The conflict between Palestine and Israel is a long-standing and complex territorial and political struggle primarily about land and self- determination. It has roots going back to the late 19th century with the rise of Zionism, a movement seeking to establish a Jewish state in Palestine, which was then mostly inhabited by Arab Palestinians. British support for a Jewish homeland, increased Jewish immigration, and conflicting national aspirations fueled tensions and violence between Jews and Arabs. The conflict escalated notably in the 20th century with the British Mandate, the UN partition plan in 1947 proposing separate Jewish and Arab states, and the declaration of the State of Israel in 1948. Palestinians and neighboring Arab countries rejected this, leading to wars, displacement of Palestinians, and ongoing disputes over land, borders, control of Jerusalem, Israeli settlements, security, and Palestinian rights including freedom of movement and the right of return. More recently, groups like Hamas in Gaza oppose Israel's existence on Palestinian land, and the conflict involves military confrontations, blockades, humanitarian crises, and political deadlocks. Both sides claim historical and national rights over the territory, and attempts at peace have been complicated by violence, security concerns, and deep mistrust.
In brief, the fighting is rooted in competing nationalist claims and a history of mutual violence and political failure to resolve core issues of sovereignty, territory, and rights.