =978-965-511-767-7| last1=Harel| author-link1=Amos Harel| first1=Amos| first2=Avi| last2= Isacharoff| author-link2 = Avi Issacharoff| title=The Seventh War| pages=274–275| location=Tel Aviv|year=2004}}</ref>

As violence intensified, Israel expanded its security apparatus around the West Bank by re-taking many parts of land in under the PLO's full control ([[Area A]]). Israel established a system of roadblocks and [[Border checkpoint|checkpoints]] to deter violence and protect [[Israeli settlement]]s. However, in 2008, the IDF began to slowly transfer authority to Palestinian security forces.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=172860 |first=Leo |last=Giosuecom |date=11 April 2010 |title=PA security forces seize 17 bombs, transfer them to IDF |work=The Jerusalem Post |access-date=14 September 2010 |archive-date=20 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120223425/http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=172860 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=178633 |title=UN: Israel has dismantled 20 percent of West Bank checkpoint |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=16 June 2010 |access-date=14 September 2010 |archive-date=4 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204000728/http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=178633 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Katz |first=Yaakov |author-link=Yaakov Katz (journalist) |url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=170599 |title=Israel sets up trial program to expedite PA export process |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=26 April 2010 |access-date=14 September 2010 |archive-date=4 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204001039/http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=170599 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Israel's then prime minister [[Ariel Sharon]] began a policy of [[Israeli disengagement from Gaza|disengagement]] from the [[Gaza Strip]] in 2003. This policy was fully implemented in August 2005, including the mandatory evacuation of all 17 Jewish settlements there.<ref name="Special Update: Disengagement – August 2005">"[http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/History/Modern+History/Historic+Events/Disengagement+-+August+2005.htm Special Update: Disengagement – August 2005] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116122917/http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/History/Modern+History/Historic+Events/Disengagement+-+August+2005.htm |date=16 November 2006 }}", Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</ref> This was the first reversal for the settler movement since 1968. The disengagement from Gaza shocked Sharon's critics both on the left and on the right.<ref>Ma'ariv II December 2002</ref> It was supported by Trade and Industry Minister [[Ehud Olmert]] and [[Tzipi Livni]], the Minister for Immigration and Absorption, but Foreign Minister [[Silvan Shalom]] and Finance Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] condemned it.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shindler |first=Colin |author-link =Colin Shindler |title=A history of modern Israel |date=2008 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-85028-5 |location=Cambridge |oclc=166357536 | page = 314}}</ref>

