This timeline of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict lists events from 1948 to the present. The Israeli–Palestinian conflict emerged from intercommunal conflict in Mandatory Palestine between Palestinian Jews and Arabs, often described as the background to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The conflict in its modern phase evolved since the declaration of the State of Israel on May 14, 1948, and consequent intervention of Arab armies on behalf of the Palestinian Arabs.
Background
Israel gained independence on May 14, 1948, while a Palestinian attempt to establish a state in the Gaza Strip in September 1948 under an Egyptian protectorate failed, being de facto managed by Egyptian military and announced dissolved in 1959.
1948–1949: Arab–Israeli War
Month, Day Event(s) 1948 May 13 Haganah took control of Jaffa. The Irgun had been shelling Jaffa for three weeks. After most of the Arab population fled the city, its 1947 population of 70,000 was reduced to 4,000. May 14 The Jewish People's Council gathered at the Tel Aviv Museum, and approved a proclamation declaring "the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz Israel, to be known as the State of Israel". At midnight the British Mandate over Palestine terminated.Communication dated 11 May 1948 from J. Fletcher-Cooke of the United Kingdom delegation to the United Nations Commission on Palestine to Dr. Ralph J. Bunche, Principal Secretary to the Commission: Retrieved 23 December 2013 May 15 Following a letter from the Agent of the new Provisional Government to President Truman that the state of Israel has been proclaimed as an independent republic within frontiers approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations, the United States recognized the provisional government as the de facto authority of the new State of Israel.United States de facto Regnition of State of Israel: 14 May 1948: Retrieved 1 May 2012 Members of the Arab League – Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Transjordan, the Holy War Army and the Arab Liberation Army, marched their forces into what had the previous day ceased to be the British Mandate for Palestine. The League of Arab States sent a cablegram to the Secretary-General of the United Nations saying, "On the occasion of the intervention of Arab States in Palestine to restore law and order and to prevent disturbances prevailing in Palestine from spreading into their territories and to check further bloodshed".Cablegram from the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States to the Secretary-General of the United Nations 15 May 1948 May 23 Thomas C. Wasson, US Consul General, assassinated in Jerusalem. June Violent confrontation between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) under the command of David Ben-Gurion, and the paramilitary Jewish group Irgun known as The Altalena Affair resulted in the dismantlement of the Irgun, Lehi, and all Israeli paramilitary organizations operating outside the IDF. Infiltration by Palestinian fedayeen began from Egypt, resulting in many minor skirmishes, raids and counter-raids, causing hundreds of casualties on both sides, including many civilians. One thousand three hundred Israelis were killed or wounded in paramilitary attacks. September 17 Folke Bernadotte, United Nations Peace Envoy, assassinated in Jerusalem. September 22 The All-Palestine Government assembled in the Egyptian-controlled Gaza Strip and was recognized by all members of the Arab League except Jordan. October 28 The Israeli army killed at least 70 villagers at Al-Dawayima. 1949 February–July Israel concluded the Armistice Agreements with neighbouring countries. The territory of the Mandatory Palestine was divided between the State of Israel, the Transjordan and the All-Palestine Government in Gaza, under prefecture of Egypt. During and after the war about 711,000 Palestinian Arabs became displaced and refugees. 800,000–1,000,000 Jews living in Muslim countries left or were expelled during or after the war. February 24 Armistice signed with Egypt. February 148 infiltrators killed by the Israeli army during February in area around Majdal/Ashkelon.Morris, Benny(1993) Israel's Border Wars, 1949–1956: Arab Infiltration, Israeli Retaliation, and the Countdown to the Suez War. Oxford University Press, . p. 135 March 23 Armistice signed with Lebanon. April 3 Armistice signed with Transjordan. June Israeli army killed 93 infiltrators along Southern Jordan and Gaza Strip borders.Morris, Border Wars. p. 135 July 30 Armistice signed with Syria. July 59 infiltrators killed by Israeli army. It is estimated that at least 1000 were killed during 1949, the vast majority of them unarmed.Morris, Border Wars. p. 136ff
1948–1966 Between 1949 and 1953, there were 99 complaints made by Israel about the infiltration of armed groups or individuals and 30 complaints of armed Jordanian units crossing into Israeli territory.UN DOC S/PV 630 of 27 October 1953 Several hundred Israeli civilians were killed by infiltrators, and some were raped and mutilated. Israel launched numerous reprisal raids in response. Between 1949 and 1956, 286 Israeli civilians were killed. During the same period, excluding the Suez War, 258 Israeli soldiers were killed. Between 2,700 and 5,000 Arab infiltrators were killed. It is unclear whether these Arabs were really infiltrators or were simply unauthorized crossers, as many Palestinians were crossing into Israel for economic reasons. The Israeli forces necessarily treated anyone attempting unauthorized entry as a potential infiltrator, given the level of bloodshed.
