Egypt · France · United Kingdom · Israel · Jordan · Lebanon · State of Palestine · Qatar · Saudi Arabia · Syrian Arab Republic · United States of America
File
Israeli–Palestinian conflict: from its origins to today
This dossier traces the modern origins and major stages of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict from the late nineteenth century to today: national movements, the British Mandate, Israel’s creation and the Nakba, wars, occupation and settlements, Palestinian mobilization, peace efforts, political divisions, humanitarian crises and international proceedings. Each published occurrence includes its sources and distinguishes established facts, attributed statements and judicial findings. The timeline needs further detail on local settlement developments, some regional episodes and negotiations; it does not claim to catalogue every incident.
Last updated : 109 key moments
Signing of the Oslo accords in Washington, 13 September 1993. Vince Musi / White House, public domain. Archival photograph. — Vince Musi / The White House / Wikimedia Commons — domaine public, 13 septembre 1993.
Where things stand
As of 4 November 2026, the dossier contains 109 dated occurrences beginning in 1882. Following the ceasefire that took effect on 10 October 2025 and the release of the last twenty living Israeli hostages on 13 October, entries for October and November 2026 document continuing strikes and severe humanitarian difficulties in Gaza. Recent UN reports address displacement, access to health care and waste collection. Casualty figures remain attributed to their sources, with verification limits stated. The West Bank situation and regional developments require more detailed coverage.
Reported information
Gaza: UN warns of heightened viral meningitis transmission risk
The UN warned on 29 October 2026 that overcrowding, damaged water networks and shortages of treatment were increasing the risk of viral meningitis transmission in Gaza.
Al-Shifa Hospital in February 2025. Archive image; it does not document October 2026 meningitis cases. — Jaber Jehad Badwan / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ; 23 février 2025, sans modification.
The UN briefing, citing the World Health Organization, says acute respiratory infections remained the most commonly reported health condition in September's data.
The UN calls for restrictions on humanitarian supplies and specialized equipment to be lifted and for additional funding. The warning provides no updated case count to measure the scale of meningitis; it should be distinguished from separate reports of bacterial forms.
Gaza: rescue services report five killed in Israeli strikes
Gaza's civil defence and a local hospital reported five people killed in Israeli strikes on 28 October 2026, AFP reports. The reported attacks include Rafah and Khan Younis in the territory's south.
Gaza City in December 2007. Archive illustration; it shows neither Rafah nor Khan Younis nor the 2026 strikes. — OneArmedMan / Wikimedia Commons — domaine public ; 23 décembre 2007 ; sans modification.
AFP's toll includes three people killed in Rafah, a wounded person who later died and one person killed in Khan Younis. Earlier, WAFA had reported three killed in a strike on an economy ministry facility in Rafah and a death in Khan Younis.
Asked by AFP, the Israeli military said it had targeted fighters and promised further details. That response does not identify the victims. The tolls remain attributed to local services and should not be added to earlier counts from the same day.
UN inquiry accuses Israel of West Bank extermination and continuing Gaza genocide
A UN-mandated independent international commission of inquiry published findings on 26 October 2026 accusing Israel of crimes against humanity in the occupied West Bank and continuing genocidal acts in Gaza despite the ceasefire. Israel rejects the findings, Reuters reports.
The commission identifies extermination, persecution, torture and sexual violence in the West Bank. It says military operations and settler violence form part of a widespread and systematic attack on Palestinian civilians.
Its report also examines violations attributed to the Palestinian Authority and inadequate investigations into abuses by its forces. These classifications and findings are the commission’s conclusions: the development reported here is the publication of an inquiry report, rather than the announcement of a criminal judgment.
Gaza: WFP cuts monthly assistance by 500,000 recipients
The World Food Programme said on 19 October 2026 that funding shortages are forcing cuts to monthly assistance in Gaza. About 500,000 people lose support while needs remain high.
Food aid in Gaza in November 2024. Archival image, not the 19 October 2026 announcement. Jaber Jehad Badwan / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; resized. — Jaber Jehad Badwan / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Archives de novembre 2024 ; réduction de taille.
WFP figures reported by Petra put the number of monthly recipients at 1.1 million, down from 1.6 million. The reduction reflects insufficient resources rather than a sufficient improvement in food conditions.
Speaking to the ABC after visiting Gaza, acting executive director Carl Skau warned about cuts as winter approaches. The ABC reports that some families receive one parcel instead of two, while meals in hard-to-reach areas shift from daily provision to every other day.
In a separate AFP interview carried by Arabic-language Euronews, WFP Palestine country director Shaun Hughes confirmed that half a million recipients were being removed. The programme also plans to reduce daily hot meals from 250,000 to 150,000.
A year after the ceasefire, strikes and obstacles persist
On 10 October 2026, Associated Press reports that the agreement reached a year earlier has not ended strikes or delivered the full promised transition.
The previous day, more than one hundred humanitarian and rights organizations denounce what they call a ceasefire in name only. That assessment is attributed to them. Reduced major operations and hostage releases do not mean an end to violence, aid restrictions or the civilian crisis.
Security Council authorizes a Gaza stabilization force
On 17 November 2025, the Security Council adopts Resolution 2803, backing the Gaza plan and authorizing an international stabilization force.
The text establishes an international framework for the transition envisaged after the ceasefire. Legal authorization alone does not establish that a force has deployed or planned institutions are functioning. Their implementation requires separate verification.
Hamas releases the last twenty living Israeli hostages held in Gaza
The last twenty living Israeli hostages held in Gaza are released on 13 October 2025 under the ceasefire agreement.
The International Committee of the Red Cross facilitates their handover to Israeli authorities and the transfer of released Palestinian detainees to Gaza and the West Bank. The release follows the ceasefire’s entry into force on 10 October. It does not resolve the return of all deceased hostages’ remains, which involves separate operations.
On 10 October 2025, a ceasefire takes effect in Gaza following the agreement announced on 8 October and implementation terms signed on 9 October.
The agreement provides for Israeli redeployment, releases of hostages and Palestinian detainees, and aid entry. Israeli forces remain in a substantial part of the territory. Entry into force is distinct from full implementation and a durable political settlement.
On 22 September 2025, Emmanuel Macron announces at the UN that France recognizes the State of Palestine.
The decision comes during a conference co-chaired with Saudi Arabia to revive the two-state solution. It is French diplomatic recognition, without resolving borders, occupation or effective Palestinian sovereignty on the ground.
UN inquiry commission concludes genocide is occurring in Gaza
On 16 September 2025, the independent inquiry commission mandated by the Human Rights Council concludes that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
The report analyses acts and intent under the Genocide Convention. Israel rejects the findings. These are an inquiry commission’s conclusions, distinct from a final ICJ judgment or an individual criminal conviction.
On 22 August 2025, an IPC analysis confirms famine with reasonable evidence in Gaza Governorate as of mid-August.
This area classification does not mean every part of the Gaza Strip has exactly the same status. The report describes extreme hunger and malnutrition and projects risks of expansion. This entry distinguishes the dated finding from projections and subsequent assessments.
