On 14 May 1948, one of the most pivotal and controversial moments in modern Middle Eastern history unfolded: the State of Israel was formally declared, marking the end of British rule in Palestine and the beginning of a new chapter—one that has since been defined by conflict, displacement, and enduring political struggle.
Historical background
The roots of the Israeli declaration stretch back decades. In the early 20th century, the land of Palestine—then part of the Ottoman Empire—was home to a diverse population, predominantly Arab Muslims, along with Christians, Jews, and others. Following World War I, Britain took control of Palestine under a League of Nations mandate, during which tensions between the local Arab population and growing numbers of Jewish immigrants intensified. These Jewish communities were bolstered by the Zionist movement, which sought to establish a Jewish homeland in what they considered their ancestral land.
The 1917 Balfour Declaration, in which Britain expressed support for “the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people,” further inflamed Arab fears of dispossession. By the 1930s and 1940s, clashes between Jewish and Arab communities, as well as with British forces, became frequent. The horrors of the Holocaust added global momentum to the cause of Jewish statehood, increasing migration and political support.
After years of conflict and a failed attempt by the United Nations in 1947 to implement a partition plan dividing the land into Jewish and Arab states, the British Mandate expired on 14 May 1948. That same day, David Ben-Gurion, head of the Jewish Agency, proclaimed the independence of the State of Israel.
Immediate consequences and the Palestinian Nakba
While Israelis commemorate this date as their Independence Day, for Palestinians, 14 May 1948 marks the Nakba—Arabic for “catastrophe.” In the war that followed Israel’s creation, more than 700,000 Palestinians were expelled or fled from their homes, and hundreds of towns and villages were depopulated or destroyed. They and their descendants remain refugees, many still living in camps across the Middle East without the right of return.
Neighbouring Arab nations rejected the declaration and invaded, leading to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Israel not only survived but expanded its territory beyond what had been allocated by the UN plan. No Palestinian state was established, and the West Bank and Gaza Strip were controlled by Jordan and Egypt respectively until the 1967 Six-Day War, when Israel occupied both territories.
The situation today: A prolonged crisis
More than seven decades later, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains unresolved, marked by cycles of violence, political deadlock, and failed peace initiatives. Palestinians in the West Bank live under occupation, subject to military checkpoints, settlement expansion, and restricted movement. In Gaza, ruled by Hamas since 2007 and under Israeli blockade, conditions have deteriorated to what many international observers consider a humanitarian crisis.
In recent years, especially during the 2020s, the conflict has intensified. International human rights organisations, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have accused Israel of apartheid and systematic oppression of Palestinians. Many scholars and activists now describe the ongoing military actions, particularly in Gaza, as amounting to genocide—a charge Israel vehemently denies.
The death toll in Gaza since October 2023 has shocked the world, with thousands of civilians, including children, killed in relentless airstrikes and ground operations. The United Nations and International Court of Justice have launched inquiries, though political inertia and international divisions continue to hamper efforts toward justice or peace.
Featured photo source: Getty images
Also read: ON THIS DAY: UN Resolution 181 – Partition plan for Palestine (1947)
