Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: Ireland, Norway, and Spain plan to formally recognize the state of Palestine, highlighting a shift in international opinion. Recently, 143 countries, including India, called for UN recognition of Palestine. The International Criminal Court has sought arrest warrants for Israeli leaders and Hamas for war crimes.
- These recognitions are symbolic acts aimed at influencing Israel’s actions in Gaza and supporting moderate Palestinian The international community is urging Israel to reconsider its stance on the two-state solution.
About Palestine:
Palestine, officially the State of Palestine, is located in the southern Levant region of West Asia. It comprises the West Bank and Gaza Strip, bordering Israel, Jordan, and Egypt. The capital is Jerusalem, with Ramallah as the administrative centre. Historically, the region has seen various rulers and holds religious significance for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. After the Ottoman Empire’s fall, the British controlled Palestine until the establishment of Israel in 1948, which led to the displacement of many Palestinians. The Oslo Accords in the 1990s led to the creation of the Palestinian Authority. Currently, the West Bank is partly governed by the Palestinian Authority, while Hamas controls the Gaza Strip.
Major challenges include the Israeli occupation, settlement expansions, and the status of Jerusalem and refugees. Despite these issues, Palestine has a highly educated population, an emerging economy, and significant tourism. As of May 2024, it is a non-member observer state at the UN since 2012.
