The Whole History of Israel

We travel through the millennia, crossing 20 fundamental stages to understand the history of Israel from its most ancient origins, even before the arrival of the Canaanites. We will analyze the evolution of this land, from the pre-Israelite Semitic civilizations to the birth of the modern State, highlighting the historical continuity of the Jewish people with their land.

We will also delve into the concept of Palestine, highlighting how this term has had an exclusively geographical and never political meaning throughout history, as a sovereign Palestinian nation has never existed before the creation of Israel.

Another key point will be the analysis of the aggressions suffered by Israel since its official rebirth in 1948, examining the conflicts and hostilities that have characterized its relations with the surrounding Arab countries.

Before 3300 BC
The Canaanites (3300-1030 BC)
The Kingdom of Israel is founded (1030-970 BC)
The Temple of Solomon (970-931 BC)
The division of the kingdom (930-63 BC)
The arrival of the Romans (63 BC-74 AD)
From Judea to Syria-Palestine (132)
Byzantines, Islam and Crusades (324-1291)
The Mamluks (1291-1517)
The arrival of the Ottomans (1517)
Nationalisms and Zionism (1800-1900)
The world wars and the Aliyah (1900-1945)
Israel is reborn (1945-1948)
The first war Arab-Israeli (1948)
The Suez Canal Crisis (1956)
The Six-Day War (1967)
The PLO, Kippur and Camp David (1968-1978)
Israel Confronts the PLO in Lebanon (1982)
The Fading Palestinian State (1987-2002)
The Gaza Strip and New Wars (2005-2025)

#1. Before 3300 BC

Israel is a land rich in history, and its roots go back far beyond the birth of the first known civilizations. There are numerous prehistoric sites that testify to the passage of primitive man in this region, since the first human migrations from Africa to Eurasia passed through this land. This route, known as the “Levantine Corridor” was a fundamental route for the expansion of humanity, making Israel one of the oldest places inhabited by our species.

Some of these prehistoric sites include Qesem Cave, where human remains dating back to about 400,000 years ago have been found, and Tabun Cave on Mount Carmel, which has preserved evidence of Neanderthal and Homo sapiens habitation. However, most of these sites, while of great interest to archaeologists and prehistorians, do not feature monumental or visually impressive structures.

For this reason, unless one has a specific interest in the earliest stages of human presence in the region, most of the places of historical and cultural interest in Israel date back to the last 4,000 years. It is in this span of time that the great civilizations that shaped the destiny of the region emerged, from the ancient Canaanites to the Israelites, up to the Roman, Byzantine periods and beyond. This historical richness makes Israel one of the most fascinating territories for understanding the evolution of human civilization in the heart of the Middle East.

#2. The Canaanites

3300-1030 BC

During the Bronze Age (about 3300-1200 BC), the region of Canaan was inhabited by a series of Semitic peoples who, while sharing a common culture, did not form a unified nation. The Canaanites lived in independent city-states, each ruled by its own king, but were subject to the powerful influence of Egypt, to whom they paid tribute in exchange for protection and political stability. Their society was characterized by strong stratification, with an economy based on agriculture, trade and a complex polytheistic religious system.

Beginning in the 12th century BC, with the decline of Egyptian hegemony in the region, a profound political and cultural change took place. The Hebrew tribes began the progressive conquest of the Israeli part of Canaan, settling in the central hills and establishing a presence that laid the foundations for the future birth of the kingdom of Israel. This process, described in part in biblical texts, is also confirmed by archaeological discoveries that show a change in housing patterns and cultural practices in the region.

Meanwhile, the southern part of Canaan, which included the area corresponding to the current Gaza Strip, was occupied by the Philistines, a people of Aegean origin, probably coming from Greece or western Anatolia. They settled permanently along the coast, founding powerful cities such as Gaza, Ashkelon and Ashdod, and introducing new technologies, such as the use of iron in weapons. However, despite their external origin, the Philistines maintained strong Canaanite cultural and linguistic influences for centuries, assimilating many local traditions.

This historical phase marks a crucial transition in the history of the region, setting the stage for future clashes between the Israelites, the Philistines, and other Near Eastern powers.

#3. The Kingdom of Israel is founded

1030-970 BC

After a period of settlement and tribal organization, the twelve tribes of Israel face increasing threats from surrounding peoples, including the Philistines. To strengthen their position and ensure a more stable government, the tribes decide to unite under a single monarchy, giving rise to the United Kingdom of Israel. This marks a fundamental turning point in the history of the Jewish people, transforming a confederation of tribes into a true centralized state.

The first king, Saul, tries to consolidate power and repel external attacks, but his reign is marked by internal conflicts and difficulties in managing command. It is only with his successor, King David, that Israel reaches a new phase of expansion and stability.

In 1000 BC, David conquers Jerusalem, a city strategically located between the northern and southern tribes, and proclaims it the capital of the kingdom. This choice is not only political but also religious: Jerusalem becomes the spiritual and identity center of Israel, a role it will maintain in the following millennia. David unifies the people under a strong leader, expands the borders of the kingdom and establishes a dynasty destined to last over time.

After him, his son Solomon will make Israel even more prosperous, building the First Temple in Jerusalem, a symbol of divine presence and a point of reference for Jewish worship. However, after Solomon’s death, the kingdom will split in two: Israel in the north and Judah in the south, beginning a new phase in the history of the Jewish people.

#4. The Temple of Solomon

970-931 BC

After the death of King David, his successor, King Solomon, inherits a prosperous and well-established kingdom. Solomon is known not only for his wisdom, but also for strengthening the administrative and military structure of Israel, establishing alliances with neighboring powers such as Egypt and the Phoenicians. However, his most significant contribution to Jewish history is undoubtedly the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem.

The Temple, built around 960 BC, became the center of Jewish monotheistic worship and the place where the Ark of the Covenant was kept, the sacred container of the Tablets of the Law received by Moses on Mount Sinai. The building was designed with an imposing structure, enriched with precious materials such as cedar from Lebanon and gold, provided by the Phoenicians, allies of Israel. The interior of the Temple was divided into three sections: the Outer Court, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies, the latter accessible only to the High Priest once a year, during Yom Kippur.

