History of Palestine in Timeline
Palestine, officially the State of Palestine, is a country in West Asia recognized by 147 UN member states. It comprises the Israeli-occupied West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and the Gaza Strip. Palestine shares borders primarily with Israel, and borders Jordan and Egypt. It has a land area of 6,020 square kilometers and a population exceeding five million. Jerusalem is its proclaimed capital, while Ramallah serves as its administrative center. Gaza City was its largest city before the 2023 evacuations.
1917: British Capture of Jerusalem
In 1917, British forces led by General Allenby captured Jerusalem, marking the end of Ottoman rule in the city.
1920: Escalation of tensions between Jewish and Arab communities
By 1920, tensions escalated between Jewish and Arab communities, resulting in violent clashes and riots across Palestine.
1920: British Mandate for Palestine
In 1920, in the aftermath of World War I, Palestine came under British control with the implementation of the British Mandate for Palestine.
1922: Approval 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.
1929: Violent Riots Erupt
In 1929, violent riots erupted in Palestine due to disputes over Jewish immigration and access to the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
1939: Issuance of the 1939 White Paper
In 1939, the British government issued the White Paper, imposing restrictions on Jewish immigration and land purchases in Palestine.
1946: Bombing of the King David Hotel
In 1946, a bombing orchestrated by the Irgun at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem resulted in the deaths of 91 people.
1947: UN Partition Plan
In 1947, the UN adopted a partition plan for a two-state solution which was accepted by the Jewish leadership but rejected by the Arab leaders, Britain refused to implement the plan.
1947: Escalation into civil war
In 1947, the 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.
1948: Expulsion of Palestinians in 1948 War
During the 1948 war, approximately 700,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes, leading to a significant diaspora and refugee crisis.
1948: Application of Israeli law
East Jerusalem was effectively annexed by Israel in 1967, by application of Israeli law, jurisdiction and administration under a 1948 law amended for the purpose
1948: 1948 Palestine war and the Nakba
In 1948, the Palestine war resulted in the forcible displacement of a majority of the Arab population and the establishment of Israel; these events are referred to by Palestinians as the Nakba.
1950: Annexation of the West Bank by Transjordan
In 1950, Transjordan's annexation of the West Bank was ratified, but rejected by the international community.
1959: Disbandment of the All-Palestine Government by Egypt
In 1959, Egypt disbanded the All-Palestine Government, which it had initially supported.
1967: Occupation of West Bank and Gaza Strip and its effect on Palestinian agriculture
After Israel occupied the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 1967, Palestinian agriculture suffered significant setbacks, including a decline in the sector's contribution to the GDP and the agricultural labor force, as well as continuous decline in cultivated areas in the West Bank.
1967: Annexation of East Jerusalem
East Jerusalem was effectively annexed by Israel in 1967, by application of Israeli law, jurisdiction and administration under a 1948 law amended for the purpose
1967: Occupation of Palestinian Territory
Since 1967, the term "occupied Palestinian territory" refers to the geographical area of the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel.
October 1974: Arab League Recognition of the PLO
In October 1974, the Arab League summit designated the PLO as the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people".
November 1974: UN Recognition of the PLO
In November 1974, the PLO was recognized as competent on all matters concerning the question of Palestine by the UN General Assembly granting them observer status as a "non-state entity" at the UN.
1979: Egypt signals end to claim over Gaza Strip
Through the Camp David Accords of 1979, Egypt signaled an end to any claim of its own over the Gaza Strip.
1980: Establishment of Village Leagues
In 1980, Israel decided to freeze elections for local municipal councils and to establish Village Leagues instead, whose officials were under Israeli influence.
1980: Reaffirmation of annexation
The annexation of East Jerusalem was constitutionally reaffirmed in Basic Law: Jerusalem 1980, but this annexation is not recognised by any other country.
1987: Outbreak of the First Intifada
In 1987, the First Intifada broke out, marked by protests, strikes, and civil disobedience by Palestinians against Israeli occupation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
1987: Release of "Wedding in Galilee"
In 1987, the popular Palestinian movie "Wedding in Galilee" was released.
