Palestine, officially the State of Palestine, is located in West Asia and recognized by a majority of UN member states. It comprises the Israeli-occupied West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and the Gaza Strip. It shares borders primarily with Israel, as well as Jordan and Egypt. Its land area is approximately 6,020 square kilometers, with a population exceeding five million. Jerusalem is its proclaimed capital, though Ramallah serves as the administrative center. Gaza City was the largest city before recent evacuations.
U.S. Customs at SFO detained Palestinians with valid visas, preparing for deportation, which ignited protests. Among those detained were humanitarian workers. The detentions occurred on Wednesday, raising concerns about immigration policies.
In 1917, Jerusalem was captured by British forces led by General Allenby, marking the end of Ottoman rule in the city.
By 1920, tensions escalated between Jewish and Arab communities, resulting in violent clashes and riots across Palestine.
In 1920, in the aftermath of World War I, Palestine came under British control with the implementation of the British Mandate for Palestine.
In 1922, the League of Nations approved the British Mandate for Palestine, entrusting Britain with the administration of the region.
In 1929, violent riots erupted in Palestine due to disputes over Jewish immigration and access to the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
The British government issued the 1939 White Paper to address tensions, imposing restrictions on Jewish immigration and land purchases. The Zionist community organized a strike in 1939 against the restrictions on Jewish immigration and land acquisition.
In 1946, a bombing orchestrated by the Irgun at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem resulted in the deaths of 91 people.
In 1947, intercommunal conflict between Jews and Palestinian Arabs escalated into a civil war after a proposed partitioning by the United Nations was rejected by the Palestinians.
In 1947, the UN adopted a partition plan for a two-state solution, accepted by Jewish leadership but rejected by Arab leaders. Britain refused to implement the plan.
In 1947, the United Nations proposed a partition plan for Palestine, suggesting separate Jewish and Arab states, but it was rejected by Arab nations while accepted by Jewish leaders.
In 1948, an amended law was made for the purpose of east Jerusalem annexation by Israel.
In 1948, approximately 700,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes during the war. This event is a major cause of the widespread displacement of Palestinians, known as Nakba, with many seeking refuge in neighboring Arab countries.
The 1948 Palestine war led to the forcible displacement of the majority of the Arab population and the establishment of Israel. Palestinians refer to these events as the Nakba ('catastrophe' in Arabic).
In 1950, Transjordan's annexation of the West Bank was ratified, but rejected by the international community.
In 1959, Egypt disbanded the All-Palestine Government, which it had initially supported.
In 1967, East Jerusalem was effectively annexed by Israel through the application of Israeli law, jurisdiction, and administration.
Since 1967, the term "occupied Palestinian territory" refers as a whole to the geographical area of the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Makram Khoury, Mohammad Bakri, Hiam Abbass, and Amal Murkus emerged as popular faces in Palestinian cinema.
In October 1974, the Arab League summit designated the PLO as the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people".
In November 1974, the UN General Assembly recognized the PLO as competent on all matters concerning Palestine and granted them observer status as a "non-state entity" at the UN.
Through the Camp David Accords of 1979, Egypt signaled an end to any claim of its own over the Gaza Strip.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Makram Khoury, Mohammad Bakri, Hiam Abbass, and Amal Murkus emerged as popular faces in Palestinian cinema.
In 1980, Basic Law: Jerusalem constitutionally reaffirmed (by implication) the annexation of East Jerusalem, although this annexation is not recognised by any other country.
In 1980, Israel decided to freeze elections for local municipal councils and to establish Village Leagues, whose officials were under Israeli influence.
In 1987, the First Intifada broke out, characterized by widespread protests, strikes, and acts of civil disobedience by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank against Israeli occupation.
In 1987, the Palestinian movie "Wedding in Galilee" was released.
Since 1987, 400,000 to 500,000 Turks have been living in Palestine.
The Village Leagues began to break up and the last one, the Hebron League, was dissolved in February 1988.
In November 1988, the PLO legislature, while in exile, declared the establishment of the "State of Palestine".
In November 1988, the State of Palestine's declaration of independence was acknowledged by the General Assembly with Resolution 43/177.
In 1988, as part of the request to admit it to UNESCO, an explanatory note was prepared that listed 92 states that had recognized the State of Palestine, including both Arab and non-Arab states such as India.
In 1988, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) declared independence.
Violent clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli forces intensified throughout 1989, resulting in a significant loss of life and escalating tensions in the occupied territories.
