Israel And Hamas Agreed on a Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Release Deal

 Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages, following 15 months of conflict.

Background of the Current Conflict
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel under the name "Operation Al-Aqsa Storm," coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War. This led Israel to declare war on Hamas and initiate military operations in Gaza.

Historical Context

The ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel stems from the division of Palestinian territory and the recognition of Israel by Arab nations:

• Splitting of Palestine: During WWII, large numbers of Jews migrated to Palestine and called for a Jewish state. In 1947, the UN proposed dividing Palestine between Arabs and Jews, which resulted in four major wars between Arabs and Israel. The Jews accepted the plan and declared Israel's independence in 1948, while the Arabs rejected it, leading to multiple wars.

• Camp David Accords of 1978 and Recognition of Israel: The 1973 Yom Kippur War (or Ramadan War) was the fourth Arab-Israeli war, fought between Israel and a coalition of Arab nations led by Egypt and Syria. This conflict paved the way for the Camp David Accords in 1978, where Egypt became the first Arab nation to recognize Israel, with Israel returning the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt.

• Oslo Accords of 1993 and Hamas' Opposition to Recognition of Israel: Hamas strongly opposed the Oslo Accords, which were agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) that included mutual recognition and allowed Palestinians some self-governance in Gaza and the West Bank. Founded in 1964, the PLO represents Palestine at the UN as a non-member state. Hamas, a militant organization that politically controls the Gaza Strip, does not recognize Israel’s statehood.

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