Mapping the History of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Current Situation
The map illustrates today’s divided reality: the West Bank remains under Israeli occupation, with Palestinian Authority self-rule limited to parts of the territory and Israeli settlements continuing to expand. The Gaza Strip is split between Israeli and Hamas control. Following the 7 October 2023 attack, Israel’s military campaign caused massive destruction and tens of thousands of deaths. A ceasefire began in October 2025; Israel withdrew to the “yellow line” and now controls about half of Gaza, while Hamas controls the rest. Humanitarian aid remains insufficient, and the ceasefire is fragile. There is still no independent Palestinian state and no final resolution to the conflict.
Gaza Disengagement (2005)
This map shows Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon planned this move without negotiating with the Palestinians. Israel evacuated approximately 8,000 settlers, dismantled settlements, and pulled its military out. Hamas won the 2006 elections and took full control of Gaza in 2007, leading to an Israeli-Egyptian blockade and the political separation of Gaza from the West Bank.
Egypt–Israel Peace (1979)
The map depicts Israel returning the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt following the peace treaty. The 1978 Camp David Accords, mediated by US President Carter between Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin, made Egypt the first Arab country to recognize Israel. Israel withdrew completely from Sinai by 1982. While the peace ended major warfare between the two nations, it remained a “cold peace” with the wider Arab world, and President Sadat was assassinated in 1981, partly due to this treaty.
Oslo II (1995)
The map shows the West Bank divided into three areas of control:
- Area A: Full Palestinian Authority control.
- Area B: Palestinian civil control with Israeli security control.
- Area C: Over 60% of the land under full Israeli control.
The Oslo Accords created the Palestinian Authority for limited self-government. This division provided partial self-rule but left most of the West Bank under Israeli control, failing to lead to a final peace agreement or an independent state.
Yom Kippur War (1973)
The map shows the surprise attack by Egypt and Syria on Israel in October 1973 across the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights. Seeking to recover land lost in 1967, the Arab forces made early gains before Israel counterattacked. The war ended with a ceasefire near Cairo and Damascus, proving Israel was not invincible and pushing Egypt toward peace negotiations.
Six-Day War (1967)
The map displays the territories Israel captured in June 1967: the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan, the Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, and the Golan Heights from Syria. Following rising tensions and the closing of the Straits of Tiran, Israel launched a preemptive strike. Defeating Egypt, Syria, and Jordan in six days, Israel occupied these territories, creating the modern occupation that continues to shape the conflict.
Partition Plan (1947)
The map shows the UN plan to divide the British Mandate of Palestine into a Jewish state and an Arab state, with Jerusalem as an international zone. Following the Holocaust, support for a Jewish state grew. The UN General Assembly approved Resolution 181 in November 1947; while Jewish leaders accepted the plan, Arab leaders rejected it. This rejection and the subsequent British withdrawal led directly to civil war and the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
Green Line (1949)
The map shows the armistice line established after the 1948 war. Following Israel’s declaration of independence and the subsequent invasion by Arab armies, Israel controlled significantly more land than the original UN plan proposed. Jordan took the West Bank, Egypt took the Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem was divided. Approximately 700,000 Palestinians became refugees—an event known as the Nakba—and the Green Line served as Israel’s de facto border until 1967.