The Complete Israel–Palestine War Timeline (1948–2025): Key Events, Maps & Global Reactions

The Israel-Palestine conflict, one of the most enduring and intricate geopolitical struggles of the modern era, has spanned over seven decades of warfare, displacement, and diplomatic failures. From the traumatic events of 1948, which led to the creation of the state of Israel and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, to the devastating Gaza war that commenced in October 2023, this conflict has profoundly shaped Middle Eastern politics and garnered global attention like few others.

The conflict’s origins can be traced back to competing national claims over the same territory. This conflict was further intensified by the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the occupation of Palestinian territories following the 1967 Six-Day War, and decades of failed peace processes punctuated by violent uprisings during the First and Second Intifadas. The blockade of Gaza since 2007 has been described by many as an open-air prison, while Israeli settlements in the West Bank have expanded despite international law concerns.

The current phase, characterized by the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack and Israel’s unprecedented military response, has fundamentally transformed the regional landscape. By April 2025, the war had resulted in over 52,000 reported deaths and widespread destruction across Gaza. This conflict has sparked global protests, International Criminal Court investigations, and intensified debates about genocide, war crimes, and the future of Palestinian statehood.

This comprehensive timeline delves into the pivotal events, turning points, and global responses that have shaped this conflict. It explores how decades of violence have not only impacted the lives of Israelis and Palestinians but have also influenced international law, humanitarian policy, and global geopolitics.

Table of Contents

1. Background (1948–2000s)
2. Gaza Conflicts (2008–2021)
3. The 2023–2025 Gaza War
4. Key Turning Points (2023–2025)
5. Global Reactions & Alliances
6. Humanitarian Consequences
7. Maps & Territorial Changes
8. Future Implications
9. Conclusion
10. Frequently Asked Questions

Background (1948–2000s)

1948: Creation of Israel & First Arab-Israeli War

The modern Israel-Palestine conflict has its roots in the events of 1948. The United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine led to the establishment of Israel and the subsequent first Arab-Israeli War. This war resulted in what Palestinians refer to as the Nakba, a catastrophic event that displaced approximately 750,000 Palestinians from their homes. This displacement has created a refugee crisis that continues to this day.

Following the war, Israel gained control of West Jerusalem, Egypt took control of the Gaza Strip, and Jordan annexed the West Bank and East Jerusalem, encompassing the Old City and its historic Jewish quarter. The UN General Assembly passed Resolution 194, which advocated for the repatriation of Palestinian refugees—a right that continues to be a subject of contention.

1967 Six-Day War & Occupation of West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem

The 1967 Six-Day War was a pivotal turning point in the conflict. Israel’s victory led to the occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, and the Sinai Peninsula. This occupation, now in its sixth decade, remains a central issue in Palestinian grievances and international legal discussions surrounding territorial sovereignty and human rights.

The post-1967 period witnessed the commencement of Israeli settlement construction in occupied territories, a practice widely regarded as illegal under international law. These settlements have expanded from modest outposts to significant population centers, accommodating over 600,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem by 2023.

Oslo Accords (1993)

The Oslo Accords, the most significant attempt at a negotiated solution to the conflict, established the Palestinian Authority and created a framework for Palestinian self-governance in parts of the West Bank and Gaza. However, these agreements failed to address crucial issues such as final borders, the status of Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees, and Israeli settlements.

The assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995 by a Jewish extremist, coupled with the persistent violence from both sides, gradually eroded the Oslo process. The failure of the Camp David Summit in 2000 effectively marked the end of the Oslo peace process.

First & Second Intifadas

The First Intifada (1987-1993) was a Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation, primarily driven by grassroots movements. It involved strikes, boycotts, and stone-throwing protests. The uprising eventually led to the Madrid Peace Conference and the Oslo Accords.

The Second Intifada (2000-2005) was significantly more violent, characterized by suicide bombings targeting Israeli civilians and Israeli military operations in Palestinian cities. During this period, Israel constructed the Israeli separation barrier, also known as the security fence, in the West Bank. While Israel justified its construction for security reasons, Palestinians condemned it as a land grab that separated families and communities.

Israel–Palestine : Gaza Conflicts (2008–2021)

2008–09 Gaza War

The first major Gaza war commenced in December 2008, precipitated by the collapse of a six-month ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Israel initiated “Operation Cast Lead,” with the objective of curbing rocket fire from Gaza and diminishing Hamas’s military prowess. The ensuing 22-day conflict resulted in the tragic loss of over 1,400 Palestinian lives and 13 Israeli lives, thereby establishing a recurring pattern of asymmetric warfare that would define subsequent Gaza conflicts.

