Reference
Timeline
The main events in order. Each one links to the chapter that explains it.
Before modern times
around 1000 BCE
Ancient Jewish kingdoms
Kingdoms of Israel and Judah; Jerusalem becomes the centre of Jewish religious life.
70 CE
Romans destroy the Temple
After a Jewish revolt, Rome destroys Jerusalem's Second Temple. Over the following centuries most Jews live in exile (the diaspora), though a small community always remains.
around 638
Arab Muslim conquest
Arab armies take Jerusalem. Over the centuries most of the population becomes Arabic-speaking and mostly Muslim.
1517
Ottoman rule begins
The Ottoman (Turkish) Empire rules the region for 400 years.
Two national movements (1880s–1947)
1882
First wave of Zionist immigration
Jews fleeing persecution in Russia and Eastern Europe start farming communities in Ottoman Palestine.
1897
First Zionist Congress
Theodor Herzl calls for a Jewish national home in Palestine.
2 November 1917
Balfour Declaration
Britain backs 'a national home for the Jewish people' in Palestine. Weeks later British troops take Jerusalem from the Ottomans.
1920
British Mandate
Britain begins ruling Palestine; the League of Nations confirms the Mandate in 1922.
1929
Riots and the Hebron massacre
Violence over Jerusalem's holy places spreads: 133 Jews are killed, 67 of them in a massacre in Hebron, and 116 Arabs, mostly by British police.
1936–1939
Arab Revolt
Palestinian Arabs rise up against British rule and Jewish immigration. Britain crushes the revolt; about 5,000 Arabs are killed.
1939
British White Paper
Britain sharply limits Jewish immigration — just as Jews try to escape Nazi Europe.
1941–1945
The Holocaust
Nazi Germany and its allies murder about six million Jews.
29 November 1947
UN Partition Plan
The UN votes to divide Palestine into Jewish and Arab states. Jewish leaders accept; Arab leaders reject. Civil war begins.
Wars and occupation (1948–1987)
14 May 1948
Israel declares independence
The next day, armies of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon invade. About 700,000 Palestinians flee or are driven out — the Nakba.
1949
Ceasefire lines
Israel holds about 78% of former Mandate Palestine. Jordan holds the West Bank and East Jerusalem; Egypt holds Gaza.
1956
Suez War
Israel, Britain and France attack Egypt; Israel briefly occupies Gaza and Sinai.
1964
PLO founded
The Palestine Liberation Organization is created; Yasser Arafat leads it from 1969.
5–10 June 1967
Six-Day War
Israel captures Sinai, Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. Military rule over Palestinians begins.
1972
Munich Olympics attack
Palestinian militants kill 11 Israeli athletes and coaches.
October 1973
Yom Kippur War
Egypt and Syria launch a surprise attack; Israel recovers after heavy losses.
1979
Egypt–Israel peace
The first peace treaty between Israel and an Arab state. Israel returns Sinai by 1982.
1982
Lebanon War
Israel invades Lebanon to drive out the PLO. Lebanese Christian militiamen massacre hundreds of Palestinians at Sabra and Shatila while the area is under Israeli army control.
Uprisings and peace talks (1987–2005)
December 1987
First intifada; Hamas founded
A mass Palestinian uprising begins in Gaza and spreads to the West Bank. Hamas is founded.
13 September 1993
Oslo Accords
Israel and the PLO recognise each other on the White House lawn.
1994
Palestinian Authority; peace with Jordan
Palestinian self-rule begins in Gaza and Jericho. Jordan signs peace with Israel. A Jewish settler kills 29 Muslim worshippers in Hebron; Hamas, which carried out its first suicide attack in 1993, begins bombing buses in Israel.
4 November 1995
Rabin assassinated
Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin is killed by a Jewish extremist opposed to the peace process.
July 2000
Camp David summit fails
Talks between Ehud Barak and Yasser Arafat, hosted by Bill Clinton, end without a deal. In September the second intifada begins.
