Ottoman Empire: Before the 20th century, the region known as Palestine was part of the Ottoman Empire. The population was diverse, including Muslims, Christians, and Jews.

British Mandate: After World War I, the League of Nations granted Britain the mandate over Palestine. The Balfour Declaration of 1917 expressed British support for a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine, which led to increased Jewish immigration.

UN Partition Plan (1947): The United Nations proposed a partition plan dividing Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem under international administration. The plan was accepted by the Jewish community but rejected by the Arab states and Palestinian leaders.

1948 War: Following the declaration of the State of Israel in May 1948, neighboring Arab countries invaded. The war ended with Israel controlling approximately 78% of the territory of Mandatory Palestine. About 700,000 Palestinian Arabs fled or were expelled, becoming refugees.

Armistice Agreements (1949): The armistice agreements between Israel and its neighbors established the "Green Line" as the de facto borders. The West Bank was controlled by Jordan, and the Gaza Strip by Egypt.

Suez Crisis (1956) and other skirmishes continued to fuel tension in the region.

Six-Day War: In June 1967, Israel launched a preemptive strike against Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, capturing the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights.

UN Resolution 242: Called for the withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the conflict and the recognition of every state in the area's right to live in peace.

Israeli Settlements: Israel began establishing settlements in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem, which are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.

First Intifada (1987-1993): Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation.

Oslo Accords: A series of agreements between the PLO and Israel aimed at achieving a peace treaty. The Accords led to the creation of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and partial self-rule in parts of the West Bank and Gaza.

Territorial Divisions: The West Bank was divided into Areas A, B, and C, with varying degrees of Palestinian and Israeli control.

Second Intifada: Another period of intensified Israeli-Palestinian violence.

Gaza Disengagement (2005): Israel unilaterally withdrew from the Gaza Strip but retained control over its borders, airspace, and maritime access.

Hamas Takeover (2007): Hamas seized control of Gaza, leading to a blockade by Israel and Egypt.

Continued Settlement Expansion: Israeli settlements in the West Bank have continued to grow, further fragmenting Palestinian territory.

Peace Process Stagnation: Various peace initiatives have stalled, and there has been little progress towards a two-state solution.

Trump Administration Policies (2017-2021): The U.S. under President Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and proposed a peace plan heavily favoring Israeli positions.

Abraham Accords (2020): Normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab countries, which Palestinians viewed as a betrayal of their cause.