Palestina Jam Berapa Perang Gazaisrael: Sejarah Konflik Berkepanjangan Menjadi Cermin Kehiduperdad Negara Beset Perang

Andrew Katz once described the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as “a war without end,” a conflict rooted not in simple territorial disputes but in centuries of layered grievances, competing national identities, and unresolved visions of statehood. Spanning over a century and a half, this protracted struggle has witnessed cycles of violence, failed peace efforts, and deepening human suffering. The conflict, far from being a static standoff, remains a dynamic and evolving battle over homeland, sovereignty, and belonging—one that continues to shock the global conscience and challenge the foundations of international order.

At the heart of the ongoing conflict lies a clash between two peoples inheriting overlapping claims to the same land—Palestinians, descendants of indigenous communities with millennia-long ties to the region, and Israelis, a nation forged in modern Zionist aspirations amid 19th- and 20th-century displacement. The modern phase of the conflict accelerated after World War II with the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. In the weeks that followed, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced in what both sides remember differently: Palestinians speak of the Nakba (“Catastrophe”), while Israelis emphasize survival amid existential threats.

This foundational rupture ignited the first Arab-Israeli war and set the stage for decades of conflict marked by military confrontations, contested borders, and recurring violence.

Between 1948 and 1967, military occupation controlled Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem—territories Palestinians seek for their future state.

The Six-Day War of June 1967 marked a pivotal turning point. Israel’s swift military victory brought the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula, and Golan Heights under its control, effectively doubling the territory of the Israeli occupation.

This expansion defined a new era: Israel now governed Palestinian lives not through immediate annexation but through military administration, curfews, settlements, and layered systems of control. The occupation fueled resistance—from armed groups like the PLO and later Hamas to widespread civil disobedience—and triggered international condemnation.

United Nations resolutions repeatedly called for withdrawal, yet enforcement remained elusive amid geopolitical divisions and shifting alliances.

Over subsequent decades, the conflict morphed through phases: wars, intifadas (upswells of Palestinian uprising), intermittent peace negotiations, and recurring escalations, each deepening the fracture between communities and widening the humanitarian toll.

Phases of Violence: Key Moments in the Centuries-Long Struggle

The timeline of conflict includes several defining episodes that shaped the trajectory of the struggle. The 1948 Arab-Israeli War and resulting refugee crisis remain central to Palestinian identity and international discourse. The 1967 occupation initiated decades of militarized governance over Palestinian territories, enabling settlement expansion that remains a core flashpoint.

Notable uprisings include the First Intifada (1987–1993), a grassroots Palestinian resistance marked by civil disobedience and mass protests; and the Second Intifada (2000–2005), which saw heightened suicide bombings, Israeli military incursions, and widespread destruction.

Parallel to these armed confrontations, political processes such as the Oslo Accords aimed—however incompletely—at a two-state solution, only to stall amid settlement growth and mutual distrust.

More recently, Gaza has endured repeated devastating conflicts (2008–2009, 2014, 2021, 2023–present), each leaving deep scars, infrastructure devastation, and entrenched humanitarian crises, further hardening positions on both sides.

Human Toll and Daily Reality in Gaza and Beyond

Among the most enduring consequences of this protracted conflict is the dire humanitarian condition in Gaza. Since Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade after Hamas seized control in 2007, Gaza has faced severe restrictions on movement, energy, construction materials, and medical supplies.

The 2023 war, triggered by Hamas’s surprise attack on October 7 and followed by Israel’s overwhelming military response, submerged Gaza into unprecedented devastation: widespread destruction of homes, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure, coupled with one of the highest civilian casualty rates in modern history. The United Nations has described Gaza as unlivable, with millions dependent on emergency aid amid prolonged electricity and water shortages.

Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank endure restrictions on education, employment, and movement, creating a generation challenged by poverty, trauma, and limited opportunity.

Meanwhile, Israeli civilians, particularly in southern towns, live under constant threat of rocket fire and drone strikes, amplifying the mutual sense of vulnerability that fuels cycles of retaliation.

These human costs underscore the conflict’s intractability—not just a clash of armies, but a struggle over memory, identity, survival. Each generation inherits not only grievances but also the fraying trust needed to rebuild dialogue. Diplomatic efforts, from camp-wide peace talks to intermittent U.S., European, and regional mediation, remain stymied by deep distrust, settlement expansion, and competing narratives of justice and security.

International legal mechanisms, including International Criminal Court investigations and UN resolutions, stress accountability and rights but often hit political dead-ends where power imbalances dominate decision-making.

The Conflict’s Broader Implications

Beyond the immediate violence, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict represents a fundamental challenge to norms of self-determination, statehood, and international law.

For Palestinians, the struggle embodies a quest for recognition, dignity, and an end to displacement—a cause echoing across global diasporas and human rights movements. For Israelis, it reflects existential fears mitigated through military strength, deterrence, and demography. Yet neither vision achieves full resolution, leaving the conflict unresolved after generations.

The persistence of this conflict underscores deeper issues: the limits of diplomacy in deeply entrenched disputes, the impact of historical narratives on present-day politics, and the urgent need to address systemic injustice without sacrificing security.

As activists, scholars, and policymakers grapple with the path forward, one truth remains clear: without acknowledging the full spectrum of suffering and aspirations, no lasting peace remains plausible.

History has shown that wars fade, but conflicts fester. The Israeli-Palestinian struggle, steeped in historical complexity and human tragedy, refuses to settle. Its resolution demands not only political will but a profound renewal of trust—a reconciliation not just between governments, but between peoples whose fates are intertwined.

Until then, the cycle endures: a war without end.