=== 2006–present === {{Further|Iran–Israel proxy conflict}}

==== Conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon ==== In June 2006, [[Hamas]] militants infiltrated an IDF post near the Gaza border and abducted soldier [[Gilad Shalit]]. Two IDF soldiers died; Shalit was wounded when his tank took an [[rocket-propelled grenade|RPG]] hit. Israel launched [[Operation Summer Rains]] three days later to secure his release.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ravid |first=Barak |url=https://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/gilad-shalit-to-be-returned-to-israel-within-a-week-1.389655 |title=Gilad Shalit to be returned to Israel within a week |work=Haaretz |date=12 October 2011 |access-date=19 January 2013 |archive-date=2 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202220410/http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/gilad-shalit-to-be-returned-to-israel-within-a-week-1.389655 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Hamas held him, denying [[International Red Cross]] access, until 18 October 2011, when he was swapped for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/1.5089009|title=Who Are the Deadly Terrorists Israel Refuses to Release for Shalit?|newspaper=Haaretz|access-date=4 September 2021|archive-date=19 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019195309/https://www.haaretz.com/1.5089009|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Ravid |first=Barak |url=https://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArtStEngPE.jhtml?itemNo=1071934&contrassID=2&subContrassID=1&title=%27Israel%20to%20publish%20Hamas%20prisoner%20list%20%27&dyn_server=172.20.5.5 |title=Israel to publish Hamas prisoner list |work=Haaretz |date=18 March 2009 |access-date=19 January 2013 |archive-date=8 December 2011 |archive-url=http://web.archive.bibalex.org/web/20111208125041/http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israel-to-publish-hamas-prisoner-list-1.272320 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In July 2006, [[Hezbollah]] fighters crossed into Israel, killed eight soldiers, and abducted two, igniting the [[2006 Lebanon War]] and heavy destruction in Lebanon.<ref name="Encarta12">[http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761575008_12/Israel.html Israel (country)], ''Microsoft [[Encarta]] Encyclopedia.'', 2007, p. 12. [https://archive.today/20070506084834/http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761575008_12/Israel.html Archived] 31 October 2009.</ref> A UN ceasefire took effect 14 August.<ref name="ceasefire-news">"[http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/08/14/mideast.main/index.html Lebanon truce holds despite clashes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613073546/http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/08/14/mideast.main/index.html |date=13 June 2008 }}", [[CNN]]</ref> The war killed over 1,000 Lebanese and over 150 Israelis,<ref>''Lessons of the 2006 Israeli-Hezbollah War'', By Anthony H. Cordesman, William D. Sullivan, CSIS, 2007, page 16</ref><ref name="apstats">{{cite news|title=Lebanon Sees More Than 1,000 War Deaths |publisher=AP via Usti.net |date=28 December 2006 |url=http://news.usti.net/home/news/cn/?/world.mideast.misc/1/wed/bq/Alebanon-war-deaths.RYBR_GDS.html |access-date=25 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206055402/http://news.usti.net/home/news/cn/?%2Fworld.mideast.misc%2F1%2Fwed%2Fbq%2FAlebanon-war-deaths.RYBR_GDS.html |archive-date=6 February 2012 }}</ref><ref>guardian.co.uk (14 September 2006). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/sep/14/syria.israelandthepalestinians "Amnesty report accuses Hizbullah of war crimes"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218064702/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/sep/14/syria.israelandthepalestinians |date=18 February 2017 }}. Retrieved 16 July 2008.</ref><ref>[[Associated Press]] via CHINAdaily (30 July 2006). [https://archive.today/20110806013925/http://chinadaily.cn/world/2006-07/30/content_652972.htm "Rice postpones trip to Beirut"]. Retrieved 16 July 2008.</ref><ref>Sarah Martin and Kristele Younes, [[Refugees International]] (28 August 2006). [http://www.refugeesinternational.org/content/article/detail/9399/ "Lebanon: Refugees International's Statement for Donors' Conference"]. Retrieved 16 July 2008. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517000830/http://www.refugeesinternational.org/content/article/detail/9399/ |date=17 May 2008 }}</ref><ref name="fatal_strikes">Human Rights Watch (August 2006). [http://hrw.org/reports/2006/lebanon0806/ "Fatal Strikes: Israel's Indiscriminate Attacks Against Civilians in Lebanon"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312061222/http://hrw.org/reports/2006/lebanon0806/ |date=12 March 2008 }}. Retrieved 5 April 2007.</ref> devastated infrastructure, and displaced ~1 million Lebanese<ref name="hrc">Lebanon Higher Relief Council (2007). [http://www.lebanonundersiege.gov.lb/english/F/Main/index.asp? "Lebanon Under Siege"]. Retrieved 5 March 2007. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426210424/http://www.lebanonundersiege.gov.lb/english/F/Main/index.asp |date=26 April 2009 }}</ref> and 300,000–500,000 Israelis (most later returned).<ref name="mfa_casualties">Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs (12 July 2006). [http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Terrorism+from+Lebanon-+Hizbullah/Hizbullah+attack+in+northern+Israel+and+Israels+response+12-Jul-2006.htm "Hizbullah attacks northern Israel and Israel's response"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328084534/http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Terrorism+from+Lebanon-+Hizbullah/Hizbullah+attack+in+northern+Israel+and+Israels+response+12-Jul-2006.htm |date=28 March 2013 }}. Retrieved 5 March 2007.</ref><ref name="BBC: Middle East crisis: Facts and Figures">{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5257128.stm| title=Middle East crisis: Facts and Figures|work=BBC News| date=31 August 2006| access-date =13 July 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080719103553/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5257128.stm| archive-date=19 July 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="USA Today: Israel says it will relinquish positions to Lebanese army">{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-08-14-mideast_x.htm| title=Israel says it will relinquish positions to Lebanese army| work=USA Today| date=15 August 2006| access-date=21 August 2017| archive-date=10 March 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310183522/http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-08-14-mideast_x.htm| url-status=live}}</ref> Parts of [[Southern Lebanon]] stayed uninhabitable from unexploded Israeli cluster munitions.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5382192.stm| title='Million bomblets' in S Lebanon| work=BBC News| date=26 September 2006| access-date=13 July 2008| archive-date=6 April 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080406112900/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5382192.stm| url-status=live}}</ref>

