Jake Miller
The West Bank and the Gaza Strip are two Palestinian territories that were part of the former British-mandated territory of Palestine west of the Jordan River. They share the vast majority of their borders with Israel, with the West Bank bordering Jordan to the east and the Gaza Strip bordering Egypt to the southwest. The future status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip has been the subject of negotiation between the Palestinians and Israelis for over a hundred years. The Palestinians consider them the heart of their envisioned state, while right-wing and ideological Israelis see them as their ancestral homeland.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current status | The West Bank and Gaza Strip are considered Israeli-occupied territories, with the West Bank remaining central to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The West Bank is governed by Fatah through the emergency PA government, while the Gaza Strip is controlled by Hamas. |
| Population | There are over 5 million Palestinians combined living in the two territories. |
| Geography | The West Bank borders Jordan to the east, while the Gaza Strip borders Egypt to the southwest. |
| History | The West Bank and Gaza Strip were part of the Ottoman Empire from 1517 to 1917. After World War I, the area became a British Mandate for Palestine. In 1947, the UN proposed a partition plan for a two-state solution, which was accepted by Jewish leaders but rejected by Arab leaders. The 1948 Arab-Israeli War resulted in Israel gaining control of additional territories. The West Bank was occupied and annexed by Transjordan, while the Gaza Strip was occupied by Egypt. Since the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel has occupied the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and the territories are considered under military occupation and blockaded by Israel. |
| Current issues | There are frequent clashes and confrontations between Israeli settlers, Palestinians, and Israeli defence and security forces in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The areas have travel advisories due to the unpredictable security situation and renewed regional tensions. There is also a threat of terrorism and rocket attacks targeting civilians. |
| International recognition | As of June 2024, 146 (75.6%) of the 193 member states of the United Nations have recognised the State of Palestine within the Palestinian territories. |
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What You'll Learn
- The West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied territories
- The Oslo Accords split the West Bank into three areas
- The West Bank and Gaza Strip have been central to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
- The West Bank and Gaza Strip are home to over 5 million Palestinians
- The West Bank and Gaza Strip are subject to Israeli restrictions
The West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied territories
The West Bank and Gaza Strip are two distinct territories that have been at the centre of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for over a hundred years. The West Bank is a territory west of the Jordan River, which was claimed by Jordan from 1949 to 1988. The Gaza Strip, on the other hand, borders Egypt and was occupied by Egypt until 1967. Both territories were captured by Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967 and have been under Israeli military occupation since, with Israel controlling all access into the areas.
The Oslo Accords of the mid-1990s attempted to establish a framework for peace by dividing the West Bank into three regional levels of Palestinian sovereignty, administered by the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). However, the PNA's control over the West Bank has been limited, with Israel maintaining a presence of military control and expanding its settlement activity in the territory. The Gaza Strip, ruled by Hamas since 2007, has faced a similar situation, with Israel blockading the area and conducting military strikes.
The United Nations recognises the West Bank and Gaza Strip as Israeli-occupied territories, with over 146 member states acknowledging the State of Palestine within these territories. The Palestinian Authority, supported by the United Nations, maintains that the presence of Israeli military control in these areas violates their right to sovereign rule. The constant tension between Israelis and Palestinians living in these territories has often resulted in violence, with frequent clashes between Israeli settlers, Palestinians, and Israeli defence and security forces.
The future status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip remains uncertain. While the 2002 Road Map for Peace envisioned an independent Palestinian state in these territories living side by side with Israel, the plan has faced challenges due to ongoing attacks and the construction of Israeli settlements. The Palestinian Authority has pursued international recognition for statehood, gaining partial recognition in 2012. The situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip continues to be marked by political and territorial tensions, with frequent travel advisories warning of the unpredictable security situation and the risk of violent confrontations.
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The Oslo Accords split the West Bank into three areas
The West Bank and the Gaza Strip are two Palestinian territories that were part of the former British-mandated territory of Palestine west of the Jordan River. They were captured by Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967 and have been at the centre of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ever since.
The Oslo Accords, a pair of interim agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), were signed in 1993 and 1995. They were a major turning point in relations between Israelis and Palestinians, marking the beginning of a bilateral negotiation process overseen by the US government.
One of the outcomes of the Oslo Accords was the creation of the Palestinian Authority (PA), which was tasked with conducting limited self-governance over parts of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The West Bank was divided into three areas, each with different levels of Israeli and Palestinian sovereignty:
- Area A: Under PA civilian and security control, with overall control by the Israeli army. Area A comprises approximately 17-18% of the West Bank's territory and is home to most Palestinians.
- Area B: Under PA civilian control and full Israeli military control. Area B comprises about 22-23% of the West Bank and includes some 440 Palestinian villages and their surrounding lands.
- Area C: Under full Israeli military and civilian control. Area C comprises around 60% of the West Bank and is where most settlements are located. It includes 230 Israeli settlements, with Israeli law applied to this area.
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The West Bank and Gaza Strip have been central to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The West Bank and the Gaza Strip are two distinct territories with a complex history that has been central to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The conflict itself dates back to the end of the nineteenth century, primarily as a dispute over territory.
The West Bank stretches along the eastern border of Israel, by the west banks of the Jordan River, and most of the Dead Sea. The area now referred to as the West Bank was once part of the Ottoman Empire and later became an integral part of the British Mandate for Palestine. After the British Mandate of Palestine was dissolved in 1948, the territory was divided into three parts: the State of Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. The West Bank was claimed by Jordan until 1988, but in 1967, Israel occupied the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which had previously been under Egyptian control.
