Israel, Gaza, and Palestine: A Quick History
Based on a Powerpoint I prepared soon after the start of the Hamas War in October, 2023.
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1. What and Where is Palestine?
Palestine always referred to a region, not a nation.
The reference to Palestine with the most recent date in Historical Atlas, 9th Ed., by W. R. Shepherd, Barnes & Noble © 1964, is entitled “Development of Christianity to 1300”
The name “Palestine” is not used on the maps of Shepherd’s, the atlas used even today by history scholars. The name only in a list of Roman provinces
The Romans renamed Judea and Samaria “Palestine” after they finally defeated the Jews
There never was a Palestinian nation.
2. Philistines
The name is used in Genesis for a farming society 1700 BCE and in the Book of Samuel as a city-state society. They were not the same people.
The Hebrew name of those people was “Plishtim.”
Plishtim is the biblical term for foreigners who invaded the land.
Emperor Hadrian changed the name of the land from “Judea” to “Palestina” to erase the Jewish identity of the land.
Since then, this name stuck to this land. The land was also known as “The Jewish land.”
For generations, Jews living in Europe were taunted, “Jew, go to Palestine.”
In the early 20th century, Arabs called the land “Southern Syria” because the name “Palestine” was identified with the Jews.
After Israeli statehood, Arabs invented the “Palestinian People.”
“Palestinians” have no historical right to the land.
3. Who Ruled Ancient Palestine?
Jews have lived in this land continuously for almost 4,000 years.
Around 3,000 years ago, Jews established a monarchy over a much larger area than modern Israel.
The land was unified by King Saul as shown on the map.
Gaza here is labeled “Philistines.”
Philistines lasted from 12th century BC to 640 AD. Palestinians are not descendants.
The ancient Philistines were not today’s Palestinians. There was never a Palestinian nation!
4. Who Ruled the Gaza Region After Rome?
Archaeology confirms Jewish communities existed in 70 AD, possibly earlier, probably under self-rule after the Romans left.
Byzantine and, later, Muslim rule lasted until late 12th century
1170 Crusaders conquered and ended Jewish settlement for centuries
Ottoman rule from 15th century; Jewish communities flourished
Britain took over after World War I (1917)
The Jews were forced out of Gaza by anti-Jewish riots in 1929 under British rule
Even in modern times, there was never Palestinian rule in Gaza.
5. But There Must Have Been a Palestinian Nation!?
Judea was conquered by Rome, but Jews resisted, infuriating Rome
No other conquered people resisted Roman rule.
Romans destroyed the Second Jewish Temple 70 AD
Jerusalem’s Jews were taken as slaves to Rome
Romans renamed Judea “Palestine”
Rome wanted to erase memory of the nation “Judea” from the world
There has never, since the beginning of time, been a nation of Palestine nor any self-governing group using that name.
6. Where Did Today’s Palestinians Originate?
Arabs, under Mohammad’s direction or influence, invaded the land around 637AD. It is important to recognize that Arabs have traditionally been nomadic shepherds. “Nomadic” means people who do not settle in one place, but move from one appealing location to another.
Author Mark Twain & LDS (Mormon) missionary Orson Hyde visited Palestine in the 1800s
Both wrote the land was desolate, almost uninhabited, and filled with disease. The Ottomans deforested the land and did nothing to help the residents
There were some small Jewish communities throughout the land. Even though it was poor and unhealthy, it was their land, and they remained.
Most Arabs had abandoned their homes and moved to more hospitable places like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq—where their ancesters had come from
In the late 1800s, Jews fled Russian massacres. Many came to Palestine
In Palestine, they drained the malaria swamps and started building a modern economy
In 1912 American Jewish nurses came and provided health care and health education to all
Arabs came from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and other places for both healthcare and economic opportunity
Most of today’s Palestinians’ ancestors never lived in the land
7. Why Do They Call Themselves Palestinians?
The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) was established in 1964, three years before the “occupation” of 1967.
1964 was before Israel “occupied Palestinian land.” The so-called occupation occurred after the 6-Day War in 1967. A cease-fire then left Judea and Samaria, now often called the “West Bank,” as well as Gaza, in Israel’s hands. This was land assigned to Israel by Great Britain in 1917 and developed by the Jews following 1917, but which after its War for Independence in 1948 was assigned to Jordan (Judea and Samaria) and Egypt (Gaza).
With no “occupation,” what did they want to liberate? All of Israel, and they said it openly in the PLO charter.
The PLO was established on behalf of Egyptian leader Gamal Abed El Nasser. Yassir Arafat was its second leader.
Today’s Palestinians cannot even pronounce the name Palestinian because Arabic has no “P” sound. What nation has a name its people cannot pronounce?