In the [[Battle of Gaza (2007)|June 2007 Battle of Gaza]], Hamas seized the Strip from rival Fatah in civil war. Israel then restricted borders, halted economic ties with Gaza's leadership, and—with Egypt—imposed a [[blockade of the Gaza Strip|blockade]].<ref name="BBCProfile">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19395651 |title=Profile: Rachel; Corrie |work=BBC News |date=28 August 2012 |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-date=20 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220041348/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19395651 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 6 September 2007, Israel bombed a suspected Syrian nuclear site in [[Operation Orchard]].<ref>{{cite news| title=Statement by the Press Secretary |url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/04/20080424-14.html |publisher=The White House |date=24 April 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517105419/http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/04/20080424-14.html |archive-date=17 May 2008 }}</ref> It had [[Ain es Saheb airstrike|struck Syria]] in 2003. In April 2008, President [[Bashar al-Assad]] told a Qatari paper that Syria and Israel discussed peace via Turkey; Israel confirmed. Talks covered the [[Golan Heights]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Peter| last=Walker|others=News Agencies|title=Olmert confirms peace talks with Syria| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/may/21/israelandthepalestinians.syria |work=The Guardian |date=21 May 2008| access-date=21 May 2008| quote=Israel and Syria are holding indirect peace talks, with Turkey acting as a mediator... | location=London| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080521213948/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/may/21/israelandthepalestinians.syria| archive-date= 21 May 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> Secretary Rice criticized surging West Bank settlements (up 1.8× from 2007).<ref>{{cite news | title=Rice calls for Israel to stop building in West Bank | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/rice-calls-for-israel-to-stop-building-in-west-bank-909669.html | work=The Independent | location=London | first=Kim | last=Sengupta | date=27 August 2008 | access-date=7 April 2010 | archive-date=28 October 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028160105/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/rice-calls-for-israel-to-stop-building-in-west-bank-909669.html | url-status=live }}</ref> A [[2008 Israel–Hamas ceasefire|six-month Hamas–Israel truce]] lapsed on 19 December 2008; renewal failed.<ref>{{cite news| title=TIMELINE – Israeli-Hamas violence since truce ended| url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKTRE50423320090105| work=Reuters| date=5 January 2009| access-date=15 May 2009| archive-date=18 January 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090118161927/http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKTRE50423320090105| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7797144.stm | publisher=BBC | title=Hamas 'might renew' truce in Gaza | date=23 December 2008 | access-date=1 January 2010 | archive-date=30 May 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530105505/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7797144.stm | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/09/israel-rejected-hamas-cea_n_156639.html?page=2&show_comment_id=19558888#comment_19558888 | work=Huffington Post | title=Israel Rejected Hamas Ceasefire Offer In December | date=9 January 2009 | access-date=15 May 2009 | archive-date=22 January 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122231902/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/09/israel-rejected-hamas-cea_n_156639.html?page=2&show_comment_id=19558888#comment_19558888 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/090202_gaza_war.pdf Anthony H. Cordesman, 'THE "GAZA WAR": A Strategic Analysis,' Center for Strategic & International Studies, February 2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418165547/http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/090202_gaza_war.pdf |date=18 April 2009 }} p.9</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,446805,00.html |title=Israeli Airstrike on Gaza Threatens Truce with Hamas |publisher=Fox News Channel |date=4 November 2008 |access-date=15 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207233009/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,446805,00.html |archive-date=7 December 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Israel raided a suspected kidnap tunnel, killing Hamas fighters.<ref>{{cite web |last=Derfner |first=Larry |url=https://www.usnews.com/articles/news/world/2008/12/30/why-the-gaza-war-between-israel-and-hamas-broke-out-now.html |title=Larry Derfner (US News): Why the Gaza War Between Israel and Hamas Broke Out Now |work=U.S. News & World Report |date=30 December 2008 |access-date=24 August 2017 |archive-date=8 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508170732/http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/world/2008/12/30/why-the-gaza-war-between-israel-and-hamas-broke-out-now.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Hamas fired >60 rockets on 24 December. Israel launched [[Gaza War (2008–09)|Operation Cast Lead]] on 27 December. Human rights groups accused both sides of [[war crime]]s.<ref>"Demands grow for Gaza war crimes investigation" UK ''Guardian'', 13 January 2009.</ref> Israel imposed a 10-month West Bank settlement freeze in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rozen |first=Laura |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/laurarozen/1109/Mitchell_brief_as_Netanyahu_to_announce_partial_settlement_freeze.html |title=Clinton praises Netanyahu West Bank settlement moratorium (UPDATED) |publisher=Politico |date=25 November 2009 |access-date=4 May 2012 |archive-date=17 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217150125/http://www.politico.com/blogs/laurarozen/1109/Mitchell_brief_as_Netanyahu_to_announce_partial_settlement_freeze.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/11/01/mideast.talks.clinton/index.html | publisher=CNN | title=Palestinians blast Clinton for Israel praise | date=1 November 2009 | access-date=14 September 2010 | archive-date=30 January 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110130225314/http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/11/01/mideast.talks.clinton/index.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

In May 2010, [[Israeli Navy|Israeli naval forces]] raided six [[2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla|Gaza Freedom Flotilla]] ships that refused to dock at [[Port of Ashdod|Ashdod]].<ref name="ibhsguardqa53">{{cite news|first=Ian |last=Black |author2=Haroon Siddique |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/may/31/q-a-gaza-freedom-flotilla |title=Q&A: The Gaza Freedom flotilla |newspaper=The Guardian |date=31 May 2010 |access-date=2 June 2010 | location=London| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603133507/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/31/q-a-gaza-freedom-flotilla| archive-date=3 June 2010 | url-status=live}}</ref> On [[MV Mavi Marmara|MV ''Mavi Marmara'']], clashes killed nine activists. Global condemnation strained Israel–Turkey ties; Israel later eased the blockade.<ref name="AJEshooting">{{cite news |title=Flotilla activists 'shot 30 times' |url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/06/20106535425983666.html|date=5 June 2010 |publisher=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]] |access-date=6 June 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605184608/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/06/20106535425983666.html| archive-date=5 June 2010 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="latimes">{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-israel-flotilla-20100531,0,1839736.story |author=Edmund Sanders |title=Israel criticized over raid on Gaza flotilla |work=Los Angeles Times |date=1 June 2010 |access-date=2 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531101434/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-israel-flotilla-20100531,0,1839736.story |archive-date=31 May 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="CNN Autopsies">{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/06/04/gaza.raid.autopsies/ |title=Autopsies reveal 9 men on Gaza aid boat shot, 5 in head |author=Ivan Watson |author2=Talia Kayali |date=4 June 2010 |publisher=CNN World |access-date=4 June 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100604101327/http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/06/04/gaza.raid.autopsies/| archive-date= 4 June 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="edition.cnn.com">{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/05/31/gaza.protest/index.html?hpt=T1 |title=Israeli assault on Gaza-bound flotilla leaves at least 9 dead |publisher=CNN |date=31 May 2010 |access-date=2 June 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603211209/http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/05/31/gaza.protest/index.html?hpt=T1| archive-date= 3 June 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> Dozens of passengers and seven soldiers were injured, some commandos shot.<ref name="latimes" /><ref name="no choice">{{cite news |title=We had no choice |url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=177445 |date=4 June 2010 |work=The Jerusalem Post |author=Yaakov Katz |access-date=6 July 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607061835/http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=177445| archive-date=7 June 2010 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="vicious conflict">{{cite news |title=Vicious conflict aboard 'Mavi Marmara' |url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=177067 |date=1 June 2010 |work=The Jerusalem Post |author=Yaakov Katz |access-date=6 July 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603232420/http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=177067| archive-date= 3 June 2010 | url-status=live}}</ref>