1990 witnessed the imposition of strict measures by the Israeli government, including curfews and closures, in an attempt to suppress the Intifada and maintain control over the occupied territories.
In 1990, the Gulf War brought increased international attention to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, leading to heightened diplomatic efforts aimed at finding a peaceful resolution.
In 1991, following the Gulf War, Palestinians were expelled from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia due to their governments' support for Iraq during the conflict.
In 1991, the Gulf War had severe repercussions on Palestinian agriculture, causing a 14% decline in exports to the Gulf States, which significantly impacted the Palestinian economy.
In 1993, the Oslo Accords were signed between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), leading to the establishment of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and a potential path to peace.
The Palestinian Security Services consists of the armed forces and intelligence agencies, which were established during the Oslo Accords of 1993-1995. Before these agreements, the PLO led armed rebellion against Israel, but has been inactive since.
In 1994, Baruch Goldstein, an Israeli extremist, killed 29 people in Hebron, in an event known as the Cave of the Patriarchs massacre, which led to increased Palestinian opposition to the peace process.
In 1994, Yasser Arafat was elected as president of the newly formed Palestinian Authority, marking a significant step towards Palestinian self-governance.
In 1994, the PLO established the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) territorial administration, which exercises some governmental functions in parts of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, after Israel acknowledged the PLO negotiating team as representing the Palestinian people.
Prior to 1994, the occupied Palestinian territories had limited banking options, with Palestinians avoiding Israeli banks, resulting in an under-banked region and a cash-based economy.
In 1995, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by Yigal Amir, an extremist, causing political instability in the region.
The Palestinian Security Services consists of the armed forces and intelligence agencies, which were established during the Oslo Accords of 1993-1995. Before these agreements, the PLO led armed rebellion against Israel, but has been inactive since.
Under the 1995 Oslo II Accord, it was agreed that governance of Area C would be transferred to the Palestinian Authority within 18 months, except for matters to be determined in the final status agreement.
In 1996, the first-ever Palestinian general elections took place, resulting in Arafat's re-election as president and the formation of a Palestinian Legislative Council.
In 1996, the movie "Chronicle of a Disappearance" was released.
Since 1996, Palestine has been participating in the Olympic Games, with athletes competing in various sports.
In 1997, Israel began redeploying its forces from select Palestinian cities in the West Bank, and the Israeli and Palestinian governments signed the Hebron Protocol, outlining the redeployment of Israeli forces from parts of Hebron.
In 1997, the illiteracy rate among women in Palestine was 20.3%.
In 1998, Israel and the Palestinian government signed the Wye River Memorandum, aiming to advance the implementation of the Oslo Accords, including provisions for Israeli withdrawals and security cooperation.
In 1999, Ehud Barak assumed the position of Israeli Prime Minister, renewing efforts to reach a final status agreement with the Palestinians.
In 1999, the British Gas Group discovered the Gaza Marine natural gas field, located off the coast of the Gaza Strip, with reserves estimated to exceed the energy needs of the Palestinian territories. Yasser Arafat lauded it as a "Gift from God".
In September 2000, Ariel Sharon's visit to the Temple Mount and his speech angered Palestinian Jerusalemites, escalating tensions and leading to riots and bloody clashes.
Since the onset of the Second Intifada in September 2000, the economic impact of Israel's closure policy has been profound, directly contributing to a significant decline in economic activity, widespread unemployment, and a rise in poverty.
In October 2000, escalating violence resulted in the closure of Jerusalem Airport, and more riots between Jews and Arabs took place in Israel.
From 2000 until his overthrow in 2003, Saddam Hussein provided financial support to Palestinian militants from Iraq during the intifada period.
In 2000, Muammar Gaddafi of Libya, a supporter of Palestinian independence, presented a one-state peace offer titled Isratin in an attempt to mediate the Arab–Israeli conflict.
In 2000, a government building was built in Jerusalem suburb of Abu Dis, to house office of Yasser Arafat and Palestinian parliament.
In 2000, the Camp David Summit, aimed at resolving the remaining issues between Israelis and Palestinians, concluded without a comprehensive agreement.
In 2000, there were 21 banks operating in Palestine.
Since 2000, Leem Lubany and Clara Khoury have gained acclaim in Palestinian cinema.
In 2001, attacks from Palestinian militant groups towards Israel increased. Gaza Airport was destroyed in an airstrike by the Israeli army.
Since 2001, incidents of rocket attacks from Gaza into Israeli territory and Israeli military operations in response often resulted in casualties and further strained the situation.
