Palestine is a country located in the Middle East, whose territory is mainly located in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip within Israel. Palestine is a historic region that was once an important center of ancient civilizations with a rich cultural and historical heritage.
However, Palestine has been in a territorial dispute with Israel since the early 20th century, as both countries claim sovereignty over the same land. The dispute began with the 1917 Balfour Declaration, issued by the British government, which promised a Jewish state in Palestinian areas, but also guaranteed the rights of Palestinian Arabs. However, in the decades that followed, Jewish immigrants continued to pour into Palestine and gradually occupied much of the land, leading to escalating tensions between Palestinian Arabs and Jews.
In 1948, Israel declared its independence and Palestinian Arabs declared their own state. However, the country did not enjoy universal recognition by the international community, and in the decades that followed, Israel continued to expand its territory and establish several Jewish settlements in Palestine, leading to increasing tensions in Palestine.
Since the 90s of the twentieth century, Palestinian and Israeli peace negotiations have been engaged, but these negotiations have not made substantial progress. Over time, the situation has become increasingly tense, leading to numerous clashes and violent incidents. The most recent violent incident occurred in May 2021, when Israeli police expelled Palestinians from the Old City of Jerusalem, sparking fierce protests and clashes.
At present, Palestine is still considered an informal State and its political status is still not universally recognized by the international community. However, the Palestinian people are still struggling for their rights and freedoms, and they hope for peace, stability and prosperity in the future.