The 20th century and the first quarter of the 21st century were eras shaped by monumental events. Yet few issues have had such far-reaching and continuing implications for global politics and international systems as the Palestine question.
The conflict’s roots can be traced to 1917, a pivotal year marked by two decisive events: the Balfour Declaration of November 2 and the British occupation of Palestine in December. These two events together laid the groundwork for the geopolitical, demographic, and ideological fault lines that have outlined every subsequent stage of the conflict.
Over the decades, despite numerous fluctuations, the trajectory of the Palestinian struggle has remained largely consistent. Periods of confrontation, displacement, and resistance have oscillated between brittle truces and failed negotiations. Palestinians have remained at the receiving end of successive waves of aggression as Israel has continued to grow territorially and consolidate power.
As a natural reaction, Palestinians have repeatedly reorganized their struggle, and their response and resistance, whether political or armed, have undergone several transformations. At one time, the Palestinians perceived armed struggle for liberation as the only viable solution.
Later, the Palestine Liberation Organization’s movement shifted toward diplomacy under Yasser Arafat, who, through the Oslo Accords in the 1990s, exchanged armed resistance for political recognition. The agreement created the Palestinian Authority and promised limited self-rule in designated areas of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. However, it left core issues unsettled and eventually came to denote a strategic setback rather than progress toward genuine statehood.
The developments since October 7, 2023, have marked a new and devastating phase in this over a century-long conflict. The period has witnessed unprecedented levels of Israeli brutality, with the Palestinians setting new records of resilience. The surprise attack by Hamas triggered an overwhelming Israeli genocidal response that has killed more than 68,200 people, including at least 20,000 children. It is believed that thousands more remain buried under the rubble.
The destruction across Gaza has been appalling. Entire neighborhoods were reduced to rubble as Israel launched brutal air and ground operations on the pretext of dismantling Hamas’s military infrastructure. About 92 percent of residential buildings and 88 percent of commercial facilities in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed. The resultant humanitarian crisis, marked by mass displacement, failing health services, and severe shortages of food, water, and medicine, sparked global public outrage and widespread protests across continents.
The conflict has again revealed the inherent biases in international media narratives and the blatant inequities in the global governance system. Most of the mainstream Western media have been framing Israel’s large-scale bombardment as acts of “self-defense,” while justifying the unprecedented civilian deaths in Gaza. Meanwhile, independent journalists and humanitarian workers who sought to show the reality have paid a heavy price, many with their lives.
International legal and diplomatic institutions could play only a marginal role throughout the conflict. South Africa initiated a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice in December 2023, condemning it for committing genocide in Gaza. The court ordered Israel to prevent genocidal acts and allow humanitarian aid; however, it stopped short of demanding a ceasefire. A follow-up ruling in May 2024 instructed Israel to halt operations in Rafah. These provisional measures reflected growing global concern but lacked enforcement mechanisms, thus rendering them mostly symbolic.
Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court (ICC) extended its inquiry into war crimes committed by Israel. However, progress was hampered by Israel’s non-membership in the ICC and the court’s limited access to Gaza.
Equally distressing has been the weakness of the United Nations and its affiliated agencies. Despite many appeals and resolutions, the UN remained paralyzed in the face of US vetoes that shielded Israel from accountability. The targeting of schools, hospitals, and relief convoys in which 380 UNRWA workers have been killed has exposed both the impotence of international institutions and the erosion of respect for international humanitarian law.
Consequently, repeated diplomatic efforts at the UN yielded nothing more than moral censure and symbolic relief. The Security Council adopted only four out of 14 resolutions, primarily calling for humanitarian pauses and partial ceasefires. The General Assembly later passed resolutions demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire, which received overwhelming global support but lacked binding authority. In September 2025, the US vetoed for the sixth time a draft resolution calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Thus, despite international demand for a ceasefire, diplomatic efforts through the UN and regional mediators repeatedly failed to achieve a resolution. The conflict deepened the geopolitical divides, with most of the Western governments backing Israel and much of the Muslim world and the Global South denouncing it as disproportionate, unjust, and collective punishment. As the conflict dragged on through 2024 into 2025, the war restructured regional alliances and exposed the limitations of international institutions.
US President Donald Trump, compelled by escalating global pressure, finally announced a 20-point Gaza peace plan on September 29, 2025. Widely viewed as politically motivated and hastily put together, it focused on the release of remaining Israeli hostages and the disarmament of Hamas while skirting the core issues, such as Palestinian statehood and Israeli withdrawal. Like the Oslo Accords, the plan leaves Palestinians in political limbo and reinforces skepticism about Washington’s credibility as an impartial peace broker.
World leaders signed a declaration to inaugurate the peace plan on October 13. Though the plan has paused hostilities for the time being, without sustained pressure from the international civil society and some European nations that have taken a just and principled stand, Israel’s expansionist policies may continue unchecked, risking further destabilization in the Middle East. Additionally, stronger and more consistent pressure is required to implement the two-state solution, which the UN endorses.
Beyond the conflict, the past two years have witnessed a radical and transformative shift in global public opinion as the perception of Israel has undergone a dramatic reversal. Israel’s actions in Gaza, previously shielded by narratives of self-defense and accusations of anti-Semitism, are now widely condemned, even in the West, as acts of collective punishment and genocide. This shift is reflected in the massive worldwide demonstrations, particularly by the younger generation, who are increasingly rejecting this narrative and demanding accountability.
Even as Israel continues to rely on US support, its isolation within global civil society and governments has deepened, including among some of its once close allies, indicating the emergence of a new phase in international politics. This shift is also reflected in the growing recognition of the State of Palestine, with 20 additional countries having done so since October 2023. At present, Palestine is recognized as a sovereign state by 157 of the 193 UN member countries.
Meanwhile, Israel has failed to achieve any of its declared objectives in Gaza, including the annihilation of Hamas, expulsion of Palestinians, and the complete takeover of the territory. In fact, the conflict has shattered Israel’s long-propagated narrative of military invincibility and exposed its strategic vulnerability. Likewise, Trump’s “vision” to redevelop and transform the enclave into the “Riviera of the Middle East” after expelling its roughly two million Palestinians has come to nothing.
This overall landscape also draws striking parallels with Indian-occupied Kashmir, where the extremist ideologies of Zionism and Hindutva increasingly converge. The growing partnership between Israel and India, rooted in their shared narratives of occupation and nationalism, reflects similar ambitions embodied in the visions of “Greater Israel” and “Akhand Bharat.” Understanding these intersections provides a broader perception of the emerging global order and helps contextualize future developments in both regions.
Although a long journey lies ahead to achieve a sovereign Palestine, the ceasefire has offered a fragile sense of possibility amid the devastation. This demands a two-pronged strategy: one focused on securing justice and a sovereign Palestine, and the other on pushing for fundamental reforms in the global governance architecture. Unless the international community redefines accountability and restores faith in collective decision-making, peace will remain a pipe dream.
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Khalid Rahman chairs the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), which he helped establish and lead as executive president and director general. With a master's in economics, his research spans international affairs, the economy, governance, and human development. He is editor-in-chief of Policy Perspectives and has authored/edited approximately 50 books and numerous research papers. A sought-after motivational speaker, he also holds non-resident fellowships in China and advises various organizations