In 2002, Another peace summit was organized by the Arab League with the same offer which was presented at the 2002 summit.
In 2002, the Palestinian movie "Divine Intervention" was released.
Between 2003 and 2004, Ariel Sharon ordered construction of barriers across Palestinian-controlled areas and Israeli settlements in the West Bank. A peace proposal was made in 2003, which was supported by Arafat and rejected by Sharon.
In 2005, Israel withdrew from Gaza in a unilateral disengagement, but the territory is still considered to be under military occupation and has been blockaded by Israel.
In 2005, the film "Paradise Now" gained popularity.
In the first week of 2005, Mahmoud Abbas was elected as the president of the State of Palestine. In 2005, Israel completely withdrew from the Gaza Strip by destroying its settlements over there.
Since 2005, Mahmoud Abbas has been the president of the country.
In 2007, deposits in Palestinian banks amounted to US$1.2 billion.
In 2007, the combined loan facilities provided by all banks in Palestine amounted to US$1.42 billion.
Since 2008, the high tech industry in Palestine has experienced good growth.
In 2009, "The Time That Remains", a Palestinian film, was released.
In 2009, 2.6 million people visited the Palestinian territories.
In 2009, Jerusalem was named as the Arab Capital of Culture, highlighting the city's cultural significance.
In 2009, the Health Cluster for the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) was established under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO).
At the end of 2010, there were 2.6 million cellular mobile subscribers in Palestine.
In 2010, 4.6 million people visited the Palestinian territories, including 2.2 million foreign tourists and 2.7 million domestic tourists.
In 2010, Israel's ongoing blockade of the Gaza Strip resulted in a cost of US$1.908 billion, representing 23.5% of Palestine's GDP.
In 2010, roughly 60% of the 456,000 people in East Jerusalem were Palestinians and 40% were Israelis.
In 2010, the CO2 emission (metric tons per capita) of Palestine was 0.6.
According to a survey of 2011, Palestine's poverty rate was 25.8%.
In 2011, the manufacturing sector's share of Palestine's GDP decreased from 19% to 10% since the signing of the Oslo Accords, according to a World Bank report.
On 29 November 2012, the United Nations General Assembly passed resolution 67/19, upgrading Palestine from an "observer entity" to a "non-member observer state" within the United Nations System, which was described as recognition of the PLO's sovereignty.
On 17 December 2012, UN Chief of Protocol Yeocheol Yoon declared that "the designation of 'State of Palestine' shall be used by the Secretariat in all official United Nations documents", thus recognising the title 'State of Palestine' as the state's official name for all UN purposes.
In 2012, Israel provided the Palestinian territories with 52 MCM of water from its own water supply and desalinated water supplies.
In 2012, UN voted regarding recognition of Palestine.
In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 67/19, granting Palestine "non-member observer state" status, effectively recognizing it as a sovereign state.
In 2012, the electricity available in the West Bank and Gaza was 5,370 GW-hour, with an annual per capita consumption of 950 kWh.
In the last quarter of 2012, over 150,000 guests stayed in West Bank hotels, with 40% from Europe and 9% from the United States and Canada.
Since 2012, Palestine has had a status of a non-member observer state in the United Nations. This limited status is largely due to the fact that the United States has consistently used its veto or threatened to do so to block Palestine's full UN membership.
As of 2013, approximately 40,000 Bedouins reside in the West Bank, particularly around the Hebron Hills and rural Jerusalem, while 5,000 Bedouins live in the Gaza Strip.
In 2013, Palestinian Authority Tourism minister Rula Ma'ay'a stated that her government aims to encourage international visits to Palestine, but the occupation is the main factor preventing the tourism sector from becoming a major income source.
In 2013, Sweden upgraded the status of the Palestinian representative office to a full embassy, becoming the first EU member state outside the former communist bloc to officially recognize the State of Palestine.
In 2013, the Palestinian movie "Omar" became popular.
According to a 2014 report by the United Nations Development Programme, the literacy rate of Palestine was 96.3%, with a notable decrease in illiteracy among women, falling to less than 6% from 20.3% in 1997.
In the aftermath of the 2014 Gaza War, where many structures were damaged or destroyed, the flow of construction and raw materials into Gaza has been severely limited. Additionally, regular exports from the region have been completely halted, exacerbating the economic challenges faced by the population.
In January 2015, the International Criminal Court affirmed Palestine's "State" status after its UN observer recognition, a move condemned by Israeli leaders as a form of "diplomatic terrorism".
