Palestine has been under Islamic rule since the 7th century, and it was interrupted only by the Crusades. This article brings to light the key events that helped to shape the transfer of power from Muslims to Zionists and create a Jewish state on the ruins of an Islamic state. It aims to provide an overview of the origins of Zionism, key historical milestones such as the Balfour Declaration and the capture of Jerusalem by General Allenby, and the subsequent events leading up to the Nakba, the catastrophe of occupation of Palestinian land by Jewish settlers.1
The Emergence of Zionism
Zionism as a political movement began in the late 19th century. Theodor Herzl, often considered the father of modern Zionism, advocated for the establishment of a Jewish homeland as a necessary refuge for Jews fleeing persecution.2 This movement sought to establish a national identity and homeland for Jews. Many places were suggested, including the U.S., Uganda, Argentina, and Albania. It was concluded that Palestine, a region with longstanding religious and historical significance to Jews, Muslims, and Christians alike, was the best option.3
Zionists Try to Buy Palestine
Theodore Herzl, approached Sultan Abdul Hamid II, the leader of the Muslims, with an offer of 35 million golden lira in exchange for the land of Palestine.4 Herzl aimed to secure Palestine as a homeland for the Jewish people. However, Sultan Abdul Hamid II firmly rejected the proposal, expressing his deep commitment to the lands that had been won through the sacrifices of his people. He is famously quoted as saying, "I won't sell anything, not even an inch of this territory because this country does not belong to me but to all Muslims. My people won these lands with their blood. We give what we have the way we got it in the first place."5
This response encapsulates the Sultan's unwavering stance on preserving the integrity of Muslim unity and the sacredness of the land under his rule, particularly Palestine. His refusal to sell the land highlighted his unwavering belief that it was not his to give away but a trust held on behalf of the Muslim Ummah.
Sykes-Picot Agreement
The Sykes-Picot Agreement, signed in 1916 between Britain and France with the approval of Russia, marked a significant and controversial moment in the history of the Middle East. This secret agreement aimed to divide the vast territories of the Ottoman State, which was then on the brink of collapse during World War I. The Muslim lands unified under Ottoman rule for centuries were arbitrarily carved into spheres of influence, disregarding the religious, ethnic, and cultural ties that bound these regions together. The agreement laid the groundwork for the modern borders of much of the Middle East, creating artificial states that would later be plagued by conflict and instability. The division of these lands without the consent of the people living there, and in direct violation of promises made to Arab leaders during the war, sowed seeds of distrust and resentment that continue to influence the region's geopolitics to this day. It was the first step to the creation of Israel on Muslim land.
The Balfour Declaration of 1917
Another pivotal moment for Palestine was the Balfour Declaration in November 1917. British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour conveyed a letter to Baron Rothschild, a leader of the British Jewish community, expressing the British government's support for establishing a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine. The British knew that they would soon capture Palestine and wanted to secure the support of Jews to secure occupation of the land.
(For graphic visit, Balfour Declaration - Wikipedia.)
Jerusalem Under British Control
The strategic importance of Jerusalem in international politics became even more pronounced during and after World War I. In December 1917, General Allenby captured Jerusalem from the Muslims, marking the beginning of British military rule in Palestine. For a second time since the liberation of Palestine by Umar bin al Khattab in the 15th Hijri, the Holy Land became occupied. Allenby is said to have remarked, “Now the Crusades are over.” With Palestine declared a British Mandate in 1920, the plan for Jewish immigration was set in motion.
Jewish immigration to Palestine, 1920–1948
At the start of World War I, Palestine was home to 60,000 Jews, of which 39,000 had Ottoman citizenship, compared to more than 700,000 Ottomans who were Muslim or Christian.6 Immigration to Palestine increased dramatically in the early 19th Century. Waves of Jewish immigrants, known as Aliyahs, arrived during this period, leading to the establishment of new settlements and increasing tensions with the Muslim and Christian populations. By 1948, the Jewish population in Palestine had grown significantly, and the peaceful region had become a battleground between Zionist gangs and the local population.
