Arab–Israeli conflict facts for kids

A Jewish bus equipped with wire screens to protect against rock, glass, and grenade throwing, late 1930s

The Arab–Israeli conflict is a term used to describe the political tensions and open hostilities between the Arab countries of the Middle East and North Africa and the State of Israel. The conflict has been around since 1948.

It's a complex situation with deep historical roots, mainly stemming from the late 19th and early 20th centuries when two important movements, Zionism and Arab nationalism, began to grow. Both movements had strong connections to the same land, which led to different ideas about who should live there and how it should be governed. Over time, this led to various wars and peace efforts, shaping the Middle East as we know it today.

More recently, since the late 20th century, the nature of the conflict has shifted. While the original disputes between Arab nations and Israel are still important, many direct hostilities across the Middle East are now also influenced by a changing political scene, particularly the rivalry between Iran and Israel.

Roots of the Conflict
Conflicts with Hamas and Hezbollah
Economic Impact
Casualties
Images for kids
See also

Roots of the Conflict

The story of the Arab–Israeli conflict begins with two strong national movements:

Zionism: This movement supported the idea of Jewish people returning to their historical homeland, which they call "Eretz Israel" (the Land of Israel), and establishing a Jewish state there. For Jewish people, this land holds deep religious and historical significance. Arab Nationalism: This movement focused on the idea of Arab people having their own independent states and a shared identity across the Middle East. For many Arabs, the land of Palestine was historically and rightfully theirs, belonging to the Arab Palestinian people. These two ideas grew at a time when the Ottoman Empire, which had controlled the region for nearly 400 years, was weakening. As the Ottoman Empire started to emphasize Turkish identity, many Arabs felt discriminated against, leading to a stronger desire for their own independent states. Both Zionism and Arab nationalism began to take shape in Europe. The first Zionist Congress was held in Basel, Switzerland, in 1897, while the "Arab Club" was established in Paris in 1906.

In the late 19th century, Jewish communities from Europe and the Middle East began to move to Palestine and buy land. By this time, the population of Palestine was about 600,000, mostly Muslim Arabs, but also significant numbers of Jews, Christians, and other groups. New Jewish communities and the first modern all-Jewish city, Tel Aviv, were established.

During World War I (1914-1918), Britain made promises to both Arabs and Jews. To the Arabs, Britain promised support for an independent Arab state if they revolted against the Ottoman Empire. To the Jewish people, through the Balfour Declaration in 1917, Britain expressed support for "the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people," while also stating that nothing should harm the rights of existing non-Jewish communities. These promises, while seemingly supportive, created future challenges because they were made about the same territory.

Growing Tensions (1920s-1940s)

After World War I, the Ottoman Empire was defeated, and the League of Nations (a group of countries working for peace, before the United Nations) gave Britain control over Palestine, known as the British Mandate of Palestine. This area included what is now Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.

Jewish immigration continued, and Palestinian Arabs saw this as a threat to their homeland. Policies where Jewish-owned businesses preferred to employ only Jewish workers also caused anger. Protests and outbreaks of violence began as early as 1920.

Tensions escalated further in 1929, leading to riots in Jerusalem and other areas.

Jewish immigration increased significantly, especially after the Nazis came to power in Germany, leading to a doubling of the Jewish population in British Palestine. This rapid change fueled the 1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine, a major uprising against British rule and Jewish immigration. In response to Arab pressure, the British authorities limited Jewish immigration, which became especially difficult during the Holocaust, when many Jewish refugees sought safety.

After several failed attempts to find a diplomatic solution, Britain asked the newly formed United Nations for help. In November 1947, the UN proposed a Partition Plan to divide Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states, with Jerusalem as an international city. The Jewish leadership accepted this plan, but the Arab states and Palestinian leaders rejected it, believing the entire land belonged to them. This rejection led to open fighting between Arab and Jewish communities within Palestine.

Birth of Israel and the First Arab–Israeli War (1948)

On May 14, 1948, the British Mandate ended. On that same day, Jewish leaders declared the establishment of the State of Israel.

The very next day, armies from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq invaded the newly declared State of Israel. This marked the beginning of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. The new Israeli Defense Force (IDF) fought back and managed to push back the Arab armies, expanding its borders beyond the original UN partition plan. By December 1948, Israel controlled most of the area west of the Jordan River. The remaining parts of the former British Mandate came under the control of Jordan (the West Bank) and Egypt (the Gaza Strip).

During and after this war, a large number of Palestinian Arabs (around 713,000) left or were forced to leave their homes, becoming Palestinian refugees. The reasons for their departure are still debated, but they include promises from Arab leaders that they could return after the war, as well as fear and direct actions by Israeli forces and Jewish groups. At the same time, many Jewish people living in Arab countries also faced difficulties, with anti-Jewish riots and loss of citizenship or property. Over 850,000 Jews from Arab countries immigrated to Israel and other nations over the next two decades.

