Research Guides: Understanding the Current Conflict in the Middle East: History of the Conflict

The Origins of the Conflict

From Vox (Jan. 2016,10 min. video)

Israel Gaza war: History of the conflict explained
BBC News, 4/5/24
The Gaza Strip and Its History, Explained
Washington Post, 10/30/23
Middle East Conflict in Context
Britannica ProCon, 9/4/24

The Current Conflict

Israel, Hamas reach a ceasefire, with hostages and prisoners to be freed within days
NPR, 10/9/25
Everything You Need to Know about Israel-Palestine, Vox
Resources on the Israel-Hamas War, Council on Foreign Relations
Israeli-Palestinian, Global Conflict Tracker, CFR (Council on Foreign Relations)
What is Hamas and why is it fighting with Israel in Gaza?
BBC News, 10/21/24
Gaza’s uncounted dead
Washington Post, 10/9/24
Faced with mounting public anger, a weakened Hamas starts to compromise
Washington Post, 12/16/24
Israel backs Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal, which could start Sunday
Washington Post, 1/17/24

Books

The Hundred Years' War on Palestine book cover

The Israel-Palestine Conflict one hundred years of war cover

The Arab and Jewish Questions book cover

Across the Wall: narratives of Israeli-Palestinian history cover

Israel, Palestine, and the Quest for Middle East Peace cover

Gaza: An Inquest into Its Martyrdom cover

History of the Conflict (media resources)

Netanyahu, America & the Road to War in Gaza, Frontline (May 2024)
As the war in Gaza continues with devastating consequences, this documentary offers an examination of the critical moments leading up to this crisis over the course of the past three decades, and the pivotal role of a central player: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Understanding the Israel-Gaza Conflict: Causes, Conduct, and Consequences” (Nov. 2023 Podcast)
Features two UCLA history professors at the UCLA Luskin Center for History and Policy. This informational session explores the historical background to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, addressing questions such as: What is Hamas? What led to Hamas' attack on Israel? Why was Israel so ill-prepared? What does the future hold for Israel and Palestine, and for the wider region?
War in the Holy Land - A PBS News Special Report (Oct.13, 2023, 60 min.)
Covers a historic and devastating week of violence in Israel and Gaza with reports, interviews and analysis on the history of the conflict and the path forward for the Middle East and rest of the world. The program also takes a look at the Palestinian militant group Hamas, the intelligence failures of Israel and its allies, and the wider conflict in the region.

The first of 5 Episodes (Al-Jazeera, 2013). The narrative moves through the 19th century and into the 20th century with the British Mandate in Palestine and comes right up to date in the 21st century and the ongoing 'nakba' on the ground. Arab, Israeli and Western intellectuals, historians and eye-witnesses provide the central narrative which is accompanied by archive material and documents, many only recently released for the first time.

Budrus (2009 documentary, 1 hr, 22 min.)
Ayed Morrar, an unlikely community organizer, unites Palestinians from all political factions and Israelis to save his village from destruction by Israel's Separation Barrier. Victory seems improbable until his 15 year - old daughter, Iltezam, launches a women's contingent that quickly moves to the front lines.