The Timeline: From 1948 to Today
A quick reference to the major milestones that shaped the conflict. For the full sourced history with citations, see GotIsrael.com's complete timeline.
1949
The Nakba
More than 750,000 Palestinians forcibly displaced and over 500 villages destroyed during the establishment of the State of Israel. Refugees and descendants -- now over 7 million -- have never been allowed to return.
The Occupation Begins
Israel occupies the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. The occupation continues to this day and has been ruled illegal under international law by the ICJ.
1993
The First Intifada
A mass Palestinian uprising against 20 years of occupation. Met with mass arrests, home demolitions, and lethal force.
The Oslo Accords
Created the Palestinian Authority but deferred every core issue -- refugees, Jerusalem, borders, settlements. Israeli settlements more than doubled during this period.
The Siege of Gaza Begins
Israel and Egypt impose a total land, air, and sea blockade on Gaza -- described by human rights organizations as collective punishment of 2.3 million civilians.
2021
Repeated Military Assaults
Israel conducts major military operations on Gaza in 2008-09, 2012, 2014, and 2021 -- killing thousands of Palestinian civilians, including hundreds of children each time.
Present
The Gaza Genocide
Following the October 7, 2023 attack, Israel's military campaign has killed over 64,000 Palestinians -- more than half women and children. The ICJ ruled genocide charges plausible in January 2024; a UN Commission of Inquiry confirmed four of five genocide acts in September 2025. Famine has been documented across Gaza.
2026
West Bank Escalation and Global Response
Operation Iron Wall displaces 40,000+ Palestinians in the West Bank -- the largest displacement since 1948. International civilian flotillas attempt to break the Gaza blockade by sea and are repeatedly intercepted.
This is the short version. Every claim above is sourced and explained in full detail at GotIsrael.com's complete timeline, including primary documents, legal rulings, and links to original reports.