2014 Gaza War

The 2014 conflict, aptly named “Operation Protective Edge,” spanned 50 days and emerged as the most devastating Gaza war until 2023. The conflict was ignited by the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers, leading to a series of violent escalations. Consequently, Israel launched extensive airstrikes and conducted a ground invasion of Gaza. The war resulted in the loss of over 2,200 Palestinian lives and 73 Israeli lives, leaving Gaza’s infrastructure in ruins.

U.S. Recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital (2017)

President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and relocate the U.S. embassy there represented a substantial shift in American policy. While Israel celebrated the move, Palestinians and the majority of the international community condemned it, viewing it as prejudging the final status negotiations and jeopardizing the prospects for peace.

Abraham Accords (2020)

The Abraham Accords, a significant diplomatic breakthrough, normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. However, this progress was met with criticism from Palestinians, who felt that the agreements neglected their cause and undermined the Arab Peace Initiative’s principle of normalization contingent on the establishment of a Palestinian state.

The 2023–2025 Gaza War

October 7, 2023 Hamas Attack & Israel’s Response

The current war commenced on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an unprecedented coordinated attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip. The assault involved thousands of rockets and armed militants who breached the Gaza security fence, attacking military bases and civilian communities. The attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and the capture of over 240 hostages.

Israel’s response was swift and devastating. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war and initiated “Operation Iron Swords,” which commenced an intensive bombing campaign against Gaza. Within days, Israel imposed a complete siege on Gaza, severing electricity, water, fuel, and food supplies to the territory’s 2.3 million residents.

Israeli Airstrikes, Siege, and Humanitarian Crisis

The Israeli military campaign has been unprecedented in its scale and intensity. By December 2023, over one-third of homes in Gaza had been destroyed, resulting in accusations of “domicide”—the mass destruction of dwellings. The humanitarian crisis worsened as hospitals, schools, and refugee centers were either targeted or damaged.

On average, from October 2023 to July 2024, people had access to less than 5 liters of water per day, one-third of the WHO’s minimum standard for survival, contributing to what international observers describe as a public health disaster.

UN Warnings and International Court Proceedings

The scale of destruction and civilian casualties led to unprecedented international legal action. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) began proceedings on charges of genocide brought by South Africa against Israel, issuing provisional measures calling for Israel to prevent genocidal acts and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.

On 21 November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued warrants of arrest for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, marking the first time the ICC had issued arrest warrants for leaders of a Western-allied democracy.

Ceasefire Attempts and International Mediation

Multiple ceasefire attempts have punctuated the conflict. From November 24 to November 30, 2023, a temporary truce facilitated the exchange of certain Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, providing brief humanitarian relief before hostilities resumed.

On 18 January 2025, a three-stage agreement between Israel and Hamas came into effect, modeled on a UN Security Council resolution passed in May 2024, though the durability of this ceasefire remains uncertain given past patterns.

Key Turning Points of The Israel–Palestine Conflict (2023–2025)

Battle of Gaza City

The Israeli ground invasion of Gaza City marked a significant escalation in urban warfare. The densely populated area transformed into a battleground as Israeli forces sought to dismantle Hamas’s tunnel network and command structures, while Palestinian fighters engaged in guerrilla warfare from within civilian areas.

Regional Tensions with Hezbollah, Iran, and Syria

The Gaza war has escalated into a broader regional conflict. Hezbollah has launched cross-border attacks on Israel, resulting in significant escalations along the Lebanon-Israel border. Iran, Hamas’s primary financial supporter, has threatened to involve itself more deeply, while Syria has become a secondary target for Israeli strikes aimed at Iranian positions.

Global Protests and Calls for Ceasefire

The ongoing war has ignited the largest global protests related to the Israel-Palestine conflict in decades. Major demonstrations have taken place in European capitals, American cities, and across the Muslim world, demanding ceasefires and condemning both Israeli actions and Hamas terrorism. University campuses worldwide have become focal points for both protests and counter-protests.

ICC Investigations and International Law

The International Criminal Court’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli leaders marks a significant turning point in international justice. While Israel and the United States have strongly opposed the court’s actions, they have garnered support from numerous other nations. This divergence underscores the ongoing debate within the international community regarding accountability for war crimes.

Global Reactions & Alliances

U.S. Military Aid & UN Vetoes

The United States has consistently provided unwavering support for Israel, including continued military aid and vetoing multiple UN Security Council resolutions that called for ceasefires. However, American public opinion has become increasingly divided, with growing criticism of Israeli actions, particularly among younger Americans and Democratic voters.

