In October 2023, Hamas launched the largest attack on Israel in years from the Gaza Strip, combining a surprise border crossing by its fighters with a heavy barrage of rockets. The war has resulted in what some are calling the world's largest genocide, perpetrated by Israel. Israel has targeted schools, hospitals, residential areas, and even the Rafah border crossing.
As of July 26, 2024, as many as 47,283 people died in Gaza, including more than 18,000 children, while nearly 111,472 others were injured. In the West Bank alone, almost 590 people have been killed, and more than 5,000 injured. Nearly half of the homes in Gaza have sustained significant damage, along with roads, hospitals, schools, commercial buildings, and places of worship.
The Israeli army's online evacuation map has caused confusion among residents. Every hour, approximately 15 people die and 35 are injured; 42 explosions occur; and 12 structures are damaged. Since the conflict began on October 7, nearly 100 journalists, mostly Palestinians, have also lost their lives.
On the Israeli side, at least 1,706 people have reportedly been killed and almost 9,730 injured. These statistics reflect the aggression on both sides, each seeking the other's destruction. In the face of such inhumane behavior, with both sides celebrating victories and vowing to continue the fight until the last person is killed, one must wonder if the two-state solution is really the ultimate answer to this conflict, or is it simply a step toward further exacerbation.
The Israel-Palestine conflict has spanned decades. In the early 1900s, it emerged in a religiously diverse region under Ottoman rule, home to a small Jewish minority alongside Muslims and Christians. After World War I, the British gained control over Palestine. Tensions between Jews and Arabs escalated, with the Holocaust and the rise of Jewish militias fueling further conflict. In 1947, the United Nations proposed a partition plan dividing Palestine into two states: one for Jews (Israel) and one for Arabs (Palestine). The Arabs rejected the plan, seeing it as a form of European colonialism, and declared war on Israel. Israel won the war, but the borders and tensions continued to evolve. The Six-Day War of 1967 further altered the region, with Israel capturing the Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank, and Golan Heights.
The 1980s saw the rise of Hamas, a militant group that perpetuated the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Efforts for peace, like the Oslo Accords of the 1990s, were undermined by violence and resistance. The Camp David Summit of 2000 failed, leading to the construction of Israeli checkpoints and barriers. In 2006, Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections and seized control of Gaza in 2007, solidifying their leadership role in the region.
Over the years, the conflict has escalated with cycles of retaliation. In 2021, Israel sent security forces to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which sparked a violent response from Hamas, triggering an 11-day war. In 2022, Israel launched airstrikes killing civilians, including children, and in January 2023, rockets were again fired from Gaza, leading to more Israeli airstrikes.
These historical events demonstrate that external interventions aimed at a two-state solution have been rejected by both sides, often triggering further conflict. For instance, the 1947 UN partition plan allocated 55% of the land to Israel and just over 42% to Palestine, with Jerusalem designated as an international zone. Arabs rejected the plan.
The fundamental question remains: Is a two-state solution truly viable? Given the extremism on both sides, it seems unlikely. If it were a viable solution, both Zionist extremists and Palestinians would be living in peace today, without the constant push for territorial expansion. The problem lies in the ideologies held by both sides. Palestinians feel a deep historical connection to the land, believing it is their rightful home. Many feel betrayed by the historical hospitality shown to Jewish refugees, which they view as leading to their own displacement. This fuels a desire to reclaim the land entirely.
Meanwhile, Jewish extremists argue that the land is their divine right, bolstered by religious and historical narratives. The clash of these deeply rooted beliefs and identities makes it difficult for either side to embrace a two-state solution. As such, this approach seems more likely to perpetuate the conflict rather than resolve it.
The conflict is deeply complex and requires a comprehensive resolution, for which models other than the two-state solution should be explored.
A confederation model could offer a more sustainable solution, promoting cooperation on infrastructure and security, but this would require a high level of trust, which is currently lacking. Federated structures could also be considered, though they may not satisfy Israel’s goals for a unique state or Palestine’s desire for full independence. An international trusteeship under the UN may offer impartial oversight to facilitate the peace process. Ultimately, any solution requires both parties to prioritize mutual recognition, security, and the welfare of their people.
The two-state solution, once considered the most practical, has yet to materialize. Therefore, alternative models that emphasize cooperation and long-term peace must seriously be considered.
The writer is a student of strategic studies at the National Defense University. She can be reached at kholajunaid2004@gmail.com