February 1988: Dissolution of Hebron League
In February 1988, the Hebron League, the last of the Village Leagues, was dissolved.
November 1988: Declaration of the State of Palestine
In November 1988, the PLO legislature, while in exile, declared the establishment of the "State of Palestine", which was quickly recognized by many states.
November 1988: Declaration of Independence Acknowledged
In November 1988, the State of Palestine's declaration of independence was acknowledged by the General Assembly with Resolution 43/177.
1988: Recognition request to UNESCO
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.
1988: PLO Declaration of Independence
In 1988, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) declared independence.
1989: Intensification of Clashes
Throughout 1989, violent clashes intensified between Palestinian protesters and Israeli forces, leading to significant loss of life and escalating tensions in the occupied territories.
1990: Gulf War attention and Saddam's support
In 1990, The Gulf War brought increased attention to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as Saddam Hussein, a supporter of the Palestinian cause, gained support from Yasser Arafat.
1990: Imposition of strict measures
In 1990, the Israeli government imposed strict measures, including curfews and closures, in an attempt to suppress the Intifada and maintain control over the occupied territories.
1991: Saddam's peace offer and expulsion of Palestinians
In 1991, Saddam Hussein proposed a peace offer to Israel in exchange for withdrawal from occupied territories, which was rejected. Subsequently, he ordered scud missile attacks into Israel, supported by Palestinians. The war also led to the expulsion of Palestinians from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
1991: Impact of the Gulf War on Palestinian agriculture
In 1991, the Gulf War had severe repercussions on Palestinian agriculture, causing a 14% decline in Palestinian exports to the Gulf States and causing a significant economic impact.
1993: Oslo Accords signed
In 1993, the Oslo Accords were signed between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), marking a potential path to peace and the establishment of the Palestinian Authority (PA).
1994: Hebron massacre
In 1994, Baruch Goldstein, an Israeli extremist, shot 29 people to death in Hebron, known as the Cave of the Patriarchs massacre, leading to increased Palestinian opposition to the peace process.
1994: PLO recognizes Israel, PA established
In 1994, Israel acknowledged the PLO negotiating team as representing the Palestinian people in return for the PLO recognizing Israel's right to exist in peace and rejecting violence. Consequently, the PLO established the Palestinian National Authority (PNA or PA) territorial administration, exercising some governmental functions in parts of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
1994: Arafat elected as president of PA
In 1994, Yasser Arafat was elected as president of the newly formed Palestinian Authority, representing a significant step towards self-governance.
1994: Limited banking options
Prior to 1994, the occupied Palestinian territories had limited banking options, with Palestinians avoiding Israeli banks, resulting in an under-banked region.
1995: Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin
Tragically, in 1995, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by Yigal Amir, an extremist, causing political instability in the region.
1995: Oslo II Accord agreement on Area C governance
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. However, Israel has failed to fulfill its obligations under the Oslo agreement.
1996: Palestinian general elections
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.
1996: Release of "Chronicle of a Disappearance"
In 1996, the popular Palestinian movie "Chronicle of a Disappearance" was released.
1996: Palestine's Participation in the Olympic Games
Palestine began participating in the Olympic Games in 1996, with athletes competing in various sports.
1997: Israeli redeployment and Hebron Protocol signed
In 1997, Israel began redeploying its forces from select Palestinian cities in the West Bank, implementing the Oslo Accords. Also in 1997, the Israeli and Palestinian governments signed the Hebron Protocol, outlining the redeployment of Israeli forces from parts of Hebron.
1997: Illiteracy Among Women in Palestine
In 1997, illiteracy among women in Palestine was at 20.3%.
1998: Wye River Memorandum signed
In 1998, Israel and the Palestinian government signed the Wye River Memorandum, aiming to advance the implementation of the Oslo Accords. The agreement included provisions for Israeli withdrawals and security cooperation.
1999: Ehud Barak assumes office
In 1999, Ehud Barak assumed the position of Israeli Prime Minister, renewing efforts to reach a final status agreement with the Palestinians.
1999: Discovery of Gaza Marine gas field
In 1999, the British Gas Group discovered the Gaza Marine natural gas field, located off the coast of the Gaza Strip, which Yasser Arafat lauded as a "Gift from God".