2002
Separation barrier
During a wave of suicide bombings, Israel retakes West Bank cities and starts building a barrier.
August–September 2005
Israel leaves Gaza
Israel removes all its settlers and soldiers from Gaza but keeps control of its borders, air and sea.
Gaza under Hamas (2006–2023)
January 2006
Hamas wins election
Hamas wins the Palestinian parliamentary election. Israel and Western donors cut ties with its government.
June 2007
Hamas takes over Gaza
After fighting with Fatah, Hamas seizes Gaza. Israel and Egypt tighten a blockade.
Dec 2008 – Jan 2009
First Gaza war
After a five-month truce breaks down — an Israeli raid in November, then heavy rocket fire — Israel attacks Gaza: about 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis are killed.
July–August 2014
2014 Gaza war
About 2,250 Palestinians and 73 Israelis are killed in 50 days.
2018–2019
Great March of Return
Mass protests at the Gaza fence; Israeli forces kill over 200 Palestinians. Israel says Hamas used the protests as cover for attacks.
2020
Abraham Accords
The UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan agree to normalise ties with Israel.
May 2021
11-day war
After clashes at Al-Aqsa and over planned evictions of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, Hamas fires rockets at Jerusalem, starting an 11-day war: about 260 Palestinians and 13 people in Israel are killed.
7 October and after (2023–today)
7 October 2023
Hamas-led attack on Israel
About 1,200 people are killed and 251 taken hostage. Israel declares war on Hamas.
27 October 2023
Israeli ground invasion
After weeks of air strikes and a 'complete siege', Israeli troops enter Gaza.
24 Nov – 1 Dec 2023
First truce
105 hostages are freed in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.
26 January 2024
ICJ orders Israel to prevent genocidal acts
In South Africa's case, the UN's top court orders emergency measures; it does not rule on whether genocide is happening.
May 2024
Rafah offensive
Israel moves into Rafah and takes control of Gaza's border with Egypt.
19 July 2024
UN court: the occupation is unlawful
In a non-binding advisory opinion, the International Court of Justice says Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories is unlawful and should end as soon as possible. Israel rejects it.
16 October 2024
Yahya Sinwar killed
Israeli troops kill the Hamas leader who planned 7 October. In September Israel had killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon.
21 November 2024
ICC arrest warrants
The International Criminal Court issues warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant and Hamas commander Mohammed Deif.
19 January 2025
Second ceasefire
A truce brings back 33 Israeli hostages (25 alive, 8 dead) and five Thai workers, in exchange for about 1,800 Palestinian prisoners. Israel stops all aid on 2 March and resumes the war on 18 March.
June 2025
Israel–Iran war
A 12-day war; the United States bombs Iran's nuclear sites.
22 August 2025
Famine confirmed
The global hunger monitor confirms famine in the Gaza City area. Israel rejects the finding.
September 2025
Genocide finding; new recognitions
A UN commission of inquiry says Israel has committed genocide; Israel rejects it. The UK, France, Canada, Australia and others recognise a Palestinian state.
10 October 2025
Ceasefire under the Trump plan
Fighting largely stops. On 13 October the last 20 living hostages come home and 1,968 Palestinians are freed.
17 November 2025
UN backs the plan
Security Council Resolution 2803 endorses the Board of Peace and an international stabilisation force.
26 January 2026
Last hostage returned
The remains of police officer Ran Gvili are recovered. No hostages remain in Gaza.
2 February 2026
Rafah crossing reopens
Gaza's crossing with Egypt reopens for limited movement of people.
28 February 2026
War with Iran
US and Israeli strikes on Iran kill its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, starting a wider regional war. Fighting with Hezbollah in Lebanon resumes in March.
October 2026
Ceasefire strained, Israel votes
Israel holds at least 60% of Gaza; the stabilisation force has not deployed and Hamas has not disarmed. Israel's 27 October election leaves no clear majority.