After [[2010–2011 Israeli–Palestinian peace talks|2010–2011 talks]], 13 Hamas-led groups launched a [[2010 Palestinian militancy campaign|campaign]] to disrupt them.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2010/0831/Hamas-targets-Israeli-Palestinian-talks-by-killing-four-Israelis |title=Hamas targets Israeli–Palestinian talks by killing four Israelis |journal=The Christian Science Monitor |date=31 August 2010 |access-date=29 September 2010 |archive-date=13 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413074210/https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2010/0831/Hamas-targets-Israeli-Palestinian-talks-by-killing-four-Israelis |url-status=live }}</ref> Attacks rose after August, including the [[August 2010 West Bank shooting attack|killing of four civilians]]. Rocket fire intensified. On 2 August, militants fired seven [[Katyusha rocket launcher|Katyushas]] at [[Eilat]] and [[Aqaba]], killing one Jordanian and wounding four.<ref>{{cite news|last=Blomfield |first=Adrian |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/jordan/7922624/Jordanian-national-killed-in-multiple-militant-rocket-strike.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/jordan/7922624/Jordanian-national-killed-in-multiple-militant-rocket-strike.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Jordanian national killed in multiple militant rocket strike |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=2 August 2010 |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[File:Israel-Palestine Diplomacy.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.35| {{legend|#000000|Israel and Palestine}} {{legend|#0052ff|Recognition of only Israel}} {{legend|#cdcd9c|Recognition of both Israel and Palestine}} {{legend|#FF4500|Recognition of only Palestine}} {{legend|#e0e0e0|No data}} ]] Intermittent clashes persisted, including Hamas 680 rockets in 2011.<ref name=Rockets2011-1>{{cite web |url=http://www.idf.il/1283-14436-en/Dover.aspx |title=IDF Spokesperson |publisher=Idf.il |access-date=19 January 2013 |archive-date=12 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012054345/https://www.idf.il/1283-14436-en/Dover.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> On 14 November 2012, Israel killed Hamas military leader [[Ahmed Jabari]], starting [[Operation Pillar of Defense]].<ref name="telegraph jabari">{{cite news| location=UK| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthority/9677782/Hamas-military-chief-killed-in-Gaza-air-strike.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthority/9677782/Hamas-military-chief-killed-in-Gaza-air-strike.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|date=14 November 2012|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph| first=Barney|last=Henderson|title=Hamas military chief killed in Gaza air strike}}{{cbignore}}</ref> An Egyptian-brokered ceasefire began 21 November.<ref name="wp ceasefire">{{cite news| title=Full text: Terms of Israel–Palestinian cease-fire| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2012/11/21/full-text-terms-of-israel-palestinian-cease-fire/| newspaper=The Washington Post| date=21 November 2012| access-date=22 November 2012| archive-date=22 November 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122114550/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2012/11/21/full-text-terms-of-israel-palestinian-cease-fire/| url-status=live}}</ref> Hamas rocket escalation prompted an Israeli [[Operation Protective Edge|Gaza operation]] on 8 July 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title=Israel and Hamas Trade Attacks as Tension Rises|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/09/world/middleeast/israel-steps-up-offensive-against-hamas-in-gaza.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Aw%2C%7B%222%22%3A%22RI%3A17%22%7D&_r=0|website=The New York Times|date=8 July 2014|access-date=21 February 2017|archive-date=6 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706121157/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/09/world/middleeast/israel-steps-up-offensive-against-hamas-in-gaza.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Aw%2C%7B%222%22%3A%22RI%3A17%22%7D&_r=0|url-status=live |first1=Steven |last1=Erlanger |first2=Isabel |last2=Kershner}}</ref> Another [[Operation Guardian of the Walls|11-day round]] erupted in May 2021.<ref>{{cite news|title=Israel and Hamas agree Gaza truce, Biden pledges assistance|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hamas-official-predicts-ceasefire-soon-israel-gaza-fight-goes-2021-05-19/|website=Reuters|date=21 May 2021|access-date=31 May 2021|archive-date=31 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531014137/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hamas-official-predicts-ceasefire-soon-israel-gaza-fight-goes-2021-05-19/|url-status=live |first1=Nidal |last1=Al-Mughrabi |first2=Dan |last2=Williams}}</ref>

[[October 7 attacks|Hamas-led attacks]] in October 2023 triggered [[Gaza war|war]] with massive destruction, [[Gaza Strip evacuations|displacement]] and a [[Gaza humanitarian crisis (2023–present)|humanitarian crisis]].<ref name="Dannenbaum_Dill_2024">{{cite journal |doi=10.1017/ajil.2024.53 |title=International Law in Gaza: Belligerent Intent and Provisional Measures |date=2024 |last1=Dannenbaum |first1=Tom |last2=Dill |first2=Janina |journal=American Journal of International Law |volume=118 |issue=4 |pages=659–683 |url=https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:9f903ef4-702f-4391-ab59-4e7506124964 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="IPC_29_July_2025">{{cite report |date=29 July 2025 |title=IPC ALERT: Worst-case scenario of Famine unfolding in the Gaza Strip |url=https://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/IPC_GazaStrip_Alert_July2025.pdf |work=[[Integrated Food Security Phase Classification]] |access-date=4 August 2025}}</ref> ==== Syrian Civil War ==== {{Main|Iran–Israel conflict during the Syrian civil war|Israeli–Syrian ceasefire line incidents during the Syrian civil war|2024 Israeli invasion of Syria}}