September 2000: Onset of the Second Intifada
According to a report by the World Bank, 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 since the onset of the Second Intifada in September 2000.
September 2000: Sharon's visit to Temple Mount
In September 2000, Ariel Sharon, then opposition leader from the Likud Party, visited the Temple Mount and delivered a controversial speech, which angered Palestinian Jerusalemites, escalating tensions into riots.
October 2000: Escalating violence and riots
In October 2000, escalating violence resulted in the closure of Jerusalem Airport, and more riots between Jews and Arabs took place in Israel.
2000: Rise of Leem Lubany and Clara Khoury
Around the year 2000, Leem Lubany and Clara Khoury gained acclaim in Palestinian cinema.
2000: Saddam's financial support to Palestinian militants
From 2000 until his overthrow in 2003, Saddam Hussein provided financial support to Palestinian militants from Iraq during the intifada period.
2000: Gaddafi presents Isratin peace offer
In 2000, Muammar Gaddafi of Libya, a supporter of Palestinian independence, presented a one-state peace offer titled Isratin to mediate in the Arab–Israeli conflict.
2000: Camp David Summit
In 2000, The Camp David Summit was held which aimed to resolve the remaining issues between Palestine and Israel, but concluded without a comprehensive agreement, serving as a milestone in the peace process.
2000: Government building in Abu Dis
In 2000, a government building was built in Jerusalem suburb of Abu Dis, to house office of Yasser Arafat and Palestinian parliament.
2000: Decrease in operating banks
In 2000, there were 21 banks operating in Palestine, which has decreased over time due to mergers and acquisitions.
2001: Taba summit fails, Sharon becomes PM, violence escalates
In 2001, the Taba summit failed to implement, Ariel Sharon became prime minister, attacks from Palestinian militant groups towards Israel increased, and the Gaza Airport was destroyed in an airstrike by the Israeli army.
2001: Rocket attacks and Israeli operations
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.
2002: Release of "Divine Intervention"
In 2002, the popular Palestinian movie "Divine Intervention" was released.
2003: Violence in Hebron and peace proposal rejection
Between 2003 and 2004, members of the Qawasameh tribe in Hebron were killed or involved in suicide bombings. Additionally, in 2003, a peace proposal was supported by Arafat but rejected by Sharon.
2005: Abbas elected president, Israel withdraws from Gaza
In 2005, Mahmoud Abbas was elected as the president of the State of Palestine, and Israel completely withdrew from the Gaza Strip by destroying its settlements there.
2005: Release of "Paradise Now"
In 2005, the popular Palestinian movie "Paradise Now" was released.
2005: Mahmoud Abbas as president
Since 2005, Mahmoud Abbas has been the president of the State of Palestine.
2007: Hamas gains control of Gaza, partial blockade
In 2007, Hamas gained control over all the territory of Gaza after bloody clashes. Since then, Israel has been leading a partial blockade on Gaza. Also in 2007, another peace summit was organized by the Arab League with the same offer presented at the 2002 summit, but the peace process could not progress.
2007: Increase in deposits in Palestinian banks
In 2007, deposits in Palestinian banks totaled US$1.2 billion.
2007: Combined loan facilities provided by banks
In 2007, the combined loan facilities provided by all banks amounted to US$1.42 billion.
2008: Growth in the High Tech Industry
Since 2008, the high tech industry in Palestine has experienced good growth.
2009: Tourism to Palestinian territories
In 2009, 2.6 million people visited the Palestinian territories.
2009: Jerusalem Named Arab Capital of Culture in 2009
In 2009, Jerusalem was named as Arab Capital of Culture.
2009: Establishment of Health Cluster for oPt
In 2009, the Health Cluster for the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) was established under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO).
2009: Release of "The Time That Remains"
In 2009, the popular Palestinian movie "The Time That Remains" was released.
2010: Increase in cellular mobile subscribers
By the end of 2010, there were 2.6 million cellular mobile subscribers in Palestine.