The Temple is not only a religious symbol, but also a political and economic center: it attracts pilgrims, priests and officials from all over the kingdom, helping to strengthen national unity. The construction of the Temple also marks the culmination of the reign of Solomon, who rules with great splendor, but imposes heavy taxes and forced labor, causing discontent among the tribes.

After his death, the kingdom would split into Israel (to the north) and Judah (to the south), weakening Jewish unity and making both kingdoms more vulnerable to foreign invasions. However, the First Temple in Jerusalem would remain the center of the religious and national identity of the Jewish people for centuries, until its destruction at the hands of the Babylonians in 586 BC.

#5. The division of the kingdom

930-63 BC

After the death of King Solomon, the United Kingdom of Israel split into two parts: the Kingdom of Israel, located in the north, and the Kingdom of Judea, in the south, with its capital in Jerusalem. This division marks a turning point in the history of the Jewish people, as political fragmentation makes the two kingdoms more vulnerable to foreign powers. For decades, both kingdoms face internal conflicts and external pressures, trying to maintain their independence in a Middle East increasingly dominated by emerging empires.

In 732 BC, the Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrians, one of the most aggressive powers of the time. The Jews of the north were deported and dispersed in different regions of the empire, giving rise to the myth of the “Ten Lost Tribes”, whose traces will be lost in history. This event marks the end of the Kingdom of Israel as an independent entity and represents one of the first great exiles in Jewish history.

In 586 BC, Judea suffered the same fate: the Babylonians, led by King Nebuchadnezzar II, invaded the kingdom, destroyed Jerusalem and, above all, razed Solomon’s Temple, the spiritual and cultural heart of the Jewish people. With this destruction began the Babylonian Exile, a period of profound crisis, during which the Jews were deported to Babylon. Despite the loss of their land, they managed to preserve their cultural and religious identity, developing new forms of worship and study of the Torah.

In 539 BC, the situation changes again with the rise of the Persian Empire. Cyrus the Great, known for his policy of religious tolerance, conquers Babylon and allows the Jews to return to their land. This act, also documented in the so-called “Cyrus Cylinder”, is seen by the Jews as a sort of divine liberation. Thanks to his decree, the Jews return to Jerusalem and begin the reconstruction of their national and spiritual life.

In 516 BC, the Second Temple was completed, a place of worship that, although smaller and less ostentatious than the first, became the center of religious life for the Jewish people. This period also marked a growing Persian influence in the region, which was reflected in the institutions and culture of the time.

In 332 BC, Alexander the Great conquers the Middle East, bringing Hellenistic culture to the region. The land of Israel enters a new phase, characterized by intense cultural exchange between Greeks and Jews. After Alexander’s death in 323 BC, his vast empire is divided among his generals. Israel becomes a battleground between two rival dynasties: the Ptolemies, ruling from Egypt, and the Seleucids, dominating Syria.

In 200 BC, the Seleucids prevail and conquer the land of Israel. Their domination leads to a period of strong religious and cultural tensions. In 167 BC, King Antiochus IV Epiphanes tries to impose forced Hellenization, prohibiting Jewish religious practices and desecrating the Temple. The Jewish reaction is not long in coming: the Maccabean Revolt breaks out, led by the Hasmonean family. After a series of battles, the Jews manage to gain independence and purify the Temple, an event still commemorated today with the holiday of Hanukkah .

For about a century, the Hasmonean dynasty ruled over a territory smaller than the ancient Kingdom of Israel, but with renewed autonomy. However, in 63 BC, the arrival of the Romans put an end to this independence, initiating a period of foreign domination that would culminate with the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD and a new Jewish diaspora. It would be nearly 2,000 years before the Jewish people would again be able to rebuild an independent state.

An often overlooked element is the ancient bond between the Jewish and Persian peoples. Cyrus the Great, in the 6th century BC, not only allowed the Jews to return to their land, but also supported the reconstruction of the Temple and the re-establishment of their religious institutions. This relationship, although marked by ups and downs throughout history, finds an echo in modern geopolitical contexts today. Both peoples, Jews and Iranians, have experienced oppression and violence by Islamic extremist regimes and groups, with a history of persecution and struggles for self-determination.

The intertwining of the stories of these two peoples demonstrates how history is made of cycles, unexpected alliances and repeated conflicts, but also of resilience and the ability to adapt.

#6. The arrival of the Romans

63 BC-74 AD

Roman domination of the land of Israel did not occur in a single moment, but was a gradual process that developed over several decades. After the Roman conquest of the Seleucid kingdom in 63 BC, control of the region passed into the hands of Rome, which initially governed Israel through local rulers, while retaining effective dominion.

One such ruler is Herod the Great, who reigned from 37 BC to 4 AD under Roman protection. Herod is a controversial figure: on the one hand, he is a skilled politician and a great builder , responsible for numerous monumental works, including the expansion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, transforming it into one of the most impressive buildings of antiquity. On the other, he is known for his cruelty and repression of dissent, as well as for his close collaboration with the Romans, which makes him unpopular with many Jews.

It is in this period, between 7 and 1 BC, that Jesus Christ was born, a figure destined to profoundly mark the history of the world. His message and the spread of Christianity will occur in a context of growing tension between the Jews and the Roman power.

After Herod’s death, the situation in Judea becomes increasingly unstable. Rome replaces the local kings with Roman governors and prefects, including the famous Pontius Pilate (26-36 AD), who rules harshly and causes discontent among the population. Tensions build and culminate in the Great Jewish Revolt of 66 AD, when the Jews rise up against Rome in a desperate attempt to regain independence.

Rome responded with all its military might. In 70 AD, General Titus, son of Emperor Vespasian, led a devastating siege against Jerusalem. After a bloody battle, the city fell and the Second Temple was destroyed, marking an epochal tragedy for the Jewish people. This destruction, still commemorated today in Jewish religious mourning, brought an end to the cult of the Temple and marked the beginning of the Jewish diaspora.

The last Jewish resistance is concentrated in the fortress of Masada, where, in 74 AD, a group of Zealot rebels heroically resist the Roman siege. When it becomes clear that defeat is inevitable, according to the historian Josephus, the inhabitants of Masada choose collective suicide rather than surrender to the Romans. This act of extreme determination becomes a symbol of Jewish resistance for centuries to come.

With the fall of Masada, the revolt ends and Judea is completely subjugated to Rome, beginning a long period of exile and dispersion for the Jewish people.