Israel's military role in the [[Syrian Civil War]] was limited to missile strikes,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-official-confirms-attack-in-syria-first-strike-on-live-iranian-targets/|title=IDF official said to confirm attack in Syria: 'First strike on Iranian targets' |website=The Times of Israel |access-date=25 July 2018|archive-date=24 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424163916/https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-official-confirms-attack-in-syria-first-strike-on-live-iranian-targets/|url-status=live |date=16 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-blamed-airstrike-syria-after-suspected-ghouta-chemical-weapon-attack-n863821|title=U.S. officials confirm Israel launched pre-dawn airstrike on Syria|website=NBC News|date=9 April 2018 |first1= Ken |last1=Dilanian |first2=Courtney |last2=Kube |access-date=25 July 2018|archive-date=26 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726081159/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-blamed-airstrike-syria-after-suspected-ghouta-chemical-weapon-attack-n863821|url-status=live}}</ref> which were officially acknowledged in 2017. While Israel [[#Official standpoint|officially]] stayed neutral, Israel was opposed to Iran's presence in Syria. Israel [[#Israeli humanitarian aid to Syrians|provided humanitarian aid]] to Syrian war victims, an effort that expanded in June 2016 when Israel launched ''[[Operation Good Neighbour]]''. [[Hezbollah]] are suspected of [[Iran–Israel relations#Iranian funding of Hamas and Hezbollah|carrying out attacks]] against Israeli positions on the border between Syria and [[Lebanon]], and Israel is suspected of [[Iran–Israel proxy conflict|carrying out air strikes]] against convoys transporting weapons to such organizations.

On 9 December 2017, US President [[Donald Trump]] announced the [[United States recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel|United States recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel]], prompting [[United States recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel#International response|condemnation by other world leaders]] as well as the [[2018 Gaza border protests]]. The [[Embassy of the United States, Jerusalem|United States Embassy]] opened in Jerusalem on 14 May 2018.

