The Palestinian protests on the Eastern borders of the Gaza Strip have entered its second week. A part of the Great March of Return movement, the first round of demonstrations took place on March 30 and witnessed participation of tens of thousands of people for their right to return as a part of UN Resolution 194. The Israeli military forces on the other hand still have not moved from its open fire policy under which 19 Palestinians have lost their lives, and over 1600 have been injured. On facing international criticism Tel Aviv’s justifies it as a response to a rally organised by Hamas for launching an attack.
The contemporary Israel Palestine issue goes back to the 1967 war as it left Israel in control of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In a hope to exchange the land for Israeli recognition by the Arab countries Israel help onto the regions despite UN criticism. Finally, in 2005, Israel left control of the Gaza Strip and Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic militant group and a globally renowned terrorist organisation came to power by winning elections. Hamas still refuses to acknowledge the existence of Israel and wishes for Palestinian return to their old homes and actively protests for the cause violently. Since then, Israel has held Gaza under a blockade, which means it controls its borders and limits who can get in and out.
America has over time tried hard to settle the conflict between the Arabs and Israelis but nothing really worked out. Recently, the American President Donald Trump also pulled an unprecedented move of relocating the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem which was not received well in the UNGA. This move hinted at favouring a one-state solution which was a first from Washington. Previously, all American presidents have stayed away from directly commenting on a solution but have “preferred” a two-state solution. In March this year, Trump also mentioned an ultimate deal for Palestine by creating a mini Palestine consisting of Gaza and a part of the West Bank. Israel refuses to accept the deal referring to it as unsafe, while Hamas dismissal of Israel’s existence continuously hinders the peace process. Other things to consider here are what will happen to Israelis who’ve settled in the West Bank, who will run Jerusalem and what will happen to the Palestinian refugees. The conflict is now in its seventh decade and Palestinians have been suffering for over half a century now which makes a solution all the more important.