The Oslo Accords of the mid-1990s further divided the West Bank into three regional levels of Palestinian sovereignty: Area A, Area B, and Area C, with the latter comprising 60% of the West Bank and under Israeli control. The West Bank is considered by Palestinians to be the heart of their envisioned state, while right-wing and ideological Israelis view it as their ancestral homeland. This discrepancy has led to a push among some Israelis for the annexation of the West Bank, which has resulted in escalating violence and constant tension between Israelis and Palestinians.
The Gaza Strip, on the other hand, has been ruled by Hamas since 2007, following a violent power struggle with Fatah. Israel and other members of the international community have supported Fatah and blockaded the Gaza Strip, leading to a dire humanitarian situation. Israeli military occupation and restrictions on access to external markets have severely impacted the economy and development of the Gaza Strip.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in war crimes, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, and genocide perpetrated by both Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups. The United Nations has recognised the State of Palestine within the Palestinian territories, and the international community has increasingly called for an end to Israeli occupation and the recognition of Palestinian sovereignty.
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The West Bank and Gaza Strip are home to over 5 million Palestinians
The West Bank and Gaza Strip are two distinct territories that together are home to over 5 million Palestinians. The West Bank stretches across the eastern border of Israel along the west banks of the Jordan River and most of the Dead Sea, thus deriving its name. The Gaza Strip, on the other hand, is located on the Mediterranean shore.
The history of these territories is complex and marked by conflict. From 1517 to 1917, the West Bank was part of the Ottoman Empire. After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the area became a part of the British Mandate for Palestine, along with the Gaza Strip. During this time, Britain did not have sovereignty, which was instead held by the people under the mandate. In 1948, after the departure of the British, the West Bank was claimed by Jordan, while the Gaza Strip came under Egyptian control.
The conflict over these territories escalated during the Six-Day War in 1967, when Israel seized control of both areas. Since then, tension and violence between Israelis and Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip have been constant. Israel maintains military control over the West Bank, enforcing restrictions on Palestinians' access to food, water, and supplies, and imposing military ordinances and checkpoints that severely limit freedom of movement.
The future status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip is uncertain. The Palestinians view these territories as the heart of their envisioned state, while some Israelis push for partial or complete annexation. The international community is divided, with the United Nations recognizing the territories as Israeli-occupied and calling for an end to the military occupation, while other countries, such as the United States, propose a "Road Map for Peace" envisioning an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.
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The West Bank and Gaza Strip are subject to Israeli restrictions
The West Bank and the Gaza Strip are two distinct territories that have been at the centre of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for over a century. The conflict has resulted in a constant state of tension between Israelis and Palestinians, often marked by violence. While the West Bank is governed by the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority (PA), the Gaza Strip has been under the control of Hamas since 2007. Both territories are considered occupied Palestinian territories, with Israel controlling all access and subjecting Palestinians to military occupation and restrictions.
The Oslo Accords of the mid-1990s divided the West Bank into three regional levels of Palestinian sovereignty: Area A (under the PA), Area B (shared administration between the PA and Israel), and Area C (under Israeli control, comprising 60% of the West Bank). This agreement granted the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) civil and security control in Area A and civilian control in Area B. However, Israel's continued settlement expansion in the West Bank and East Jerusalem has been deemed illegal under international law.
The West Bank and Gaza Strip have experienced constraints on their industrial development due to Israeli restrictions on access to external markets. This has resulted in scarce investment capital and a reliance on Israeli imports, with consumers paying higher prices due to a lack of commercial autonomy. Additionally, Israeli protectionist policies have distorted wider trade relations.
The Palestinian Authority considers the West Bank and Gaza Strip as the heart of their envisioned sovereign state. However, right-wing and ideological Israelis view this land as their ancestral homeland. The United Nations recognises these territories as Israeli-occupied, with Israel's military occupation deemed unlawful by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2024. The ICJ ruling also asserted that Israel's actions violate the international prohibition on racial segregation and apartheid.
The ongoing conflict has led to a dire humanitarian situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with frequent violent confrontations and clashes between Israeli settlers, Palestinians, and security forces. Travel advisories for these areas warn of an unpredictable security situation, heightened tensions, and the risk of terrorism and rocket attacks. The situation is further exacerbated by Israeli military checkpoints and movement restrictions, impacting the safety and freedom of movement for locals and travellers alike.
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Frequently asked questions
The West Bank is an area of the former British-mandated (1920-47) territory of Palestine west of the Jordan River. It was claimed from 1949 to 1988 as part of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan but has been occupied by Israel since 1967.
The Gaza Strip is a stretch of land on the Mediterranean shore. It was occupied by Egypt in 1948 and has been under Israeli occupation since 1967. Since 2007, it has been controlled by Hamas.
Both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are considered Israeli-occupied territories by the United Nations. They are collectively known as the occupied Palestinian territories. The future status of these territories has been the subject of negotiation between the Palestinians and Israelis.
There has been a conflict over the specific territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip for over a hundred years, dating back even before Israel became a country. Since the Six-Day War in 1967, tension between Israelis and Palestinians living in the territories has been constant, often resulting in violence.
The situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip remains unpredictable, with renewed regional tensions and violent clashes between Israeli settlers, Palestinians, and Israeli defence and security forces. Travel advisories warn of the risk of injury to bystanders during Israeli security operations and the threat of terrorism in the region.
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