European Union Divisions

The European Union has faced challenges in maintaining a cohesive stance. While some member states firmly support Israel’s right to self-defense, others advocate for immediate ceasefires and enhanced humanitarian assistance. Notably, in July 2025, France, along with over two dozen Western countries, including the United Kingdom, issued a call for an immediate ceasefire, reflecting the increasing pressure exerted by Western nations on Israel.

Arab League & OIC Responses

Arab and Muslim nations have condemned Israeli actions while offering limited direct support to Palestinians. The Abraham Accords have complicated Arab responses, as normalizing states navigate the delicate balance between maintaining relations with Israel and addressing domestic demands to support Palestinians.

China, Russia, and Global South Positions

China and Russia have positioned themselves as supporters of Palestinian rights, using the ongoing conflict to criticize Western double standards in international law. Many nations in the Global South have similarly condemned Israeli actions, drawing parallels to their own historical experiences with colonialism and occupation.

United Nations Debates & Resolutions

The United Nations has been largely paralyzed by the United States’ vetoes in the Security Council, despite the General Assembly passing multiple resolutions condemning Israeli actions. The UN’s humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned of a famine and complete societal collapse in Gaza, with UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, facing funding crises and accusations from Israel.

Humanitarian Consequences of The Israel–Palestine Conflict

Civilian Casualties & Displacement

As of April 8, 2025, the ongoing war has resulted in the tragic loss of over 52,000 lives, making it the deadliest phase of the Israel-Palestine conflict. The majority of these casualties have been Palestinian civilians, including countless children.

In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the United Nations reported that Palestinians killed 6 Israeli settlers and 16 soldiers between October 7, 2023, and October 7, 2024. This number is significantly higher than any other year since 2005, indicating a surge in violence across all occupied territories. In contrast, Israelis killed 719 Palestinians during the same period.

Refugee Crisis & UNRWA Role

The ongoing war has precipitated a new displacement crisis in Gaza, resulting in the forced displacement of over 1.9 million people—more than 80% of Gaza’s population. As Israeli military operations have expanded across the territory, many families have been displaced multiple times. From November 2023 to May 2024, Rafah served as the primary refuge for the majority of Gaza Strip’s population before Israeli forces eventually entered that area as well.

Blockade of Gaza and Famine Risk

The siege of Gaza has created dire conditions that international observers warn could lead to famine. The destruction of agriculture, the prohibition of fishing, and the limited availability of food aid have left Gaza on the brink of a complete economic collapse. An analysis by the Gaza Health Projections Working Group predicts that thousands of excess deaths from disease and birth complications will occur, surpassing those directly caused by warfare.

Destruction of Hospitals, Schools, and Infrastructure

Gaza’s civilian infrastructure has been systematically destroyed. Hospitals, schools, universities, mosques, churches, and cultural sites have been damaged or destroyed. The destruction of water treatment plants, power stations, and sewage systems has created a public health catastrophe that will require decades to rebuild.

Impact on Children and Long-term Trauma

Children constitute a substantial portion of the casualties in Gaza, with thousands losing their lives and many more becoming orphans or separated from their families. The psychological trauma inflicted by continuous bombardment, displacement, and loss will have lasting generational effects on Palestinian society. Similarly, Israeli children residing near Gaza have also endured trauma from rocket attacks and the devastating assault on October 7.

Maps & Territorial Changes

Partition Plan Map (1947)

The original UN Partition Plan allocated approximately equal territories to Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem under international control. However, this plan was never implemented and instead served as a historical benchmark for territorial claims.

Territorial Control (1967 vs. Today)

The 1967 borders, commonly known as the “Green Line,” serve as the internationally recognized boundary separating Israel from the occupied Palestinian territory. However, the presence of Israeli settlements and security zones has significantly altered the territorial landscape in the West Bank. Notably, Gaza remains under a blockade even after Israel withdrew its forces in 2005.

Gaza Conflict Map (2023–2025)

The ongoing conflict has witnessed Israeli forces making significant advances across nearly the entire Gaza Strip. Their progress spans from the northern regions surrounding Gaza City to the southern Rafah area, which borders Egypt. Consequently, the territory has been effectively divided into zones of control that undergo constant shifts due to military operations.

Refugee Flows Map

Palestinian refugees now number over 5.9 million across the Middle East, with substantial populations in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and the West Bank and Gaza. The ongoing conflict has resulted in new internal displacement within Gaza, while existing refugee communities in neighboring countries are facing renewed instability.