#7. From Judea to Syria-Palestine

132

After the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD, tensions between the Jews and the Roman Empire remained high. Despite Roman repression, the desire for independence did not die down, and in 132 AD a new, massive rebellion broke out: the Bar Kokhba Revolt.

Shimon Bar Kokhba, considered by some to be the Messiah, leads the Jews in a revolt against Rome, initially managing to achieve significant successes and even proclaiming an independent government for about three years. However, the Emperor Hadrian, determined to eliminate any Jewish resistance, sends a huge army to suppress the rebellion. The war is devastating and culminates in large-scale massacres, with hundreds of thousands of Jews killed or sold into slavery.

As a final punishment, the Romans take drastic measures to erase the Jewish identity of the region. Among these, the most symbolic decision is the renaming of Judea to “Syria-Palestine”. This is not a name chosen at random: the term Palestine recalls the Philistines, ancient enemies of the Israelites, and is used deliberately to humiliate the Jews and deny their historical connection to their land. This maneuver represents an attempt to erase the Jewish presence from the history of the region.

From now on the term Palestine will continue to be used by successive empires and dominations. This will unwittingly lead, from the second half of the twentieth century, to feed the false narrative according to which a Palestinian State existed. This is false, moreover the term Palestine had only a geographical, regional meaning, and not a political, national one.

After the defeat, Jewish life took refuge mainly in Galilee, where religious studies continued and Jewish culture found new centers of diffusion. Despite the diaspora, Judaism remained deeply linked to the land of Israel, with a sense of belonging that would never be broken. For centuries, Jews continued to look to Jerusalem as their spiritual capital and to dream of a return to their land, keeping hope alive through prayers and religious traditions.

#8. Byzantines, Islam and Crusades

324-1291

With the beginning of the Middle Ages, the region of Palestine became a crossroads of conquests and dominations, with different empires and powers competing for control of this strategic and sacred land for the three great monotheistic religions.

After the conversion of Emperor Constantine to Christianity, in 324 AD the region came under the control of the Eastern Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire. During this period, Palestine took on a strong Christian imprint: numerous churches were built, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The Jews, however, suffered restrictions and persecution, and access to Jerusalem was forbidden to them at certain times.

In 638 AD, the region was conquered by Muslims under the Rashidun Caliphate, marking the beginning of Islamic rule over Palestine. The transition occurred without major bloodshed, thanks to the peaceful surrender of Jerusalem to Caliph Omar ibn al-Khattab, who guaranteed the protection of Christian and Jewish places of worship.

With the advent of the Umayyad dynasty, the city of Jerusalem takes on increasing religious importance within Islam. During this period, some of its most iconic monuments, located on the Temple Mount, were built:

Al-Aqsa Mosque ( 674-680 AD) which would become one of the holiest sites in Islam,
The Dome of the Rock (687-691 AD) built on the site believed by Islamic tradition to be the point from which Muhammad ascended to heaven during his “night journey”.

With the Islamization of the region, the population undergoes profound transformations. Although the majority gradually becomes Muslim, there remains a significant presence of Christians and Jews. The Jews, while enjoying relative tolerance, are subject to legal and fiscal restrictions, which limit their religious and social freedom.

In modern times, the presence of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock has led some international organizations, such as UNESCO (UN), to recognize Jerusalem as a city of predominantly Islamic heritage. However, it is important to note that these buildings did not yet exist when Muhammad made the “night journey” in 620 AD, making the reference to the “remote” mosque a moot point in the historical narrative.

In 1099 AD, with the First Crusade, Crusader Knights from Western Europe conquer Jerusalem after a bloody siege. Their stated goal is to liberate the Holy Land from Islamic occupation, but the capture of the city is marked by large-scale massacres, including Muslims, Jews, and even Eastern Christians. The Crusaders establish the Kingdom of Jerusalem, which becomes a European Christian state in the heart of the Middle East.

During this period, Jewish communities suffered persecution, while European Christians imposed their culture and religion. However, their presence was not destined to last: in 1291, with the fall of the last Crusader stronghold, Saint John of Acre, the Crusaders were definitively expelled from the region.

Despite frequent changes of rule, the term Palestine continues to be used to designate the region, not for accurate historical reasons, but because it becomes a convenient and widespread name, used by empires and cartographers to refer to the area. It is a bit like if all cola drinks were called Coca Cola, regardless of their real name. This use of the term never reflects the existence of a Palestinian state, but only a geographical reference.

Despite persecution, the Jews never cease to inhabit their land, maintaining a constant presence in the cities of Jerusalem, Hebron, Safed and Tiberias. Their connection with the land remains very strong, fueled by daily prayers and the hope of a national return that will span the centuries up to the modern era.

#9. The Mamluks

1291-1517

After the fall of the Crusaders in 1291, the region came under the rule of a new emerging force: the Mamluks.

The Mamluks were initially non-Muslim slave soldiers, mostly from the Caucasus and Central Asia. These young men were trained militarily and Islamized, becoming a powerful warrior elite. Over time, the Mamluks emancipated themselves and managed to take control of Egypt, where they founded their own Muslim dynasty that ruled from 1250 to 1517.

In addition to defeating the Crusaders, the Mamluks achieved an even more epic victory: the defeat of the Mongols. In 1260, the inexorable Mongol advance, which had already destroyed Baghdad and terrorized the Islamic world, reached the Valley of Galilee. However, the Mamluks, under the leadership of Sultan Baybars, inflicted a decisive defeat on the Mongols at the Battle of Ain Jalut. This event marked the first major setback for the Mongol Empire and helped save the entire Middle East from devastation.

Despite their victory over the Crusaders, the Mamluks feared that they might return and attempt a new conquest of the Holy Land. To prevent this, they adopted a drastic strategy: they systematically destroyed all the port cities in the region, including Acre, Jaffa, Haifa and Caesarea. This act transformed the Palestinian coast into a wasteland for centuries, severely limiting maritime connections with Europe and contributing to the economic decline of the region.

During their control of the region, the Mamluks did not invest much in urban development. Palestine remained a marginal province of their empire, governed through a feudal system and characterized by insecurity and decadence. However, Jews and Christians continued to live in the Holy Land, often subject to special taxes and restrictions.

The Mamluk era will last until 1517, when a new power will arise on the horizon: the Ottoman Empire.