In May 2015, the Vatican shifted recognition to the State of Palestine, aligning with the Holy See's evolving position.
In August 2015, Palestine's representatives at the United Nations presented a draft resolution that would allow the non-member observer states Palestine and the Holy See to raise their flags at the United Nations headquarters. The US Ambassador and State Department spokesman criticized the initiative.
In December 2015, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution demanding Palestinian sovereignty over natural resources in the occupied territories, calling on Israel to cease exploitation and damage while granting Palestinians the right to seek restitution.
In 2015, a study estimated that the economic impact of Israel's use of Palestinian natural resources was US$1.83 billion, equivalent to 22% of Palestine's GDP for that year.
As of 2017, the average population density of the world was 25 people per square kilometer.
As of 2017, there were 743 primary health care centers in Palestine (583 in the West Bank and 160 in Gaza), and 81 hospitals (51 in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and 30 in Gaza).
In 2017, Israel granted partial autonomy regarding water resources to the Palestinian territories, acknowledging historical and geographical complexities.
The WHO Country Cooperation Strategy for WHO and the Occupied Palestinian Territory covered 2017-2020.
As of December 2018, the combined loan facilities provided by all banks in Palestine amounted to US$8.4 billion.
By 2018, deposits in Palestinian banks had increased to US$6.9 billion, representing a 475% increase since 2007.
In 2018, Birzeit University was ranked among the top 2.7% of universities worldwide in the 2019 edition of the World University Rankings.
The report of the WHO Director-General of 1 May 2019 describes health sector conditions in the oPt, identifying strategic priorities and current obstacles.
By the end of 2019, the number of ADSL subscribers in Palestine increased to about 363 thousand from 119 thousand over the same period.
In 2019, the first solar power plant and solar park was inaugurated in Jenin under the Noor Palestine campaign, an initiative by the Palestine Investment Fund to provide power in Palestine.
In the 2019 edition of the World University Rankings, Birzeit University was recognized as being among the top 2.7% of universities worldwide, based on its 2018 performance.
In June 2020, the World Bank approved a US$15 million grant for the Technology for Youth and Jobs (TechStart) Project to help the Palestinian IT sector upgrade capabilities and create high-quality jobs.
In 2020, Bethlehem participated in the Arab Capital of Culture event, showcasing its cultural heritage.
Since 2020, joint exercises conducted with other militant groups in Gaza like the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) have habituated units to operating in a coordinated fashion, supported Hamas command and control, and facilitated cooperation between Hamas and smaller factions.
The WHO Country Cooperation Strategy for WHO and the Occupied Palestinian Territory covered 2017-2020.
According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), as of May 26, 2021, the State of Palestine's mid-year population was 5,227,193.
In 2021, the Palestinian and Israeli governments proposed to redevelop Qalandia Airport as a binational airport for both Israelis and Palestinians.
In 2021, then prime minister of Israel Naftali Bennett launched a development project for Gaza, which would include a seaport.
In 2022, Mohammed Hamada became the first weightlifter from Palestine to win gold at the International Weightlifting Federation Junior World Championships in Greece.
In 2022, an estimated 5,000–6,000 Armenians lived across Israel and Palestine, with around 1,000 in Jerusalem. Also in 2022, many families of Turkish origin in Gaza have been migrating to Turkey due to the deteriorating economic conditions.
As of 2023, the Ministry of Economy expected the manufacturing sector in Palestine to grow by 2.5% and create 79,000 jobs over the following six years.
In 2023, GDP of Palestine was $40 billion and per-capita around $4,500. According to a new World Bank report, Palestinian economic growth is expected to soften in 2023.
In 2023, Gaza City, the largest city in Palestine, experienced evacuations.
In April 2024, Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the UN, requested that the Security Council consider a renewed application for membership. On 18 April, the US vetoed a widely supported UN resolution that would have admitted Palestine as a full UN member.
In May 2024, a UNGA resolution came into force with the 2024 general assembly, recognizing the Palestinian right to become a full member state. It also granted Palestinians the right to submit proposals and amendments, and Palestine was permitted to take a seat with other member states in the assembly.
Yahya Sinwar was leader of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip before his death on 16 October 2024.
In the first quarter of 2024, the State of Palestine's overall gross-domestic-product (GDP) declined by 35% due to the ongoing war in Gaza, with the Gaza Strip experiencing an 86% decrease and the West Bank a 25% decrease.
As of 21 March 2025, 147 (76.2%) of the 193 member states of the United Nations have recognised the State of Palestine.
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