To understand why Israel attacks Palestine today, it is
necessary to step back and look at the historical context. Since the creation
of the State of Israel in 1948, Palestinians have faced displacement, military
occupation, and repeated assaults.
The Nakba of 1948, when hundreds of thousands of
Palestinians were expelled from their homes, set the stage for a lasting
conflict over land, rights, and recognition.
In 1967, Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East
Jerusalem during the Six‑Day War. Since then, these territories have remained
under varying degrees of Israeli control.
The occupation has been marked by settlement expansion,
military checkpoints, and severe restrictions on movement, trade, and
development.
Israel has launched major military operations in Palestinian
territories multiple times in recent decades, often in Gaza, causing mass
casualties and destruction.
The declared aim is usually to target armed groups, but
civilian neighborhoods, schools, hospitals, and infrastructure have often been
damaged or destroyed in the process.
The Situation Leading Up to the Latest Assaults
In the years before the current escalation, Palestinians in
Gaza and the West Bank were already living under intense pressure. Gaza, in
particular, has been under a strict Israeli blockade since 2007, limiting
access to food, medicine, electricity, and building materials.
This blockade has contributed to a humanitarian crisis that
international agencies, including the UN, have repeatedly warned is
unsustainable.
The West Bank has faced increasing settlement construction,
land confiscations, and frequent raids by Israeli forces. Tensions rise with
each demolition of Palestinian homes or violent settler attack.
The lack of progress in peace negotiations has further
deepened the sense of frustration and hopelessness among Palestinians.
The Official Israeli Narrative vs. Palestinian Reality
Israeli leaders often frame military actions as “self‑defense”
or “counterterrorism” measures aimed at protecting Israeli citizens from rocket
fire or attacks. They emphasize the need to neutralize threats from armed
groups in Gaza.
From the Palestinian perspective, however, these attacks are
seen as collective punishment against an entire population. The scale and
pattern of destruction is targeting not only militants but also homes, schools,
cultural sites, and civilian infrastructure, suggesting a broader goal of
weakening Palestinian society and limiting its ability to function
independently.
Reports from humanitarian organizations consistently
document civilian casualties, forced displacement, and long term damage to
essential services.
The imbalance of power is stark: Israel has one of the most
advanced militaries in the world, while Palestinians live under occupation
without a standing army.
The Role of Occupation and Blockade
Occupation and blockade are central to understanding why
Israel attacks Palestine. The Gaza Strip’s blockade has been described by human rights groups as a form of collective punishment.
It restricts imports, controls exports, and limits the
movement of people, creating deep economic dependency on Israel and external
aid.
In the West Bank, the presence of more than half a million
Israeli settlers in occupied territory violates international law under the
Fourth Geneva Convention.
These settlements, along with military zones and restricted
roads, carve the territory into disconnected enclaves, making the creation of a
viable Palestinian state increasingly difficult.
Military raids, arrests without trial, and land seizures are
regular occurrences. Each act of resistance, protest, or even international advocacy
from Palestinians can trigger harsher measures from Israel.
Collapse of Ceasefires and the Escalation Cycle
When temporary truces are reached, they often fail because
underlying issues remain unaddressed. Israel insists on maintaining military
control and blockades, while Palestinians seek the lifting of restrictions and
recognition of their rights.
Ceasefires tend to collapse when Israel resumes targeted
killings or raids in the West Bank, or when rockets are fired from Gaza in
response to ongoing occupation-related grievances.
These incidents then serve as justification for larger-scale Israeli military campaigns.
The current wave of attacks followed the breakdown of
another ceasefire, with Israel resuming aerial bombardment and ground
incursions. Each cycle leaves Gaza’s infrastructure more devastated, further
crippling healthcare, education, and economic recovery.
Political Motives Behind Israeli Actions
Domestic politics within Israel often influence military
decisions. Leaders under political pressure or facing corruption investigations
have, at times, used military campaigns to strengthen their image as protectors
of national security.
Far-right members of governing coalitions push for harder
lines against Palestinians, rejecting peace talks and advocating permanent
control over the West Bank and Gaza.
This political environment reduces incentives for
de-escalation. Aggressive policies toward Palestinians are not only tolerated
but sometimes rewarded in the Israeli political arena.
The result is a military strategy that prioritizes
territorial control and deterrence over conflict resolution.
International Response and Accountability Gaps
The international community has repeatedly condemned Israeli
attacks that cause mass civilian casualties, yet concrete action has been
limited. The United States continues to provide significant military aid to
Israel, while using its veto power in the UN Security Council to block
resolutions critical of Israeli actions.
Some countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America
have recognized Palestine and called for an end to Israeli aggression.
International courts, including the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC), have opened inquiries into
possible war crimes committed in Palestinian territories. However, without
enforcement mechanisms or strong political will, these efforts have yet to halt
the violence.
Humanitarian Consequences for Palestinians
The human cost of Israeli attacks on Palestine is
staggering. Airstrikes and shelling have destroyed thousands of homes, leaving
families homeless.
Hospitals and clinics, already strained by shortages of
medicine and equipment, struggle to treat the wounded.
Electricity cuts and damage to water systems increase the
risk of disease outbreaks. Schools are closed for long periods, depriving
children of education and stability.
Entire neighborhoods in Gaza have been flattened, and
rebuilding is nearly impossible under the blockade.
Mental health is another overlooked casualty. Years of
living under siege and constant threat have created a generation of
Palestinians suffering from trauma, anxiety, and depression. Aid agencies
emphasize that beyond physical reconstruction, psychological healing will take
decades.
Why Palestinians Resist and Demand Justice
Despite overwhelming military odds, Palestinians continue to
resist occupation in various forms—through protests, international advocacy,
art, literature, and legal action. Many see this resistance not as a choice but
as a necessity to preserve their identity, culture, and right to live freely on
their land.
The attacks from Israel reinforce the belief among
Palestinians that their basic rights can only be secured through sustained
pressure on the international stage.
Movements for boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) have
gained traction in some countries, aiming to pressure Israel to comply with
international law.
Moving Forward: Calls for Change
Ending Israeli attacks on Palestine requires addressing the
root causes: the occupation, settlement expansion, blockade, and denial of
Palestinian statehood. Ceasefires alone are not enough.
Without a political solution that guarantees Palestinians
control over their own land, resources, and borders, the cycle of violence will
continue.
Many analysts and human rights groups argue that lasting
peace will only come when Israel ends its occupation, recognizes Palestinian
sovereignty, and allows refugees to return or receive fair compensation.
International actors must also ensure accountability for
violations of international law, regardless of political alliances.
What This Means Today
The question of why Israel attacks Palestine cannot be
answered by looking only at recent events. It is a product of decades of
dispossession, control, and systematic denial of rights. Israel’s military
power allows it to strike with impunity, while Palestinians endure
disproportionate suffering.
Framing these assaults as isolated security measures ignores
the broader context: a population under siege, a land under occupation, and a
people struggling for dignity and freedom.
Until that reality changes, Israeli attacks on Palestine
will remain part of a larger pattern of aggression against a population that
has already borne more than its share of loss.