#10. The arrival of the Ottomans

1517

In 1517, with the conquest of Egypt and the Levant, Palestine came under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, a rule that would last for over 400 years, until the end of the First World War.

The Ottomans did not consider Palestine as a separate entity, but divided it administratively into several provinces. The region was cut in two:

The northern part was included in the Province of Damascus which was of the most important provinces of the Empire,
The southern part is administered by the Province of Gaza or Jerusalem depending on the period.

The label Palestine continues to be used primarily as a geographical, not a political, term to refer to the area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean. There is no autonomous Palestinian nation, nor a people with a distinct national identity: the region is simply a part of the immense ethnic and cultural mosaic of the Ottoman Empire.

Despite centuries of exile and persecution, the Jews have never abandoned their land. During the Ottoman rule, their presence continues and strengthens in some cities, especially Jerusalem, Hebron, Safed and Tiberias. These cities become spiritual and cultural centers for Judaism, attracting rabbis and scholars from all over the world.

Over the centuries, local Jewish communities have grown rich through trade and the philanthropy of diaspora Jewish communities, who fund schools, synagogues, and institutions of religious learning.

At the end of the 19th century, with the awakening of the Zionist movement, Jewish migration to Palestine increased, preparing the ground for the transformations that would characterize the 20th century.arando il terreno per le trasformazioni che caratterizzeranno il XX secolo.

#11. Nationalisms and Zionism

1800-1900

Towards the end of the 18th century, the world began to look more closely at Palestine. One of the key moments that sparked European interest in the region was Napoleon’s military campaign in the Middle East (1798-1801). During his advance into Egypt and Syria, Napoleon showed particular interest in Palestine and, in 1799, issued a proclamation to the Jews, promising them the possibility of rebuilding a homeland in the Holy Land under his protection. Although this promise did not materialize, it marked one of the first modern expressions of the idea of a Jewish return on political grounds.

In the 19th century, nationalism spreads throughout the world, leading many peoples to seek independence and self-determination. Even among the Jews, who for centuries had been dispersed throughout Europe, Russia, and the Middle East, there is a growing desire to return to their ancestral land and establish an independent Jewish nation. This feeling is reinforced by rising waves of anti-Semitism, which increasingly highlight the need for a secure homeland for the Jewish people.

In 1894, in France, the Dreyfus Affair shocked public opinion: Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer in the French army, was falsely accused of espionage. Despite evidence of his innocence, Dreyfus was convicted, fueling a wave of anti-Semitism. Jewish journalist Theodor Herzl, a witness to these events, drew a dramatic conclusion: the Jews would never be truly accepted in Europe and needed their own state to guarantee their safety and their future.

Based on this awareness, in 1897, Theodor Herzl organized the First Zionist Congress in Basel, officially launching the Zionist movement, whose goal was the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine. Herzl himself wrote in his diary:

In Basel I founded the Jewish State. If I said that today, everyone would laugh, but in five years perhaps, and certainly in fifty, everyone will see it.

While Zionism gains strength, anti-Semitism reaches alarming levels in Eastern Europe. In particular, in the Russian Empire, between the end of the 19th century and the first decades of the 20th, ferocious persecutions against Jewish communities spread:

Brutal pogroms devastate Jewish villages and killed thousands,
The infamous historical forgery “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion” is released: a document fabricated by the Tsarist secret police that paints the Jews as global conspirators. This forgery will spread widely throughout the world and lay the ideological foundation for the Nazi Holocaust a few decades later.

This violence leads to a mass exodus of Jews from Eastern Europe, many of whom head for Palestine to escape persecution. From the end of the 19th century and the first decades of the 20th, Jews begin to buy back land in Palestine through international Jewish funds, including the Jewish National Fund:

The lands purchased are often marshy, desert or uncultivable,
The sellers are mainly Arab landowners, many of them residents of Syria and Lebanon, who sell the land at prices well above market value,
Jewish settlements were initially concentrated in coastal areas and valleys, where marshes were reclaimed and barren lands transformed into productive agricultural areas.

This first wave of Jewish immigration (Aliyah) laid the foundation for the future revival of a more structured Jewish presence in the region.

Meanwhile, the Ottoman Empire began to show signs of decline. During the 19th century, the empire progressively lost territories in the Balkans, North Africa and the Middle East. This weakness attracted the attention of the European powers, who began to see Palestine as a strategic region, both for the control of trade routes and for religious and cultural reasons.

At the turn of the century, the situation in Palestine was rapidly evolving:

The Jews increase their presence through migration and land purchases,
International interest in the region is growing, setting the stage for the geopolitical transformations of the 20th century.

This combination of factors will bring the question of Palestine to the center of the world stage, especially with the impending collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the partition of its territories after the First World War.mpero Ottomano e la spartizione dei suoi territori dopo la Prima Guerra Mondiale.

#12. The world wars and the Aliyah

1900-1945

After World War I, the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1918 left the Middle East in an unstable situation, with territories in need of a new political order. In 1920, the League of Nations awarded Britain the Mandate of Palestine, entrusting it with the administration of the region with the task of fostering the construction of a Jewish national homeland, as promised in the Balfour Declaration of 1917. However, the British also sought to maintain good relations with the local Arab populations, generating political ambiguity that would fuel tensions for decades to come.

In an attempt to appease Arab demands, in 1921, the British separated about 77% of the territory of Mandate Palestine and assigned it to the Hashemite family, creating the new state of Transjordan (now Jordan), under a regime of semi-independence. This marked the first major partition of Palestine and set an important precedent: the Arab population obtained a large autonomous territory, while the Jews were left with only a small portion of the promised land for their national rebirth.

Beginning in the 1920s and 1930s, many Jews from the diaspora began to return to their ancestral land, driven both by the Zionist dream and by the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe. With the arrival of new waves of immigration, Jews built modern cities, drained the marshes of the Jezreel Valley, planted millions of trees and created an advanced infrastructure, bringing economic development to the local Arab population as well. However, this growth was frowned upon by the Arabs, who saw the Jewish return as a threat and began to attack Jewish settlements and communities.