==== Abraham Accords ==== {{Excerpt|Abraham Accords}}

==Notable wars and violent events== [[File:Arab-Israeli conflicts casualty pie chart.jpg|thumb|Pie chart of the share of percentage of the casualties in the Arab-Israeli conflicts since 1948]] {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Time ! Name ! style=width:7em data-sort-type=number | Israeli deaths ! style=width:7em data-sort-type=number | Arab deaths ! Notes |- | rowspan="1"| 1948–1949 | [[1948 Arab–Israeli War]] | 6,373<ref name="Brecher">{{cite book| first=Michael |last=Brecher| authorlink=Michael Brecher| title=Dynamics of the Arab-Israel Conflict: Past and Present: Intellectual Odyssey II| publisher=Springer |year=2017 |isbn=9783319475752| page=120}}</ref> | 10,000<ref>{{cite book| title=Contemporary Cases in U.S. Foreign Policy: From National Security to Human Security |first=Ralph |last=Carter| publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |year=2021 |isbn= 9781538141427| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g7cmEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA172| page=172}}</ref> | Israeli victory, independence confirmed; Jordan occupies and annexes the West Bank and Egypt captures and occupies the Gaza Strip |- | 1951–1955 | [[Palestinian Fedayeen insurgency]] | 967 {{citation needed|date=October 2024}} | 3,000–5,000<ref>{{cite book| title=Israel's Armor: The Israel Lobby and the First Generation of the Palestine Conflict| first=Walter L. |last=Hixson|publisher=Cambridge University Press |year= 2019| isbn=9781108483902| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nG2MDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA90 | page=90}}</ref> | Israeli victory |- | 1956 | [[Suez Crisis]] | 181<ref name="Gantzel"/> | 2,000<ref name="Gantzel">{{cite book| title=Warfare Since the Second World War |first1=Klaus Jürgen |last1=Gantzel |first2= Torsten |last2= Schwinghammer |publisher=Transaction Publishers |isbn=9781412841184| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A1P97i-eQ6sC&pg=PA475| page=475}}</ref> | Israeli military victory, Egyptian political victory<br />Israeli occupation of the Sinai Peninsula until March 1957 |- | 1967 | [[Six-Day War]] | 803<ref name="Brecher"/> | 12,000<ref>{{cite book| title=The Political Impact of African Military Leaders |first1=Sabella |last1=Ogbobode Abidde |first2=Felix |last2=Kumah-Abiwu| publisher=Springer Nature| year=2023 |isbn=9783031314278 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uKXIEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA319| page=319}}</ref>–13,000<ref>{{cite book| title=The Arab-Israeli Six-Day War: Perspectives on Modern World History |first=Jeff |last=Hay |publisher=Greenhaven Publishing LLC |year=2012 |isbn=9780737767995 | pages=49–50}}</ref> | Israeli victory<br />Israel captures and occupies the Gaza Strip and [[Sinai Peninsula]] from Egypt, the West Bank from Jordan, and the [[Golan Heights]] from Syria |- | 1967–1970 | [[War of Attrition]] | 738<ref name="Brecher"/> | 2,500<ref>{{cite book| title=1001 Facts Everyone Should Know about Israel |first1=Mitchell Geoffrey |last1=Bard |first2=Moshe |last2=Schwartz |publisher= Rowman & Littlefield |year=2005 |isbn= 9780742543584 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hohspDWqzjwC&pg=PA128| page=128}}</ref> | Both sides claim victory, continued Israeli control of Sinai |- | 1968–1982 | [[Palestinian insurgency in South Lebanon]] | | |Israeli victory |- | 1973 | [[Yom Kippur War]] | 2,688<ref>{{cite web| title='Eighteen days in October': How Israel failed to stop an Arab invasion – review| author=Neal Gendler| url=https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/article-777101| work=[[The Jerusalem Post]]| date=24 March 2025}}</ref> | 11,000<ref>{{cite book| title=Chronicle of Jewish History: From the Patriarchs to the 21st Century| first=Sol |last=Scharfstein| publisher=KTAV Publishing House, Inc.| year=1997 |isbn=9780881256062| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PrAdxFjB7k4C&pg=PA297| page=297}}</ref>–13,000<ref>{{cite book| title=A History of the Seventies: The political, cultural, social and economic developments that shaped the modern world| first=Bas |last=Dianda| publisher=Vernon Press| year=2019| isbn=9781622735891| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZsCSDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA103 |page=103}}</ref> | Inconclusive, Arab offensives repulsed<br />[[Camp David Accords]] followed by [[Egypt–Israel peace treaty]]; Israel fully returns the Sinai in exchange for mutual recognition and restricting Egyptian military access in the Sinai |- | 1978 | [[1978 South Lebanon conflict]] |18{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} |1,100 |Israeli victory, PLO expelled from southern Lebanon |- | 1982 | [[1982 Lebanon War]] | 654<ref name="Ben-Dov">{{cite book| title=War Lives: Revenge, Grief, and Conflict in Israeli Fiction |authorlink=Nitza Ben-Dov |first=Nitza| last=Ben-Dov| publisher=Syracuse University Press |year=2024| isbn=9780815655831| page=53}}</ref> | 19,085<ref>{{cite web| title=Ten years after Israeli invasion, war looms over Lebanon| author=Dalal Saoud| url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/06/05/Ten-years-after-Israeli-invasion-war-looms-over-Lebanon/8473707716800/ | date=5 June 1992| work=[[United Press International|UPI]]}}</ref> | Israeli tactical victory but strategic failure<br />Syrian political advantage<br />PLO expelled from Lebanon |- | 1982–2000 | [[South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000)]] | 652<ref name="Ben-Dov"/> | 1,276<ref>{{cite book| title=Terrorism Worldwide |year=2016 | authorlink=Edward Mickolus| first=Edward |last=Mickolus |publisher=McFarland |isbn= 9781476630267| page=186}}</ref> |Hezbollah victory<br />Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon |- | 1987–1993 | [[First Intifada]] | 182<ref name="btselem first intifada"/> | 1,491<ref name="btselem first intifada">{{cite web| title=Fatalities in the first Intifada| url=https://www.btselem.org/statistics/first_intifada_tables| work=[[B'Tselem]]}}</ref> | Israeli victory, uprising suppressed, followed by the [[Oslo Accords]] and the creation of the [[Palestinian Authority]] |- | 1991 | [[1991 Iraqi missile attacks against Israel]] | 13<ref>{{cite web| title=PART III:IRAQ'S MISSILE ATTACKS AGAINST ISRAEL AND THE GULF STATES| work=[[Human Rights Watch]]| url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/1991/gulfwar/CHAP6.htm |year=1991}}</ref> | 0 | Iraqi strategic failure, Iraq fails to provoke Israeli retaliation |- | 2000–2008 | [[Second Intifada]] | 1,053<ref>{{cite news| author=[[Herb Keinon]]| title=The Second Intifada: A defining event that reshaped the nation| url=https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/the-second-intifada-a-defining-event-that-reshaped-the-nation-642644| date=17 September 2020| work=[[The Jerusalem Post]]}}</ref> | 4,973<ref>{{cite news| work=Al Jazeera| title=Palestinian Intifada: How Israel orchestrated a bloody takeover |date=28 September 2020| url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/28/palestinian-intifada-20-years-later-israeli-occupation-continues}}</ref> | Israeli victory, uprising suppressed |- | 2006 | [[2006 Lebanon War]] | 165<ref name="bbc12072016"/> | 1,191<ref name="bbc12072016">{{cite news| work=BBC News| title=Ten years on, is Hezbollah prepared for another war with Israel? |date=12 July 2016| url=https://www.bbc.com/news/36559373}}</ref> | Inconclusive |- | 2008 | [[Gaza War (2008–2009)]] | 13<ref name="bbc01092014"/> | 1,391<ref name="bbc01092014">{{cite news| work=BBC News| title=Gaza crisis: Toll of operations in Gaza| date=1 September 2014| url= https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28439404}}</ref> | Inconclusive |- | 2012 | [[2012 Gaza War]] | 6<ref name="bbc01092014"/> | 167<ref name="bbc01092014"/> | Inconclusive |- | 2014 | [[2014 Gaza War]] | 73<ref name="bbc22062015"/> | 2,251<ref name="bbc22062015">{{cite news| work=BBC News| title=Gaza conflict 2014: 'War crimes by both sides' – UN |date=22 June 2015| url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-33223365}}</ref> | Inconclusive |- | 2023–present | [[Gaza war]] | data-sort-value="2,000" | ~2,000 | data-sort-value="70,000" | ~70,000<ref>{{cite news| title=Gaza Death Toll Crosses 70,000 Since Israel-Hamas War Began, Gaza Health Ministry Says | work=Haaretz | url=https://www.haaretz.com/gaza/2025-11-29/ty-article/.premium/gaza-death-toll-crosses-70-000-since-israel-hamas-war-began-gaza-health-ministry-says/0000019a-d016-db2f-afdf-f63e3a530000| date=29 November 2025}}</ref> <br>–84,000<ref>{{cite news |date=3 July 2025 |title=Gaza: What is the actual death toll, and how can we be sure? |url=https://www.dw.com/en/gaza-what-is-the-actual-death-toll-and-how-can-we-be-sure/a-73136975 |work=Deutsche Welle}}</ref> | Ceasefire, ongoing |- | 2023–present | [[Israel–Hezbollah conflict (2023–present)|Israel–Hezbollah conflict]] | data-sort-value="150" | ~150 | data-sort-value="4,000" | ~4,000<ref>{{cite news| work=The Guardian| title=Hezbollah tries to claim victory as Lebanon mourns its dead |date=28 November 2024| author=William Christou|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/28/hezbollah-tries-to-claim-victory-as-lebanon-mourns-its-dead}}</ref> | Ceasefire, ongoing |- |2023–present |[[Red Sea crisis]] |2 |260–345+ |Ceasefire, ongoing |}