Future Implications

Security Architecture of the Middle East

The ongoing war has fundamentally reshaped the security landscape of the Middle East. Israel’s relationships with its Arab neighbors are now strained, while Iran and its proxies have demonstrated their capability to pose a threat to Israeli security from various angles. This conflict has revealed the limitations of conventional security strategies that rely solely on military might and deterrence.

Regional powers are reassessing their positions, some questioning the long-term viability of their current approaches to Palestinian rights and Israeli security. The Abraham Accords are facing challenges as public opinion in normalization countries has shifted against Israel due to the devastating civilian toll of the Gaza war.

Future of Palestine Statehood & Two-State Solution

The two-state solution, long regarded as the international consensus for resolving the conflict, is now facing unprecedented challenges. Israeli settlement expansion, the destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure, and rising extremism on both sides have made the establishment of a viable Palestinian state increasingly difficult to envision.

Traditional approaches are proving to be exhausted, prompting discussions of alternative frameworks such as confederation models, one-state solutions with equal rights, or continued status quo management. However, none of these alternatives commands widespread support from both peoples.

Israel’s Regional Alliances & Normalization Deals

Israel’s integration into the Middle East through normalization agreements faces significant setbacks due to the Gaza war. Public opinion across the Arab world has shifted strongly against Israel, limiting the ability of Arab governments to deepen ties regardless of strategic interests.

The potential for normalization with Saudi Arabia, once seen as transformative for regional politics, appears remote in the current environment. Future normalization efforts will likely require significant progress on Palestinian rights and statehood.

Global Lessons for Warfare, Humanitarian Law, and International Justice

The Gaza war has put international humanitarian law and institutions to the ultimate test. The International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, the International Court of Justice’s genocide proceedings, and the ongoing debates about the proportionality of warfare will shape the future of conflicts and accountability mechanisms.

The conflict has also highlighted the limitations of international institutions when major powers support different sides. The UN’s inability to enforce ceasefires or protect civilians has raised questions about the relevance of international law in an era of great power competition.

Conclusion

The Israel-Palestine conflict, spanning from 1948 to 2025, has been characterized by a recurring cycle of violence, failed diplomacy, and escalating polarization. Despite decades of international involvement, the conflict has remained unresolved. The current Gaza war serves as both a continuation of historical patterns and a dramatic escalation that has fundamentally altered the conflict’s dynamics.

The humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, characterized by tens of thousands of deaths and widespread destruction, has ignited global opinion while exacerbating divisions within and between societies. The pursuit of Israeli leaders by the International Criminal Court, the genocide proceedings initiated by the International Court of Justice, and the widespread global protests underscore that this phase of the conflict has reached new heights in terms of international legal accountability and public awareness.

The war’s regional ramifications extend far beyond the immediate parties involved, posing a threat to the stability of the broader Middle East and jeopardizing efforts towards Arab-Israeli normalization. The involvement of Iran, Hezbollah, and other regional actors has transformed a bilateral conflict into a multi-front confrontation with far-reaching global consequences.

Despite ceasefire agreements, the immediate violence continues, leaving long-term challenges daunting. The destruction of Gaza demands massive reconstruction efforts, while Israeli society grapples with security failures and international isolation. Palestinian society faces not only physical reconstruction but also political renewal in the face of devastating losses.

The path forward demands acknowledging both peoples’ legitimate rights and grievances, holding accountable those who violate international law, and devising innovative governance and security approaches that transcend the shortcomings of past frameworks. Without such acknowledgment and innovation, the conflict appears destined to perpetuate its tragic cycle, inflicting immeasurable suffering on future generations of Israelis and Palestinians while destabilizing the broader region and international order.

The stakes are incredibly high: the future of two nations, the stability of a strategically important region, and the credibility of international law and institutions all hang in the balance. The outcome of the next phase of this conflict will likely determine whether the century-long struggle can finally find resolution or whether it will continue to be a source of violence, radicalization, and international division for decades to come.

For further reading:

• Can Israel Repair Its Image After the Gaza Conflict?
• Unlawful Displacement in Gaza: Crisis Exposes Global Hypocrisy
• Netanyahu tells U.N. that war will continue amid global backlash
• Netanyahu UN Speech: Israel ‘Must Finish the Job’
• ‘Palestinians will not leave,’ their president tells world leaders at UN in defiant, virtual speech 
• Trump’s U.N. Speech: A Scathing Attack on Europe

Frequently Asked Questions