Despite its formal commitment to supporting the Zionist project, Britain began to limit Jewish immigration with a series of decrees known as White Papers. The first, published in 1922, drastically reduced the arrival of Jews, trying to calm Arab pressure. This policy became even more restrictive in 1939, just as the Jews in Europe were about to be exterminated in the Holocaust. This created a paradoxical and tragic situation: while millions of Jews desperately sought refuge, the doors of their promised land were barred by the British under Arab pressure.

One of the most important actors of this period is Amin al-Husseini, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, one of the most influential figures among Palestinian Arabs. Hostile to the Jewish presence, al-Husseini incited hatred and organized violent riots against Jews in the 1920s and 1930s.

In 1941, during the Second World War, the Mufti travels to Berlin and meets Adolf Hitler. An admirer of Nazism and its anti-Semitic policies, al-Husseini offers his full support to the Germans in an anti-Jewish and anti-Western vein. The Nazis and the Mufti even plan to build a concentration camp in the Dotan Valley (Samaria), similar to those in Europe, with the aim of exterminating the Jews of Palestine. This alliance between Nazism and Arab-Islamic radicalism is a historical fact often ignored, but fundamental to understanding the deep roots of anti-Jewish hatred in the region.

Anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli hatred does not originate with the modern conflict, but has much older historical and religious roots. The narrative of occupied Palestine is often used as a pretext to justify an ideological and religious rejection of the very existence of Israel. In reality, the fight against the Jewish state has always had a strong Islamist component, with the aim of imposing Islamic domination over the region and denying the historical and cultural legitimacy of the Jewish people in their own land.

The Second World War radically changes the global perception of the Jewish question. With the revelation of the Holocaust, in which six million Jews were exterminated, it becomes clear to the entire world that the Jewish people need a safe state to avoid new persecutions. The idea of returning to Palestine is no longer just a Zionist dream, but an existential necessity.

As the war ends and the world becomes aware of the genocide, tensions in Palestine continue to grow:

The Jews, survivors of the extermination camps, desperately seek refuge in the Holy Land,
The Arabs, supported by Islamic countries, are increasingly fiercely opposed to the idea of a Jewish state,
The British , unable to handle the situation, prepare to withdraw , leaving the problem in the hands of the United Nations.

This scenario sets the stage for a decisive historical event: the birth of the State of Israel in 1948.

#13. Israel is reborn

1945-1948

With the end of the Second World War, Britain finds itself in a politically and morally untenable situation. On the one hand, Holocaust survivors, deprived of their homes and families, demand to return to their ancestral land, as promised in the Balfour Declaration and recognized by international law. On the other, Arab leaders are vehemently opposed to any form of Jewish state and threaten to unleash war to prevent it.

The Jewish community in Palestine, organized in the Zionist movement, intensifies political and military efforts to gain independence, while the British desperately try to manage tensions between Jews and Arabs, but cannot find a solution.

The road to the creation of the Jewish state is marked by a series of legal documents and international treaties, which legitimize the right of the Jews to a homeland in Palestine:

Article 22 of the Charter of the League of Nations (1919): establishes the principle of self-determination of peoples, recognizing that the former Ottoman provinces should be administered by mandatory powers to help them achieve independence,
San Remo Conference and Treaty of Sèvres (1920):
- The Balfour Declaration of 1917 is officially recognized by international law,
- The mandate system was created, assigning Britain the administration of Palestine with the task of promoting the creation of a Jewish homeland.
Mandate for Palestine (1922): The Council of the League of Nations ratifies the British Mandate for Palestine, confirming Britain’s commitment to facilitate Jewish immigration and the building of political and social institutions for the future Jewish state,
Treaty of Lausanne (1923): recognized by international powers, establishes the borders of Palestine under the British Mandate,
Article 80 of the Charter of the United Nations (1945): With the creation of the UN, the right of the Jews to a national home in Palestine is confirmed, maintaining the legal validity of previous decisions of the League of Nations.

After the Second World War, the UN inherited the problem of Palestine and sought a fair solution. On November 29, 1947, with Resolution 181, the United Nations approved a partition plan that provided for the creation of two states: one Jewish and one Arab.

Jerusalem is declared an international city under the control of the UN, to avoid conflict. The Jewish leaders immediately accept the plan, although they are aware that the assigned state is smaller and more fragmented than initially hoped. The Arab leaders, however, categorically refuse and declare that they will never allow the birth of a Jewish state.

Despite Arab refusal, the British Mandate is about to expire and the Jews decide not to wait any longer. On May 14, 1948, David Ben Gurion, leader of the Zionist movement, proclaims the independence of the State of Israel. After nearly 2,000 years of exile and persecution, the Jewish people regains their sovereignty in their ancestral land.

The birth of Israel marks an epochal historical moment, but also the beginning of an immediate conflict: the following day, the armies of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq attack the newly born State, starting the War of Independence. Israel, with an army still in formation and clearly outnumbered, will have to fight to defend its right to exist.o, dando inizio alla Guerra d’Indipendenza. Israele, con un esercito ancora in formazione e in netta inferiorità numerica, dovrà lottare per difendere il proprio diritto all’esistenza.

#14. The first war Arab-Israeli

1948

On May 15, 1948, less than 24 hours after Israel’s declaration of independence, neighboring Arab states (Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq), along with contingents from other Arab countries, invaded the newly formed Jewish state from several fronts, with the declared aim of annihilating it and exterminating its population. Part of the Arab population living in the territories assigned to the Jews by the UN plan also took part in the attacks.

Israel is militarily unprepared, with an army still in formation and inferior weapons compared to the much better equipped Arab armies. However, against all odds, Israel resists and, through a series of strategic military operations, manages not only to defend itself, but also to repel the invasion.

This victory marks the definitive birth of the State of Israel as a sovereign nation, but at the same time further complicates the situation of the term Palestine. After more than a year of war, in 1949 the armistice agreements between Israel and the Arab countries are signed, which establish new border lines:

Judea and Samaria (West Bank) is annexed by Jordan,
The Gaza Strip is occupied by Egypt.

These two Arab states, which could have granted the Palestinians a state of their own, instead choose to prevent it. Neither Jordan nor Egypt offer autonomy or rights to the Palestinians, nor do they create an independent political entity for them. This shows that the real cause of the conflict was not the creation of a Palestinian state, but Arab opposition to the mere existence of Israel.