==Cost of conflict== {{See also|Arab League boycott of Israel}} A report by the [[Strategic Foresight Group]] estimated the [[opportunity cost]] of conflict for the Middle East from 1991 to 2010 at $12 [[trillion]]. The report's opportunity cost calculates the [[GDP]] of countries in the Middle East by comparing the historical GDP to the potential GDP given ongoing peace. Israel's share was almost $1 trillion, and cost Iraq and Saudi Arabia approximately $2.2 and $4.5 trillion, respectively. Had there been peace and cooperation between Israel and Arab League nations since 1991, the average Israeli citizen was estimated to be earning over $44,000 instead of $23,000 in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.strategicforesight.com/Cost%20of%20Conflict%20-%206%20pager.pdf |title=''Cost of Conflict in the Middle East'', Strategic Foresight Group |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201053723/http://www.strategicforesight.com/Cost%20of%20Conflict%20-%206%20pager.pdf |archive-date=1 February 2009 }}</ref>

Buzan estimated that the conflict had taken 92,000 lives (74,000 military and 18,000 civilian from 1945 to 1995).<ref name="buzan">{{cite book| author=[[Barry Buzan]] | title=Regions and powers|title-link=Regions and Powers: The Structure of International Security | publisher=Cambridge University Press | date=2003 | isbn=978-0-521-89111-0}}</ref>{{page needed|date=August 2020}}

==See also== {{columns-list|colwidth=30em| *[[One-state solution]] *[[Two-state solution]] *[[International law and the Arab–Israeli conflict]] *[[Media coverage of the Arab–Israeli conflict]] *[[Arab League and the Arab–Israeli conflict]] *[[Soviet Union and the Arab–Israeli conflict]] *[[Foreign relations of Israel]] *[[Israel–European Union relations]] *[[Timeline of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict]] *[[Policide]] *[[Muhammad's views on Jews]] *[[Conflict: Middle East Political Simulator]] *[[Civil defense in Israel]] *[[List of wars involving Israel]] *[[Israeli casualties of war]] *[[Palestinian casualties of war]] *[[Palestinian political violence]] *[[Sykes–Picot Agreement]] *[[Zionist political violence]] *[[List of wars by death toll]] *[[History of the Israel Defense Forces]] *[[Media coverage of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict]] }}