“Palestinian” is a huge scam
8. So Who Are Palestinian Refugees?
They are descendants of Arabs who lived in what is now Israel and who fled when five Arab nations invaded Israel, starting Israel’s war for independence
Slightly more Jews were expelled from Arab nations when Israel was founded; they now make up the majority of Israeli citizens
The United Nations has two refugee agencies
UNRWA, U.N. Relief & Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, works to destroy Israel so these refugees can “return home” after 75 years
UNHCR, UN Refugee Agency works with all other refugees to resettle in new homes as quickly as possible
No other people are considered refugees after three generations. They are sent home or resettled elsewhere
9. Gaza After Israeli Independence
Egyptian rule after Israeli independence (1948)
Israeli rule after 6-Day War (1967)
21 Jewish communities in the northern Gaza Strip (Gush Katif) were developed after 1967
Many Palestinians were employed in Gush Katif
Many more worked inside Israel
Israel built schools, provided sanitation, and brought electricity to all of Gaza
Israelis and Gazans got along peacefully for 38 years
10. What Changed?
Yasser Arafat and PLO started lying about Israel
World pressure for Palestinian self-rule built
Israel unilaterally pulled out of Gaza in 2005
Israel hoped this would bring peace
Gaza Arabs voted for rule by Hamas in free election
Hamas could have declared independence but did not
Hamas is an extreme Islamic movement seeking an Islamic empire
Israel has not “occupied” Gaza since 2005
11. 2005: Israel Pulled Out of Gush Katif
Jewish settlement was in a region of northern Gaza called Gush Katif. All Jews were evacuated in 2005. Within days, it was leveled by the Arabs.
12. Gaza Since 2005
Israel provides water at no cost
Israel provides electricity at no cost
Israel has a blockade of ships to stop the smuggling of arms and other materials used against Israel. The blockade does not generally affect consumer goods or food.
Israel had to remove the bones from all Jewish cemeteries in Gaza to prevent desecration of the graves
Hamas has sent tens of thousands of rockets into Israel
Gaza has self-rule, but Hamas uses it for power and to destroy Israel and Jews, not to benefit its people.
13. Support from East and West
Gaza receives billions in aid:
Since 2012 Qatar has sent $1.3 billion
Iran sends $100 million per year plus weapons and military training
From 2014 to 2020, UN agencies spent close to $4.5 billion
Denmark pledged $33.5 million for Gaza and West Bank
EU pledged $1.9 billion between 2021 and 2024 for Gaza and West Bank
Citizens send millions—both good-hearted and those wishing death to Jews
NGOs (non-governmental organizations) such as Amnesty International, send millions
The government has plenty of money
14. After Each War with Israel, What Happens?
Example: May 2021, Israel retaliated after heavy missile attacks. After that…
Palestinian Authority spent $1.7 billion in Gaza
Egypt pledged $500 million
European Union countries pledged $80 million for water projects
All this was in addition to normal donations from Muslims and well-meaning people from around the world
Gaza rebuilds and rearms—but does little to help citizens
15. What Is Done with the Aid?
Hamas has built a huge network of tunnels and an underground city
Weapons caches
Bunkers
Command centers
Concealed roads to transport terrorists, rocket launchers, etc.
Cells where Israeli hostages have been kept
Pay-for-Slay
Families of “martyrs” (suicide bombers and others who die killing Jews) receive liberal pensions for their lives
Pay to Hamas’s leaders
Hamas leaders live in luxury in Qatar on money sent as humanitarian aid to Gaza
Most humanitarian aid goes to harm Israel and Jews, not to support Gaza’s citizens.
16. Tunnels? With Aid Money?
Some tunnels lead directly to Israeli communities
Easy for terrorists to infiltrate, kidnap, murder
Built under densely populated areas within Gaza
Access points hidden between schools, mosques, hospitals
Located so as to maximize civilian deaths if Israel tries to destroy them
The IDF has found hundreds of miles of tunnels under Gaza
17. Why Did Israel Build a Wall Around Gaza?
Israel’s need for security is ignored by the world
18. Attacks on Israel from Gaza
Rocket attacks on Israeli communities are common, more than 3,000 just on October 7-8, 2023
Israel only attacks Gaza when provoked by mass rocket fire
Israel drops leaflets in Arabic over target areas telling people to leave before Israel bombs the place
Hamas often prevents people from leaving so as to drive up the number of civilians killed
“Moral equivalency” is a myth based on current western thought that divides the world into “oppressors” and “victims.” In that world, “victims” are people of color who have the moral right to attack people of whom they are jealous, i.e., those they call “white oppressors,” regardless of any other factors including the races of those so-called oppressors or any history of attacks.
In a truly moral world, the number of deaths from unprovoked attacks has no correlation to the number of deaths of perpetrators of those attacks
Civilian deaths due to rocket launchers Hamas places in schools and hospitals cannot be blamed on Israel. They are direct results of Hamas’ use of civilians as human shields.