Month, Day Event(s) 1951 The State of Israel was confronted by a wave of Palestinian infiltrations (fedayeen). In 1951, 118 Israelis, including 48 civilians, were killed by such infiltrators. According to Israeli army records, an average of 36 infiltrators were killed each month during 1951.Morris Border Wars. pp. 54, 98, 136 Arabs were also being attacked by the Israelis, and the overall situation deteriorated. Israel began Retribution Operations as punishment and prevention measures. February 6–7 Sharafat, a village south-west of Jerusalem, attacked by Israeli army. Nine villagers killed.Morris Border Wars. p. 194 1952 68 Israelis, including 42 civilians, were killed by Palestinian infiltrators. The Israeli army killed a monthly average of 33 people crossing the armistice lines, including 78 in March and 57 in April. January 6–7 Israeli army attacked Bayt Jala killing seven people.Morris Border Wars. p. 204 1953 71 Israelis, including 44 civilians, killed by Palestinian infiltrators. April 22 At least six Jordanian soldiers killed by Israeli sniper fire from West Jerusalem.Morris Border Wars. p. 221. Glubb Pasha records ten killed. May 17–23 Operation "Viper on the Track": seven West Bank villages and a Bedouin camp in Israel attacked by Israeli army. August 11–12 Operation "Vengeance and Reprisal": four West Bank villages attacked by Israeli army, including al-Khader and Surif. Six people killed. October 16 Qibya massacre. Unit 101, commanded by Ariel Sharon, carried out a raid on the village of Qibya. Over 60 Arabs killed. 1954 57 Israelis killed, including 33 civilians. Israeli Border Police record between May and December they killed 51 infiltrators.Morris Border Wars. pp. 54, 98, 137 March 16–17 Ma'ale Akrabim massacre: Arab gang attacked an Israeli civilian bus, killing 11. April 28–29 Operation "Lion": Nahhalin village attacked by Israeli army. Nine people killed: four National Guardsmen, three Jordanian soldiers, the village mukhtar and a woman.Morris Border Wars. p. 301 July 10–12 Operation "Eye for an Eye": An Israeli company led by Ariel Sharon attacked a post on the Gaza border near Kissufim, killing 9 or 10 Palestinian gendarmes.Morris Border Wars. p.314 July 23–24 Start of the Lavon Affair. 1955 74 Israelis killed, including 24 civilians. The Israeli army recorded 36 hostile infiltrators as killed. February 28 –March 1 Operation "Black Arrow": Ariel Sharon led an Israeli attack on an Egyptian army base in the Gaza Strip, killing 38 soldiers and two civilians.Morris Border Wars. p. 325 August 31 –September 1 Israeli army attacked outskirts of Khan Yunis. 72 Egyptians and Palestinians killed.Morris Border Wars. p. 350 October 27–28 Ariel Sharon led a force of 200 Israeli paratroopers on an attack on Kuntilla. 12 Egyptian soldiers killed.Morris Border Wars. p. 358 November 2–3 Operation "Volcano": the Israeli army attacked Egyptian army positions in al Sabha and Wadi Siram, killing 81 Egyptian soldiers.Morris Border Wars. pp. 359, 360 December 11–12 Operation "Olive Leaves": a large Israeli force commanded by Ariel Sharon attacked Syrian positions east of Lake Tiberias. 48 Syrian soldiers and six civilians killed.Morris Border Wars. p. 397 1956 117 Israelis killed, including 54 civilians (excluding soldiers killed during the attack on the Suez Canal).Morris Border Wars. pp. 54, 98 April 5 Moshe Dayan ordered the shelling of the centre of Gaza City with 120 mm mortars. 57 civilians and four Egyptian soldiers killed.Morris Border Wars. p. 371 October 9 Qalqilya police station attacked by an Israeli battalion-sized force that included armour and artillery. Between 70 and 90 Jordanians killed. October 29 –November Suez Crisis. Israel invaded Egypt's Sinai Peninsula with covert assent from France and Britain. The European nations had economic and trading interests in the Suez Canal, while Israel wanted to reopen the canal for Israeli shipping and end Egyptian-supported fedayeen incursions and attacks. Israel completely withdrew six months later when Egypt assured Israel unimpeded navigation and safety. In the Kafr Qasim massacre, 48 or 49 Arab civilians were killed by the Israel Border Police as they returned to their village from work. 1957 March Israel withdrew its forces from the Sinai Peninsula, ending the Suez Crisis. 1959 The Cairo-born Yasser Arafat formed Fatah to conduct guerrilla warfare operations against Israel. 1963 In a new wave of Arab socialism, the Ba'ath Party took power in Iraq and Syria. Among the key Ba'ath aims was the support of the Palestinian cause. 1964 February 3 The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was founded in Cairo by the Arab League. Ahmad Shuqeiri was its first leader, although the organization was de facto controlled by the Egyptian government. The PLO stated their goal as the destruction of the State of Israel through armed struggle and its replacement with an "independent Palestinian state" between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean.
1967–1973
Month, Day Event(s) 1967 June The Six-Day War. Israel launched a defensive strike on Egyptian Air Force (June 5), following Egyptian naval blockade of the Straits of Tiran (May 22) and Egyptian military buildup in the Sinai Peninsula (May 16), interpreted as acts of war. Attack quickly turned into a regional war, in which Israel defeated the combined forces of Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq and their supporters. It captured the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip from Egypt, East Jerusalem and the West Bank from Jordan, and the Golan Heights from Syria. The number of war casualties estimated between 15,000 and 25,000. September 1 The Khartoum Resolution issued at the Arab Summit with eight Arab countries adopted the "three "no"s": 1. No peace with Israel; 2. No recognition of Israel; 3. No negotiations with Israel. November 22 The UN Security Council adopts Resolution 242, the "land for peace" formula, which has been the starting point for further negotiations. 1968