When the Israel-Hamas conflict started, I researched the region’s history to gain a better understanding, since geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are intertwined with history and religion.

The religious founders of Judaism and Islam are related. It is a common belief that Muhammed, the founder of Islam, was a descendant of Ishmael who came from Hagar and Abraham. The Jewish nation came from Sarah who bore Isaac with Abraham. This makes Judaism, Islam, and Christianity Abrahamic religions, seeing as they worship the same God.

Despite their shared heritage, Muslims and Jews have been in conflict for generations. Over the past 4,000 years, they have fought numerous wars, and peace has proved elusive. In the last century alone, Israel has battled Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen, with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iran providing financial and military support. Meanwhile, Palestinians have engaged in ongoing conflicts with Israel, with groups such as Hezbollah, and Hamas launching attacks against the Jewish state.

However, there were periods of peace. Between 1200 and 1450 CE, Dar al-Islam flourished as a theocracy following Islamic law, allowing for the diverse spread of culture and technological advances through their influence on trade routes such as the Silk Roads. Dar al-Islam was religiously tolerant, especially toward the Abrahamic religions (Judaism and Christianity).

The events that unfolded in the past 100 years in Israel and Palestine are complex and multifaceted. It all began with a war between Israel and Palestine, that led to Israel emerging as a sovereign state. Before the war, the land was a British colony known as Palestine, and Jews and Palestinians both lived there. In 1922, the League of Nations, the precursor to the United Nations, approved the decision to establish a Jewish state. Originally planned as a two-state solution, the situation resulted in the “War of Independence,” which resulted in the establishment of Israel as a nation.

Unfortunately, this led to most of the territory known as Palestine becoming Israel, displacing Palestinians. About 85% of Palestinians fled or were expelled, which is why groups like Hezbollah and Hamas continue to resort to violence against the Jewish state. Thus the Israeli and Palestine conflict is not entirely religious but also influenced by historical and political events.

There are other instances of division between different nations. For example, after World War 2, the United Nations divided Korea, Germany, and Vietnam. Today, Korea is the only nation still divided. The situation within Korea is similar to the Middle East except its divide is recent and North and South Koreans have identical ancestry. I am hopeful that maybe in my lifetime, the reunification of Korea can happen.

<Ellie Byun 10th Grade / Santiago High School>