For Palestinian Arabs, the defeat in the 1948 war is experienced as a catastrophe called the Naqba. The popular narrative holds that the Israelis expelled the Palestinians by force, but the historical reality is quite different:

It was not the Israelis who expelled the Arab population, but the Arab leaders themselves who ordered the evacuation, fearing repercussions and promising that they would return after the destruction of Israel
The Jews had no plans to annihilate the Arab population, while the Arab states had openly declared that they wanted to exterminate the Jews of Israel,
Jews living in territories conquered by Jordan and Egypt were expelled or killed. In Hebron and Jerusalem, ancient Jewish communities were expelled and synagogues destroyed.

After the war, approximately 700,000 Palestinian Arabs fled or were evacuated, but at the same time approximately 850,000 Jews were expelled from Arab countries, with no possibility of return. However, while Israel welcomed and integrated the expelled Jews, Arab countries refused to integrate the Palestinians, leaving them confined in refugee camps to exploit their political condition.

Despite the war and Arab opposition, Jews continue to return to their homeland. From Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and even Asia, thousands of Jews immigrate to Israel, creating a melting pot of cultures, languages and histories. Israel rapidly transforms into a modern and dynamic state, which in a few years makes enormous economic, technological and social progress.

Although the Arabs were militarily defeated and pushed back, they did not accept the reality of Israel’s birth. In the following decades, the strategy against Israel transformed from traditional warfare to terrorism:

Attacks against Israeli civilians in buses, markets and restaurants,
Wave of suicide attacks in the 1990s and 2000s,
Kidnappings and massacres against Israeli citizens and athletes (as at the 1972 Munich Olympics),
Terrorist actions against Jews around the world, from Paris to Buenos Aires.

Palestinian and Islamic terrorism becomes a global phenomenon, affecting not only Israel, but also Western countries, with the aim of spreading fear and instability.olo Israele, ma anche paesi occidentali, con l’obiettivo di diffondere paura e instabilità.

#15. The Suez Canal Crisis

1956

In 1956, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser announced the nationalization of the Suez Canal, until then controlled mainly by Britain and France. This decision caused an international crisis, as the canal was a key trade route for Europe, especially for oil supplies from the Middle East. At the same time, Egypt imposed a naval blockade against Israel, preventing Israeli ships from passing through the Suez and blocking the Straits of Tiran, effectively cutting off Israel’s maritime access to Asia and East Africa.

Faced with this provocation, Israel, Britain and France orchestrate a joint plan to regain control of the canal and counter Egyptian expansion in the region. Israel launches a military operation in the Sinai desert, advancing rapidly and defeating Egyptian forces. Meanwhile, Britain and France intervene with military action, occupying strategic areas of the canal. However, the international response is not as expected.

The United States and the Soviet Union, despite being enemies in the Cold War, unanimously condemned the military operation and pressured Britain, France and Israel to withdraw. Washington feared that the crisis would strengthen Soviet influence in Arab countries, while Moscow threatened to intervene militarily. Under these pressures, in March 1957, Israel, France and Great Britain withdrew, and control of the canal was returned to Egypt. In exchange, Israel obtained some international guarantees on freedom of navigation.

The Suez Crisis marks a turning point in world geopolitics. Britain and France emerge as powers in decline, unable to act independently without the consent of the United States. The Middle East increasingly becomes an arena of confrontation between the two Cold War superpowers, with the Soviet Union increasing its support for the Arab states and the United States strengthening its alliance with Israel. Meanwhile, the oil-exporting Arab states begin to play an increasing role in global dynamics, realizing the strategic power of their energy resources.

#16. The Six-Day War

1967

In the years following the Suez Crisis, tensions between Israel and Arab countries continue to grow. Egypt, Syria, and Jordan strengthen their armed forces, receive military aid from the Soviet Union, and increase their threats of destruction against Israel. Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser again closes the Straits of Tiran, considered by Israel an act of war, and assembles troops in the Sinai. Meanwhile, Syria intensifies attacks on Israeli villages from the Golan Heights.

Faced with imminent aggression, Israel decides not to wait and to strike first. On June 5, 1967, in a lightning military operation, Israel launches a preemptive attack against Egyptian air bases, destroying almost all of the enemy’s aircraft in a few hours. At the same time, Israeli troops advance in the Sinai Desert, the Gaza Strip, Judea and Samaria (West Bank), and East Jerusalem occupied by Jordan. On the northern front, Israel manages to conquer the Golan Heights, putting an end to Syrian attacks.

In just six days, Israel inflicts a crushing defeat on its enemies and gains control of strategic territories, greatly expanding its defensive perimeter. This victory, militarily brilliant, not only changes the balance of power in the region, but further complicates the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Judea and Samaria (the West Bank), which until then had been under Jordanian rule, now passed under Israeli control. This event radically changed the possibility of the birth of a Palestinian state, which until then had never been proposed by Jordan or other Arab states. Ironically, it was Israel, years later, that allowed for the first time a Palestinian autonomous management in some areas, through Zones A and B administered by the Palestinian Authority. During Jordanian control, this option had never been granted to the Palestinians.

Despite the defensive context of the war and the fact that Israel was attacked, the international community began to define Israel as an occupying nation, ignoring the fact that the Arab countries were planning a war of destruction and not a diplomatic operation. The conquest of these territories becomes a guarantee of security for Israel, since, without the strategic control of Sinai, Judea and Samaria and the Golan Heights, the defense of the Jewish state would be much more fragile today.

Beyond the territorial question, it is clear that the conflict between Israel and its enemies cannot be resolved by simple territorial withdrawals. Even if Israel were to return to the 1947 borders, there would still be forces and organizations that would find a pretext to accuse it of “occupation.” This shows that the problem is not just a question of territories, but an ideological conflict: for many Islamist movements and some Arab states, the very existence of Israel is considered unacceptable. The concept of “occupied lands” is often used as a political tool and not a real request for a peaceful solution.

#17. The PLO, Kippur and Camp David

1968-1978

After the Six-Day War, Israel began to build settlements in the reconquered territories, particularly in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank), Gaza and the Golan Heights. This process, which for Israel represents both a security issue and a historical connection to its ancestral land, contributes to making Palestine increasingly fragmented, aggravating the complexity of the conflict.