Terrorism in Palestine
The Irgun and Stern Gang (also known as Lehi) were two Jewish paramilitary groups active in Palestine during the British Mandate period. Both groups emerged in response to British restrictions on Jewish immigration and land purchases, as well as ongoing conflicts with the Arab population. The Irgun employed tactics such as bombings, assassinations, and raids against British targets, aiming to drive the British out of Palestine and establish a Jewish state. The Stern Gang, founded in 1940 by Avraham Stern after splitting from the Irgun, adopted even more extreme measures, including terrorism, to achieve its goals. Both groups were involved in the bombing of the King David Hotel in 1946 by the Irgun, which killed 91 people, as well as burying many Palestinian villages and killing hundreds of Muslims. These militant activities played a significant role in the establishment of the Zionist state.
Deir Yassin Massacre
The Deir Yassin massacre was carried out on April 9, 1948, when a Zionist militia group attacked the Palestinian village of Deir Yassin, located near Jerusalem. In this brutal assault, hundreds of Palestinian villagers, including women and children, were killed. According to testimonies from the perpetrators and surviving victims, many were slaughtered by being tied to trees and burned to death or lined up against a wall and shot by submachine guns including men, women, children, and the elderly. As news of the atrocities spread, thousands fled their villages in fear. Eventually, some 700,000 Palestinians would flee or be forcibly displaced.7
United Nations and the Partition Plan
Post-World War II, with the situation of Jews in Europe, sympathy towards the Zionist cause grew. In 1947, the United Nations Resolution 181 proposed the division of Palestine, allocating about 55% of the land to the Jewish state and 45% to the Arab state. Specifically:
- Jewish State: Approximately 55% of the land, including the coastal plain, much of the Negev Desert, and parts of the Galilee.
- Arab State: Approximately 45% of the land, including the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and the majority of the central highlands.
This plan was accepted by Jewish leaders but rejected by Muslims worldwide. The plan was intended to create two independent states, but it was never fully implemented due to the outbreak of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, in which the Jews gained the majority of the land. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the Jewish forces managed to capture significantly more territory than was allocated to them by the UN. By the end of the war, Israel controlled approximately 78% of the territory of Mandatory Palestine, compared to the 55% that was originally allocated to the Jewish state in the UN plan. This means that the Jewish state gained an additional 23% of the land, including significant areas that were originally designated for the Palestinian state. The remaining 22% of the territory, the West Bank and Gaza Strip, were controlled by Jordan and Egypt, respectively, after the war. Jerusalem came under the control of the British between 1917 and 1948.
The Nakba
The Nakba or catastrophe in 1948 led to the mass displacement of over 700,000 Palestinians as the State of Israel was established. This event marked the beginning of a refugee crisis, with many Palestinians forced from their homes, villages destroyed, and their land occupied. The trauma of the Nakba has been passed down through generations, with millions of Palestinians living as refugees or under occupation, unable to return to their ancestral homes.
Today, the ongoing genocide in Gaza echoes the horrors of the Nakba. The situation in Gaza reflects a continuation of the struggles that began with the Nakba, with Palestinians in Gaza facing extreme hardships, restricted movement, and a lack of access to necessities like food, water, and medical care.
Both the Nakba and the current situation in Gaza illustrate the enduring impact of displacement and conflict on the Palestinian people.8
The establishment of Israel on Palestinian land was not merely a geopolitical event but a profound and ongoing injustice that has left a legacy of conflict, loss, and suffering for the Palestinian people. This foundational moment set the stage for decades of struggle as Palestinians seek recognition, justice, and the right to return to their homeland.
End Notes
1 History of Palestine for Kids
2 Herzl’s Troubled Dream: The Origins of Zionism | History Today
3 Why Israel was almost founded in Albania
4 How Theodor Herzl failed to convince the Ottomans to sell Palestine
5 The Palestine issue that cost Sultan Abdülhamid II the Ottoman throne | Daily Sabah
6 Demography and the Palestine Question (I)
7 How Palestinians were expelled from their homes
8 Animated map of Israel taking over historic Palestine
Uzma Ahmed holds an MA in International Relations from Queen Mary University of London. She has served as an educational consultant, primary school principal, curriculum developer, researcher in Islamic education, and teacher trainer for schools around the world. She actively contributes to the community by conducting courses on the Quran, Sirah, Islamic history, and personal development, and she is a public speaker on contemporary issues in the Muslim world. She has authored primary-level English textbooks, reading books, and 5D Thinking science workbooks. She contributes to curriculum development at the Islamic Curriculum Initiative. Currently, she is the Director of Education and Training at the Institute of Integrated Knowledge.
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