2010: Demographics of East Jerusalem
In 2010 of the 456,000 people in East Jerusalem, roughly 60% were Palestinians and 40% were Israelis.
2010: CO2 emission in Palestine
In 2010 the CO2 emission (metric tons per capita) in Palestine was 0.6.
2010: Increase in tourism to Palestinian territories
In 2010, 4.6 million people visited the Palestinian territories, compared to 2.6 million in 2009.
2010: Cost of Gaza Strip blockade
In 2010, Israel's ongoing blockade of the Gaza Strip resulted in a cost of $1.908 billion US$, representing 23.5% of Palestine's GDP.
2011: Poverty rate in Palestine
According to a survey of 2011, Palestine's poverty rate was 25.8%.
2011: Decline in manufacturing sector's share of GDP
Between the signing of the Oslo Accords and 2011, the manufacturing sector's share of Palestine's GDP decreased from 19% to 10%, according to a World Bank report.
November 2012: UNGA upgrades Palestine status
In 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.
December 2012: UN recognizes State of Palestine
On 17 December 2012, UN Chief of Protocol 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.
2012: Water Supply from Israel
In 2012, Israel provided the Palestinian territories with 52 MCM of water from its own water supply and desalinated water supplies.
2012: Electricity consumption in Palestine
In 2012, electricity available in West Bank and Gaza was 5,370 GW-hour and the annual per capita consumption of electricity was 950 kWh.
2012: UN grants Palestine non-member observer state status
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.
2012: Hotel guests in the West Bank
In the last quarter of 2012, over 150,000 guests stayed in West Bank hotels, with 40% being European and 9% from the United States and Canada.
2012: Palestine becomes a non-member observer state
Since 2012, Palestine has had the 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.
2013: Bedouin Population in West Bank and Gaza Strip
As of 2013, approximately 40,000 Bedouins resided in the West Bank, particularly around the Hebron Hills and rural Jerusalem, and 5,000 Bedouins lived in the Gaza Strip.
2013: Government efforts to encourage tourism
In 2013, Palestinian Authority Tourism minister Rula Ma'ay'a stated that her government aimed to encourage international visits to Palestine, but the occupation prevents the tourism sector from becoming a major income source.
2013: Sweden recognizes State of Palestine
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.
2013: Release of "Omar"
In 2013, the popular Palestinian movie "Omar" was released.
2014: Literacy Rate in Palestine
According to a 2014 report by the United Nations Development Programme, the literacy rate of Palestine was 96.3%. Illiteracy among women has fallen from 20.3% in 1997 to less than 6% in 2014.
2014: Aftermath of the 2014 Gaza War
In the aftermath of the 2014 Gaza War, 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.
January 2015: ICC affirms Palestine's "State" status
In January 2015, the International Criminal Court affirmed Palestine's "State" status after its UN observer recognition.
May 2015: Vatican recognition of Palestine
In May 2015, the Vatican shifted recognition to the State of Palestine, following the 2012 UN vote.
August 2015: Palestine presents draft resolution to raise flag at UN
In August 2015, Palestine's representatives at the United Nations presented a draft resolution that would allow Palestine and the Holy See to raise their flags at the United Nations headquarters, which was passed by 119 votes to 8.
December 2015: UN demands Palestinian sovereignty over natural resources
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.
2015: Economic impact of illegal use of Palestinian natural resources
In 2015, the economic impact of Israel's illegal use of Palestinian natural resources was estimated at US$1.83 billion, which was equivalent to 22% of Palestine's GDP that year.
2017: Healthcare Centers and Hospitals in Palestine
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MOH), 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).
2017: World Average Population Density
As of 2017, the average population density of the world was 25 people per square kilometre.
2017: Partial Autonomy Granted by Israel
In 2017, Israel granted partial autonomy to Palestine regarding water resources, due in part to historical and geographical complexities.
2017: WHO cooperation strategy
The report of WHO Director-General of May 1, 2019 describes health sector conditions in the oPt identifying strategic priorities and current obstacles to their achievement pursuant to the country cooperation strategy for WHO and the Occupied Palestinian Territory 2017–2020.
