It is interesting to look at the history of Palestine—it is truly one of the most complex regions in the world in terms of geopolitics and cultural heritage. Located between three continents, this area has always been a key crossroads where different civilizations and influences intersect.

When you examine how everything unfolded, it becomes clear that religion played a huge role throughout history. Since ancient times, Canaanite city-states developed here; then the region was controlled by the Egyptians, the Assyrians, and the Babylonians. Each empire left its own mark. But when it comes to why Palestine became such a significant place, it’s impossible not to mention its religious importance—first as a center of Judaism, then Christianity, and later Islam.

After Alexander the Great’s conquest, Hellenization began, and then the Romans arrived. Roman Judea was shaken by uprisings in 66, and Rome destroyed Jerusalem in 70. When the Roman Empire adopted Christianity in the 4th century, Palestine became a center for pilgrimage and religious studies. After that, the region passed from one dynasty to another—Rashidun, Umayyads, Abbasids, Fatimids, and Seljuks.

The Crusades in 1099 created the Kingdom of Jerusalem, but it was conquered by the Ayyubids in 1187. Then the Mamluks unified the region, and in 1516 Palestine came under the control of the Ottoman Empire, where it remained until the 20th century with virtually no major upheavals.

Everything changed with World War I. The British issued the Balfour Declaration, supporting the idea of establishing a Jewish homeland in Palestine, and took the region from the Ottomans. The League of Nations granted Britain a mandate in 1922. But British rule and the Arabs’ attempts to stop Jewish immigration led to rising tension and violence between the communities. By 1947, the British announced that they intended to leave.

The UN recommended dividing Palestine into two states, but the Arabs rejected this plan. The Jews agreed and declared the independence of Israel in May 1948. Neighboring Arab countries invaded, but Israel not only won the war—it also captured more territory than the partition plan had provided for. About 700,000 Palestinians were forced to leave their homes—this event is called the Nakba by Palestinians, which means “catastrophe.”

After the war, Jordan annexed the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and Egypt occupied Gaza. Everything changed in 1967 during the Six-Day War—Israel captured these territories. Despite international opposition, Israel began building settlements on the occupied lands.

The Palestinian national movement gained international recognition through the PLO under the leadership of Yasser Arafat. In 1993, the Oslo Accords were signed, creating the Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza and the West Bank. But further peace initiatives were never implemented. The conflict continued, especially after Hamas rejected the autonomy. In 2007, Hamas took control of Gaza, leaving the PA with only the West Bank. In 2012, Palestine received observer status at the UN, which allowed it to take part in debates of the General Assembly.