Israel cannot create peace since Hamas wants war
19. Why Did Israel Respond So Strongly This Time?
The October 7, 2023 attacks were completely unprovoked and incredibly brutal
Occurring on one of the holiest days of the year, the holiday of Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah,
At 6:30 AM, on sleeping villages and young adults camping at a music festival
Babies were burned alive in kitchen ovens, women were gang raped and then murdered, people were beheaded in their beds.
The 1200 deaths is equivalent, by population, to 44,000 Americans
Over 250 Israelis were taken hostage; 6 months later around 130 remain.
This was the worst, but by no means the only, attack on Israeli civilians from Gaza
Links to just a few examples:
The October 7 attacks ended Israelis’ hopes that restraint would eventually result in peace.
20. What Alternatives do the Occupied Have?
Gaza is not occupied. Hamas is a government that was democratically elected
Israel provides electricity and water at no charge
Shutting it off briefly has been a non-violent way Israel could signal to the masses its displeasure and anger at attacks on its civilians
Israel sends building materials; in the first half 2014 Israel sent 181 thousand tons
Meant for houses, hospitals, schools and libraries
To improve the quality of life of citizens
Israel also provides vast amounts of consumer goods including food
The only restricted goods are weapons, war materials, and certain things with both military & civilian uses
Aid could be used to develop a healthy economy, not war
Should Israel Do More for Them?
21. What Should Israel Do?
People say, “Give peace a chance”
Israel returned Gaza to Palestinian control and the situation got worse
Next suggestion?
22. The Myth of Multiculturalism
Has multiculturalism benefitted society or hurt it?
23. Compassion?
The ancient sages of Israel wrote that those who have compassion for evildoers will in the end do evil to those who deserve compassion.
We have seen this play out in the history of Israel, the Arabs living in Gaza, and the compassionate around the world who have funded Hamas.
Use your compassion wisely, do not throw it at everyone who hurts, or in the end you will hurt others.
A ceasefire because of the Gazans’ situation will result in Hamas rearming and returning to strength, which it will use against Israel.
If this happens, all the death and suffering—on both sides—will have been in vain.
Standing with Israel today may be unpopular, but it is the moral thing to do.
24. How Can You Support Israel?
This essay is free. Share it with friends, church groups, etc.
Personal prayers help
Lead congregational prayers if you are a prayer leader
Read Psalms, especially 20, 79, 83, 121, 123, 130, and 142.
Write to your congressmen and women
Do an internet search for “write senator (or representative) for [state]” and you will get a link to write an online letter
Write to your local paper
With enough local letters supporting Israel, an editor might find it necessary to publish one or two.
2-sentence letters from ten people are better than a 20-sentence letter from one person.
Donate. These are excellent organizations (there are others).
Zakaworld.org (humanitarian aid and rescue)
Hatzalah.org (emergency medical aid—all volunteer)
afmda.org (Magen David Adom [like Red Cross], emergency ambulance)
Kkl-jnf.org (repairing and rebuilding in areas damaged by terrorism and rockets)
Write to your (or your children’s) college or university and demand that they punish professors who teach anti-Semitism and anti-Israelism and students who harrass Jewish students and professors.
Sources
https://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_Authority_Martyrs_Fund, accessed 12 October 2023.
https://jewishvirtuallibrary.org/Israeli-humanitarian-aid-to-the-gaza-strip, Israeli Humanitarian Operations, accessed 12 October 2023.
https://jfedsrq.org/did-israel-create-the-palestinian-refugee-issue/ Millstone, David, Did Jews Take Israel away from Palestinians? Blog, Jewish Federation of Sarasota & Manatee Counties (FL), Dec. 8, 2020, accessed Oct. 11, 2023.
https://www.blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-invention-of-the-palestinian people/, Meyer, Alan, 9 August 2019, accessed 12 October 2023.
https://www.idf.il/en/mini-sites/hamas/everything-you-need-to-know-about-hamas-underground-city-of-terror/, Israel Defense Forces Editorial Team, accessed 11 October 2023.
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-funding-to-Palestine-in-question-following-hamas-attack, Lynch, Suzanne, Sorgi, Gregorio, EU halts Palestinian funding following Hamas Attack, October 9, 2023, accessed 12 October 2023.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/10/09/uk-has-no-plans-to-suspend--millions-in-aid-to-Palestine/, accessed 12 October 2023.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/10/eu-aid-to-Palestinians-will-not-be-cancelled-as-decision-reversed?ref=upstract.com, Wintour, Patrick, O’Carroll, Lisa, 10 Oct. 2023, 10.14 BST, accessed 12 October 2023.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/where-do-the-billions-of-dollars-in-foreign-aid-really-go, accessed 11 October 2023.
Shepherd, William R., Historical Atlas, 9th ed., Map, Barnes & Noble, Inc., New York, 1964.
Permission has been requested for illustrations.
Thanks to B.E. for reviewing and A.W.W. for proofreading this essay.
Hanna, you just said it all, and accurately and precisely to boot.