The war ended with ceasefire agreements signed in 1949 between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

Years of Tension and Major Wars (1949-1973)

The period after 1948 was marked by continued tension and several major conflicts:

Suez Crisis (1956): Egypt closed the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping, blocking access to the Red Sea. Israel, with support from Britain and France, invaded the Sinai Peninsula. International pressure, especially from the United States and the United Nations, led to Israel's withdrawal, and a UN peacekeeping force was deployed.
Formation of the PLO (1964): The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was formed, aiming for the liberation of Palestine.
Six-Day War (1967): Tensions escalated again when Egypt expelled UN peacekeepers and blocked the Straits of Tiran. On June 5, 1967, Israel launched a surprise attack on Egypt, quickly destroying most of the Egyptian, Jordanian, Syrian, and Iraqi air forces. In just six days, Israel gained control of the Sinai Peninsula, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank (including East Jerusalem), and the Golan Heights. These territories remain central to the conflict today.
"Three No's" (1967): After the Six-Day War, Arab leaders met in Khartoum and declared "no recognition, no peace, and no negotiations" with Israel, reflecting their strong opposition.

War of Attrition (1969-1970): Egypt launched a war to try and wear down Israel and force it to return the Sinai Peninsula.

Yom Kippur War (1973): On October 6, 1973, Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. The Israeli military was initially caught off guard. Other Arab states sent troops and imposed an oil embargo on nations supporting Israel, raising oil prices significantly. The United States and the Soviet Union became indirectly involved, and a ceasefire was eventually secured.

Peace Efforts and Shifting Dynamics (1974-2005)

After the major wars, efforts towards peace began, and the nature of the conflict started to change.

Peace with Egypt (1979): Following the Camp David Accords (peace talks held in the US), Israel and Egypt signed a historic peace treaty in March 1979. Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, and both countries recognized each other. This was a huge step, as Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace agreement with Israel.
Lebanon Wars (1982, 1993, 1996): The PLO, after being expelled from Jordan, moved to Lebanon and launched raids into Israel. Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982 to remove the PLO. Conflict continued at a lower level, especially with the rise of Hezbollah, a Shiite militia. Israel eventually withdrew from Southern Lebanon in 2000.
First Intifada (1987-1993): A mass Palestinian uprising against Israeli rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip began. This involved civil disobedience, protests, and stone-throwing. The international attention it brought led to peace negotiations.
Oslo Accords (1993-1995): Secret peace talks in Oslo, Norway, led to the signing of the Oslo Accords. Israel recognized the PLO as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, and the PLO recognized Israel's right to exist and renounced terrorism. These agreements created the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), giving Palestinians some self-rule in parts of the West Bank and Gaza.
Peace with Jordan (1994): Israel and Jordan signed a peace agreement, becoming the second Arab country to do so.
Al-Aqsa Intifada (2000-2005): Another period of intense violence erupted, leading Israel to expand its security measures, including checkpoints and a security barrier around the West Bank.
Gaza Disengagement (2005): Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon decided to withdraw all Israeli settlers and military forces from the Gaza Strip.

Shift to Iranian–Israeli Rivalry (2006-Present)

Since the mid-2000s, while the Israeli–Palestinian conflict remains central, the broader Arab–Israeli conflict has increasingly been influenced by the growing rivalry between Iran and Israel.

Conflicts with Hamas and Hezbollah

2006 Lebanon War: Hezbollah fighters abducted Israeli soldiers, leading to a war that caused significant destruction in Lebanon and casualties on both sides.
Gaza Conflicts: After Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade. There have been several rounds of intense fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, including Operation Cast Lead (2008-2009), Operation Pillar of Cloud (2012), and conflicts in 2014 and 2021. Israel states these operations are necessary to stop rocket attacks and prevent weapons smuggling.
Syrian Civil War (2011-Present): The civil war in Syria has further complicated the regional situation. Israel has conducted missile strikes in Syria, primarily to prevent Iran and its allies (like Hezbollah) from gaining too much influence or transferring advanced weapons near its border. Israel has also provided humanitarian aid to Syrian war victims.
US Recognition of Jerusalem (2017): In December 2017, the US recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moved its embassy there in May 2018. This decision was met with both support and condemnation internationally.
Abraham Accords (2020): A significant development was the signing of the Abraham Accords. These agreements led to the normalization of relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and later Sudan. These agreements were partly driven by shared concerns about Iran's growing influence in the region.
2023 Hamas–Israel War: As of today, May 24, 2025, the conflict that began in October 2023 between Israel and Hamas-ruled Gaza is ongoing. This conflict is also seen by many as part of the broader Iran–Israel rivalry. While Arab leaders have condemned the violence, many Arab League countries have refrained from officially interfering, reflecting the changing dynamics in the region.

Some Arab nations, like Saudi Arabia, have indicated interest in normalized relations with Israel after the conflict, on the condition of the creation of a Palestinian State.

Economic Impact

A report estimated that the conflict cost the Middle East about $12 trillion in lost economic opportunities between 1991 and 2010. This means that if there had been peace and cooperation, countries in the region, including Israel, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, could have achieved much higher economic growth and prosperity. For example, the average Israeli citizen could have earned significantly more in 2010 if there had been peace.

Casualties

It's estimated that the conflict has resulted in the loss of around 92,000 lives (both military and civilian) between 1945 and 1995. The ongoing conflicts continue to add to this tragic toll.

Images for kids

Egyptian forces crossing the Suez Canal on 7 October 1973
Begin, Carter and Sadat at Camp David
Yitzhak Rabin, Bill Clinton, and Yasser Arafat at the Oslo Accords signing ceremony on 13 September 1993