In 1969, with the rise of Palestinian nationalism, Yasser Arafat became the leader of the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization), an organization that presents itself as the official representative of the Palestinians, but which was born with an explicitly terrorist program and with the declared goal of destroying Israel. It is no coincidence that Arafat is the nephew of Amin al-Husseini, the Mufti of Jerusalem who collaborated with Hitler and supported the project of extermination of the Jews.

The figure of Arafat is often presented in the West as that of a moderate leader, but behind this image emerge numerous dark links with international Islamic terrorism. Over the years, evidence and documents reveal Arafat’s involvement in terrorist operations under the umbrella of the so-called “Palestinian resistance”. Furthermore, some sources suggest that Arafat played a key role in the overthrow of the Shah of Persia in 1979, favoring the establishment of the repressive Islamic theocracy in Iran led by Khomeini. The instability of Iran and Afghanistan does not occur in a geopolitical vacuum: the Soviet Union and radical Islamism play a strategic role in destabilizing and subverting those regimes that were modernizing, with the aim of affecting the world balance and weakening Western influence in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, the concept of the “Palestinian people,” which until then had never existed as a distinct national identity, began to take shape within a very specific strategy. Islamist propaganda sought to secularize itself to fit the Western narrative, making the Palestinian cause appear as a struggle for self-determination, rather than as an extension of political Islamism. This made the Palestinian cause more attractive and acceptable in the West, especially among the younger generations, creating an ideologically effective narrative that could penetrate the media, universities and international politics.

As the Israeli-Palestinian conflict escalates, the West seeks to promote peace through negotiations and diplomatic mediation. However, the Arab world has not abandoned the idea of reversing the defeat of 1967.

In 1973, during the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, an Arab coalition led by Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel, aiming to regain the territories lost in the Six-Day War. The war proved to be harsh and bloody, with Israel initially suffering significant losses. However, after initial difficulties, Israel managed to turn the tide and inflicted a new defeat on the Arab attackers.

The outcome of the Yom Kippur War marks a turning point in the dynamics of the Middle East. Egypt, which had suffered repeated military defeats, begins to understand that war will never lead to the destruction of Israel and that a diplomatic approach may be more advantageous.

In 1978, the US-brokered Camp David Accords led to a historic understanding between Israel and Egypt:

Egypt becomes the first Arab country to officially recognize Israel,
Israel agrees to return the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, demonstrating that it has no imperialistic territorial aims, but rather the need to ensure its own security.

While relations between Israel and Egypt are beginning to normalize, tensions in Gaza and Judea and Samaria continue to grow. The Palestinian populations, driven by the propaganda of the PLO and Islamist organizations, are becoming increasingly hostile to the Israeli presence, while terrorist groups are beginning to plan attacks to destabilize the situation. The idea of an independent Palestinian state remains distant, not so much because of Israel, but because Arab and Palestinian leaders themselves do not want to accept compromises. The concept of a peaceful solution is still a remote possibility, while terrorism and anti-Israeli hatred continue to be fueled both locally and internationally.essi. Il concetto di una soluzione pacifica è ancora un’ipotesi remota, mentre il terrorismo e l’odio anti-israeliano continuano a essere alimentati sia a livello locale che internazionale.

#18. Israel Confronts the PLO in Lebanon

1982

In the 1970s and 1980s, the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) increasingly transformed itself into a military and terrorist organization, using Lebanon as a base of operations to launch attacks against Israel. After being expelled from Jordan in Black September 1970, Palestinian guerrillas established themselves in southern Lebanon, creating a veritable stronghold from which they launched raids, bombings and rocket attacks against Israeli cities in the north. The situation became untenable, and in 1982 Israel launched a large-scale military operation, the invasion of Lebanon, with the aim of dismantling the PLO presence and neutralizing the threat.

The operation takes Israeli forces to Beirut, where, with the support of Lebanese Christian militias, they expel the leaders of the PLO, including Yasser Arafat, who flees to Tunisia. However, the withdrawal of the PLO does not bring stability to Lebanon: the civil war continues and the vacuum left by the Palestinians is quickly filled by the group Hezbollah, supported by Iran, which over time will become an even more dangerous enemy for Israel.

The Israeli intervention leads to a long military engagement in southern Lebanon, where the Israeli army remains until 2000 to maintain a security zone and protect the northern border from Hezbollah attacks. The occupation of southern Lebanon becomes a difficult and controversial terrain, as Israel finds itself fighting an asymmetric war against armed groups using guerrilla and terrorist tactics.

Lebanon, until the first half of the 1970s, was known as the “Switzerland of the Middle East”. It was a predominantly Christian nation, with an open society, a thriving economy and a strong Western presence. Beirut was considered the Paris of the Middle East, a center of culture, finance and tourism. However, with the increasing influence of political Islam and the massive arrival of armed Palestinians after 1970, Lebanon began to destabilize, leading to the civil conflict of 1975–1990. As the years passed, and with the demographic change that led the country to a Muslim majority, Lebanon entered a phase of growing religious intolerance. Discrimination against minorities, especially Christians, became increasingly widespread, significantly reducing their presence and political power.

Despite this, Islamist propaganda, spread by local and international media such as Al-Jazeera, has created a narrative in which Israel is portrayed as the root of all of Lebanon’s problems. This type of propaganda is not limited to Lebanon, but extends throughout the Middle East and the Palestinian territories of Gaza and Judea and Samaria, where Christians themselves are indoctrinated to believe that Israel is the common enemy. In many cases, the persecution of Christian minorities by Islamist groups is ignored or downplayed, while anti-Israel rhetoric becomes a tool to distract from intolerance and internal conflicts.

This one-way propaganda mechanism has helped reinforce the narrative of Israel as an oppressor and invader, completely distorting historical and geopolitical reality. The same strategy has been used repeatedly in the Palestinian cause, transforming it from a territorial conflict to a global ideological battle, in which Israel is attacked not for its actions, but for its very existence.

#19. The Fading Palestinian State

1987-2002

In 1987, tension between Israel and the Palestinians erupted into a new wave of violence with the start of the first Intifada, an uprising characterized by street clashes, stone attacks, bombings, and widespread violence against civilians and the Israeli army. The rebellion spread rapidly and marked the beginning of a new phase in the conflict.