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==Further reading== {{See also|Bibliography of the Arab–Israeli conflict}} *[[Associated Press]], comp. (1996). ''Lightning Out of Israel: [The Six-Day War in the Middle East]: The Arab–Israeli Conflict''. Commemorative Ed. Western Printing and Lithographing Company for the Associated Press. ASIN B000BGT89M. *[[Mitchell Bard|Bard, Mitchell]] (1999). ''Middle East Conflict''. Indianapolis: Alpha Books. {{ISBN|978-0-02-863261-2}}. *[[Gad Barzilai|Barzilai, Gad]] (1996). ''Wars, Internal Conflicts and Political Order: A Jewish Democracy in the Middle East''. Albany: State University of New York Press. {{ISBN|978-0-7914-2944-0}} *Brown, Wesley H. & Peter F. Penner (ed.): ''Christian Perspectives on the Israeli–Palestinian Conflict''. Neufeld Verlag, Schwarzenfeld 2008. {{ISBN|978-3-937896-57-1}}. *[[Jimmy Carter|Carter, Jimmy]] (2006). ''[[Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid]]''. New York: Simon & Schuster. {{ISBN|978-0-7432-8502-5}}. *Casper, Lionel L. (2003). ''Rape of Palestine and the Struggle for Jerusalem''. New York & Jerusalem: Gefen Publishing House. {{ISBN|978-965-229-297-1}}. *[[Sabina Citron|Citron, Sabina]] (2006). ''The Indictment: The Arab–Israeli Conflict in Historical Perspective''. New York & Jerusalem: Gefen Publishing House. {{ISBN|978-965-229-373-2}}. *{{cite book |last=Cramer |first=Richard Ben |year=2004 |title=How Israel Lost: The Four Questions |url=https://archive.org/details/howisraellost00rich |url-access=registration |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |location=New York |isbn=978-0-7432-5028-3|ref=none}} *[[Alan Dershowitz|Dershowitz, Alan]] (2004). ''The Case for Israel''. New York: John Wiley & Sons. {{ISBN|978-0-471-67952-3}}. *[[Avner Falk|Falk, Avner]] (2004). ''Fratricide in the Holy Land: A Psychoanalytic View of the Arab–Israeli Conflict.'' Madison: U of Wisconsin P. {{ISBN|978-0-299-20250-7}} *{{cite book |last=[[Gelvin]] |first=James L. |year=2005 |title=The Israel–Palestine Conflict: 100 Years of War |publisher=Cambridge UP |location=New York & Cambridge, Eng. |isbn=978-0-521-61804-5 |ref=none}} *{{cite book |last=Gold |first=Dore |author-link=Dore Gold |year=2004 |title=Tower of Babble: How the United Nations Has Fueled Global Chaos |publisher=Crown Forum |location=New York |isbn=978-1-4000-5475-6 |url=https://archive.org/details/unset0000unse_h8s1 |ref=none}} *[[Norman Finkelstein|Finkelstein, Norman G.]] (2003). ''Image and Reality of the Israel–Palestine Conflict''. Verso Books. {{ISBN|978-1-85984-442-7}}. *Goldenberg, Doron (2003). ''State of Siege''. Gefen Publishing House. {{ISBN|978-965-229-310-7}}. *[[Marc Gopin|Gopin, Marc]]. (2002). ''Holy War, Holy Peace: How Religion Can Bring Peace to the Middle East''. Oxford University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-19-514650-9}}. *{{cite journal|last=Hamidullah|first=Muhammad |author-link=Muhammad Hamidullah |date=January 1986|title=Relations of Muslims with non-Muslims|journal=Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs|volume=7|issue=1|page=9|doi=10.1080/13602008608715960|url=https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/istem/issue/26528/279243 |ref=none | issn = 0266-6952}} *Howell, Mark (2007). ''What Did We Do to Deserve This? Palestinian Life under Occupation in the West Bank'', Garnet Publishing. {{ISBN|978-1-85964-195-8}} *[[Raphael Israeli|Israeli, Raphael]] (2002). ''Dangers of a Palestinian State''. New York & Jerusalem: Gefen Publishing House. {{ISBN|978-965-229-303-9}}. *{{cite book |last=Khouri |first=Fred J. |year=1985 |title=The Arab–Israeli Dilemma |url=https://archive.org/details/arabisraelidilem0000khou |url-access=registration | edition=3rd |publisher=Syracuse University Press |location=Syracuse, New York |isbn=978-0-8156-2339-7 |ref=none}} *{{cite book |last=Lewis |first=Bernard | author-link=Bernard Lewis |year=1984 |title=The Jews of Islam |publisher=Princeton UP |location=Princeton, New Jersey |isbn=978-0-691-05419-3 |ref=none}} *{{cite book |last=Lesch |first= David |year=2007 |title=The Arab–Israeli Conflict A History |publisher=Oxford University Press, USA |isbn=978-0-19-517230-0 |ref=none}} *[[Zeev Maoz|Maoz, Zeev]] (2006). ''Defending the Holy Land''. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan. {{ISBN|978-0-472-11540-2}} *{{cite book |last=Morris |first=Benny | author-link=Benny Morris |year=1999 |title=Righteous Victims: A History of the Zionist-Arab Conflict, 1881–2001 |publisher=Knopf |location=New York|isbn=978-0-521-00967-6 |ref=none}} *{{cite book |last=Morris |first=Benny | author-link=Benny Morris |year=2004 |title=The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem Revisited|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge|edition=2nd|isbn=978-0-679-42120-7 |ref=none}} *Morris, Benny (2009). ''1948: A History of the First Arab–Israeli War'', Yale University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-300-15112-1}} *[[Yitzhak Reiter|Reiter, Yitzhak]] (2009). ''National Minority, Regional Majority: Palestinian Arabs Versus Jews in Israel (Syracuse Studies on Peace and Conflict Resolution)'', Syracuse University Press (Sd). {{ISBN|978-0-8156-3230-6}} *Pressman, Jeremy (2020). The Sword is Not Enough: Arabs, Israelis, and the Limits of Military Force, Manchester University Press. {{ISBN|978-1-5261-4617-5}} * Quandt, William B. "Lyndon Johnson and the June 1967 war: what color was the light?." ''Middle East Journal'' 46.2 (1992): 198–228. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/4328430 online] on US strategy *Rogan, Eugene L., ed., and [[Avi Shlaim]], ed. (2001). ''The War for Palestine: Rewriting the History of 1948''. Cambridge: Cambridge UP. {{ISBN|978-0-521-79476-3}}. *[[Tom Segev|Segev, Tom]] (1999). ''One Palestine Complete: Jews and Arabs Under British Mandate''. New York: Henry Holt & Co. {{ISBN|978-0-8050-6587-9}}. * Ziv, Guy. ''Why hawks become doves: Shimon Peres and foreign policy change in Israel'' (SUNY Press, 2014).

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Arab-Israeli Conflict}} [[Category:Arab–Israeli conflict| ]] [[Category:20th century in Asia]] [[Category:21st century in Asia]] [[Category:Conflicts in the Middle East]] [[Category:Ethnic conflicts]] [[Category:Religion-based wars]] [[Category:20th-century conflicts]] [[Category:21st-century conflicts]]