December 2018: Combined loan facilities provided by banks
On December 31, 2018, the combined loan facilities provided by all banks amounted to US$8.4 billion.
2018: Increase in deposits in Palestinian banks
By 2018, deposits in Palestinian banks increased to US$6.9 billion, representing a 475% increase since 2007.
2018: Birzeit University Ranking
In 2018, Birzeit University was ranked as one of the top 2.7% of universities worldwide in the 2019 edition of the World University Rankings.
May 2019: WHO Report on Health Sector Conditions in oPt
The report of WHO Director-General of May 1, 2019 describes health sector conditions in the oPt identifying strategic priorities and current obstacles to their achievement pursuant to the country cooperation strategy for WHO and the Occupied Palestinian Territory 2017–2020.
2019: Birzeit University's World University Ranking
Birzeit University was ranked as one of the top 2.7% of universities worldwide in the 2019 edition of the World University Rankings.
2019: Increase in ADSL subscribers
By the end of 2019, the number of ADSL subscribers in Palestine increased to about 363 thousand.
2019: Inauguration of first solar power plant in Jenin
In 2019, the first solar power plant and solar park was inaugurated in Jenin under the Noor Palestine campaign.
June 2020: World Bank grant for TechStart Project
On June 12, 2020, the World Bank approved a US$15 million grant for the Technology for Youth and Jobs (TechStart) Project.
2020: Bethlehem Participates in Arab Capital of Culture in 2020
In 2020, Bethlehem participated in the Arab Capital of Culture.
2020: Joint exercises between militant groups in Gaza
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.
2020: WHO cooperation strategy
The report of WHO Director-General of May 1, 2019 describes health sector conditions in the oPt identifying strategic priorities and current obstacles to their achievement pursuant to the country cooperation strategy for WHO and the Occupied Palestinian Territory 2017–2020.
May 2021: Mid-year population of Palestine
According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, as of May 26, 2021, the mid-year population of the State of Palestine was 5,227,193.
2021: Proposal to redevelop Qalandia Airport
In 2021, the Palestinian and Israeli governments proposed redeveloping Qalandia Airport as a binational airport for both Israelis and Palestinians.
2021: Development project for Gaza including a seaport
In 2021, then prime minister of Israel Naftali Bennett launched a development project for Gaza, which would include a seaport.
2022: Mohammed Hamada wins gold at 2022 International Weightlifting Federation Junior World Championships in Greece
In 2022, Mohammed Hamada became the first weightlifter from Palestine to win gold at the International Weightlifting Federation Junior World Championships in Greece.
2022: Armenian and Turkish populations in Palestine
In 2022, estimates showed that approximately 5,000–6,000 Armenians lived across Israel and Palestine, with around 1,000 in Jerusalem (Armenian Quarter) and the rest in Bethlehem. Also in 2022, many families of Turkish origin in Gaza have been migrating to Turkey due to the deteriorating economic conditions in the besieged enclave.
2023: Projected growth in the manufacturing sector
As of 2023, the Palestinian Ministry of Economy expected the manufacturing sector to grow by 2.5% and create 79,000 jobs over the following six years.
2023: Palestinian GDP
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.
2023: Evacuations in Gaza City
In 2023, Gaza City was the largest city in Palestine prior to evacuations.
April 2024: Palestine renews UN membership application, US vetoes resolution
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.
May 2024: UNGA grants Palestine additional rights
In May 2024 a UNGA resolution came into force with the 2024 general assembly. The resolution, which recognized the Palestinian right to become a full member state, also granted the right to Palestinians to submit proposals and amendments and Palestine was permitted to take a seat with other member states in the assembly.
October 2024: Death of Yahya Sinwar
Yahya Sinwar was the leader of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip before his death on 16 October 2024.
2024: Decline in GDP due to the war in Gaza
In the first quarter of 2024, Palestine's overall gross-domestic-product (GDP) declined by 35% due to the ongoing war in Gaza. The West Bank witnessed a decline of 25%, while Gaza experienced a more drastic decline of 86%.
March 2025: 147 UN Members Recognize Palestine
As of March 2025, 147 of the 193 member states of the United Nations have recognised the State of Palestine.
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