Why is it in the news?
- Recent clashes between Hamas and Israel have raised concerns about a potential ground offensive and the impact on regional dynamics, including the Abraham Accords.
- Gaza Strip, often referred to as Gaza Patti by Indians, is a small, densely populated region between Israel and Egypt, home to over 20 lakh Palestinians. It, along with the West Bank, constitutes the State of Palestine.
About Gaza
- Gaza’s history involves transitions from British occupation in 1918 to Egyptian control after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and eventual Israeli occupation following the Six-Day War in 1967.
- The Camp David Accords of 1978 led to peace negotiations and the recognition of Palestinian rights, eventually resulting in the Egypt-Israel peace treaty in 1979.
- The Oslo Accords of 1993 and 1995 established the Palestinian National Authority, but in 2006, Hamas won elections and took control of the Gaza Strip.
- In 2005, Israel unilaterally dismantled settlements in Gaza, a move contested by some, including Benjamin Netanyahu, who resigned from the government.
- A blockade on Gaza since 2007, limited border crossings, and control of airspace and territorial waters have been contentious issues.
India’s Position
- The renaming of Teen Murti Chowk to Teen Murti Haifa Chowk in New Delhi in 2018 marked a historic event commemorating Indian soldiers’ heroism in the Battle of Haifa in Israel during World War I.
- The Third Battle of Gaza in November 1917, where Indian troops fought alongside the Empire forces, became a turning point in the Palestine campaign against the Ottomans and Germans.
- India recognized the State of Palestine in 1988 and opened a representative office in Gaza, later moved to Ramallah in the West Bank.