In the same year, Hamas was founded, an Islamist terrorist organization that was born with the declared goal of destroying Israel and replacing it with an Islamic state. The temporal coincidence between the birth of the first Intifada and the founding of Hamas is not coincidental, but demonstrates how the Islamist movement exploits popular uprisings to legitimize itself and take control of the Palestinian resistance, as an alternative to the more secularized PLO. Hamas does not recognize Israel’s right to exist and is openly opposed to any peace agreement.

In 1993, an attempt at a breakthrough came with the Oslo Accords, signed at the White House. The agreement provided for mutual recognition between Israel and the PLO, theoretically laying the foundations for a two-state solution. For the first time, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin shook hands in a sign of reconciliation, in front of US President Bill Clinton. However, Arafat’s words pronounced shortly afterward suggested that there was no real intention of peace on the Arab side.

On May 10, 1994, during a speech in Johannesburg, South Africa, Arafat compared the Oslo Accords to the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, signed in 628 AD between Muhammad and the Jewish tribe of Quraysh. With this allusion, Arafat implied that the PLO would use Oslo to gain time, strengthen itself, and then break the agreement when it was more convenient, with the ultimate goal of eliminating Israel.

It should be emphasized that Arafat represents only a diplomatic facade, while the real decision to interrupt the peace process is shared by other Arab leaders, be they Palestinians or members of other Arab states who do not want to accept the existence of Israel.

In 1995, the Oslo Accords were expanded with Oslo II, which provided for the transfer of control of several Palestinian cities to the Palestinian Authority. These included Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya, Ramallah, Tulkarm and more than 400 villages. This was the first real attempt at Palestinian autonomy, but instead of taking advantage of this opportunity to build a stable and prosperous state, Palestinian leaders chose to sabotage the agreement by refusing to recognize Israel as a legitimate part of the Middle East.

In 2000, the second Intifada broke out, even bloodier than the first. Hopes for peace quickly faded and violence increased exponentially. Terrorist attacks against Israel became daily, with suicide attacks in restaurants, buses and markets. The Palestinian Authority, instead of seeking peaceful coexistence, gave way to Hamas and other extremist groups that intensified propaganda and radicalization of the new generations.

To counter the wave of attacks, in 2002 Israel began construction of a separation wall, approximately 730 km long, which mostly follows the Green Line of the 1949 armistice and separates Israel from Judea and Samaria (the West Bank). The aim of this barrier is to prevent the passage of Palestinian terrorists into Israeli territories and to protect civilians from attacks.

The impact of the wall is immediate: terrorist attacks are drastically reduced, and Israel manages to improve internal security. However, the construction of the barrier is harshly criticized by international organizations and pro-Palestinian media, who call it an “occupation” and a sign of “apartheid,” completely ignoring the fact that it was built as a defensive measure to protect human lives from terrorist attacks.

From this point on, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict takes on a new dimension, in which security and prevention of attacks become the top priority for Israel, while Palestinian terrorist movements continue to exploit propaganda to keep alive the narrative of “resistance” against Israel, effectively denying any possibility of peace.

#20. The Gaza Strip and New Wars

2005-2025

In 2005, in an attempt to reduce tensions and demonstrate openness to peaceful coexistence, Israel completely withdraws from the Gaza Strip, evacuating all Israeli civilians and military personnel. This event, known as the Gaza disengagement, leaves the Palestinians with full autonomy to govern themselves. Israel also leaves behind functioning agricultural infrastructure that could be used to develop the Strip’s economy, but, rather than exploit this opportunity, the Palestinians in Gaza immediately destroy the remaining greenhouses, factories, and synagogues, refusing any form of cooperation with Israel.

In 2006, a new conflict erupts between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed terrorist group operating from southern Lebanon. The war erupts following Hezbollah rocket attacks on Israel and the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers. Israel responds with a large-scale military operation, striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and suffering attacks of its own with thousands of rockets fired at Israeli cities. Despite heavy losses on both sides, the conflict does not resolve the threat from Hezbollah, which continues to grow stronger thanks to Iranian aid.

Also in 2006, Hamas won elections in Gaza, officially taking control of the Strip. The following year, in 2007, Hamas staged a coup against the Palestinian Authority and installed an Islamist regime. Since then, Gaza has become a bastion of terrorism, with Hamas using international aid to build arsenals, underground tunnels and military bases, instead of investing in civilian infrastructure. Following the Hamas takeover, the international community imposed an economic blockade on Gaza, to limit the flow of weapons and prevent the terrorist group from further strengthening.

In 2014, a new escalation leads to another conflict between Israel and Hamas, triggered by massive rocket fire from Gaza against Israeli cities. Israel responds with Operation Protective Edge, launching a military campaign to destroy Hamas’s terrorist infrastructure. However, the cycle of war between Hamas and Israel continues to repeat itself, as Hamas consistently uses human shields and hides its arsenals in hospitals, schools and mosques, making any Israeli response extremely complex on a diplomatic level.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launches the bloodiest terrorist attack against Israel since the Holocaust, invading cities and kibbutzim on the border with Gaza. Thousands of terrorists enter Israeli territory, committing indiscriminate massacres against civilians, rape, torture and kidnapping women, children and the elderly. More than 1,200 Israelis are killed and hundreds are kidnapped and taken to Gaza as hostages. This attack receives the approval of more than 75% of the Palestinian population of Gaza and Judea and Samaria, demonstrating the level of radicalization spread by decades of Islamist propaganda.

One of the most used tools of Palestinian and Islamic terrorism is the technique of kidnapping, since Israel places a huge value on human life, unlike terrorist organizations that consider human sacrifice part of their ideology. For this reason, Israel often accepts disproportionate conditions to get back its hostages, as has already happened in the past with prisoner exchanges that saw the release of thousands of Palestinian terrorists in exchange for a few kidnapped Israelis.

After the October 7 attack, Israel launches a major military operation in Gaza to destroy Hamas and ensure the security of its territory. However, the conflict is rapidly expanding: Hezbollah intensifies attacks from Lebanon, Syria opens new fronts, Iran increases threats and Houthi terrorist groups in Yemen begin attacking Israeli targets in the Red Sea.

Israel is now engaged on multiple fronts, defending itself from attacks from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Yemen. This escalation demonstrates how the entire axis of Islamist terrorism, supported by Iran, is coordinated to weaken Israel and destabilize the Middle East. Despite international pressure for a ceasefire, Israel continues its offensive, determined to eliminate Hamas and restore national security.