Endless Battle of Palestinian

Nama : Zaenal RM

NIM : 104223031

PRODI : Teknik Lingkungan

A Brief History

The Palestinian Israeli conflict is not simply a dispute between two equals. It
is a story of land inhabited, then taken; of a people living in peace, then
driven out; of a people denied the right to exist in their own land. At the
heart of the conflict is the struggle for land and the denial of the basic rights
of the Palestinian people, which continues to this day.

In the late 19th century, a political movement was born in Europe called
Zionism. Its goal was to establish a state for the Jewish people in what they
called the “Promised Land” referring to the land of Palestine. However, that
land was not empty land. Palestine had been inhabited for thousands of
years by Palestinian Arabs, who were Muslims, Christians, and a small
minority of local Jews living side by side. When the Zionists said they wanted
to “return” to that land, they ignored the fact that it was already home to
millions of people.

The problems began to get serious when Britain took control of Palestine
after World War I and issued the Balfour Declaration (1917), a statement
promising British support for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in
Palestine. Surprisingly, the promise was made without the consent of the
Palestinian people. From then on, the wave of Jewish immigration to Palestine
increased sharply, aided politically and logistically by British colonial rule.
The Palestinians began to feel threatened; not only because the number of
immigrants increased, but also because their land was bought in large
quantities or taken over by force.

The flashpoint of the conflict began in 1947, when the United Nations (UN)
agreed to divide Palestine: 55% for Jews, 45% for Palestinian Arabs. In fact,
at that time Jews were only about 30% of the population and owned less than
7% of the land. The Palestinians rejected the division as unfair and one-sided.
But the Zionists agreed, and on May 14, 1948, they unilaterally established
the state of Israel.
The next day, war broke out between the Arab countries and Israel. But that
was not the most tragic part. In the process of establishing the state, more
than 750,000 Palestinians were forced from their homes and villages. They
became refugees, a disaster known as the Nakba (catastrophe). City after
city, village after village was destroyed. The Palestinian people lost not only
their land, but also their identity, rights, and hopes.

After the 1948 war, Israel controlled more than 78% of Palestine. But the
aggression did not stop there. In 1967, Israel launched another war and
occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza territories that were
supposed to be part of a future Palestinian state. Since then, the military
occupation and expansion of illegal Jewish settlements have continued
unabated. Separation walls have been built, homes have been demolished,
and a discriminatory legal system has been imposed, separating the rights of
Jews and Palestinians.

Meanwhile, in Gaza, more than two million Palestinians have been living
under a total blockade since 2007. They are restricted from access to clean
water, electricity, medicine, and even food. Every few years, this small
territory is attacked with disproportionate military force. Thousands of
civilians, including children, are killed. The world calls this a conflict. But for
the Palestinian people, it is an ongoing occupation.

This conflict is not about religion. This is not simply a dispute between Jews
and Muslims. This is about injustice, modern colonialism, and the deprivation
of the right to life. The Palestinian people have repeatedly offered a peaceful
solution, but as long as their right to return, to live freely, and to seek justice
is not recognized then the resistance will remain. Because for them,
resistance is not an option, but a way to survive.
Media and Role of Western Countries

However, what makes the Palestinian people’s suffering continue without

end is not only Israel’s military power, but also the political support and
media protection of the world’s major powers, especially the United States
and its Western allies. Since the beginning of Israel’s existence, America has
been a loyal supporter not only diplomatically, but also financially and
militarily. Every year, billions of dollars are poured out of Washington to fund
Israel’s combat equipment, including missiles, aircraft, and defense systems.
Even when the international community calls for an end to the violence or
condemns Israel’s human rights violations, America is always there as the
main protector with veto power, thwarting any attempt to condemn its ally in
the UN Security Council.

Meanwhile, in the international media, this conflict is often portrayed in a

way that obscures the real reality. Major media outlets such as CNN, BBC,
and The New York Times tend to use confusing language: Israel is said to be
“striking back,” while Palestinian rockets are called “terrorist attacks.” The
Palestinian people are rarely referred to as victims of occupation, but rather
as parties “involved in the conflict.” This narrative is not without its impact. It
shapes global public opinion, instilling the perception that this is just a
conflict between two equally strong parties, when in fact it is a conflict
between a fully armed occupier and a people living in limitations and
blockade.

Behind all this, there is a very strong political lobby such as AIPAC in
America, which ensures that every politician remains in line with their
support for Israel. Criticism of Israel is often followed by political punishment:
loss of campaign funds, being labeled anti-Semitic, even a ruined career. On
the other hand, the arms and defense industries actually benefit from the
ongoing conflict. For some elites, war is not just a geopolitical issue — but
also a profitable business. The longer the conflict lasts, the more contracts
and transactions flow.

This is what makes the Palestinian people's struggle so difficult. They are not
only fighting the army, but also a global system that is not neutral, a system
that claims to uphold human rights, but turns a blind eye to real suffering.
When the world is selective in defending humanity, when lives are treated
differently depending on their identity, then justice becomes an illusion. And
amidst this illusion, the Palestinian people continue to stand up, continue to
speak out, and continue to resist, not just for their land, but for the right to
be considered fully human.

Suffering and Cruelty

If we trace the deepest wounds of this conflict, we will arrive at a human

rights violation that is so systematic and continues without sanction. Under
the Israeli occupation, the Palestinian people have not only lost their land,
but also their most basic right to a decent and safe life. Homes are bulldozed
without warning, agricultural fields are destroyed, and villages are destroyed
to expand illegal settlements that are only allowed to be inhabited by Jews.
Even schools, hospitals, and mosques that should be protected by
international law are often targeted by military attacks, and many videos
showing civilian infrastructure being destroyed have gone viral, but the world
remains silent.

No one is truly safe. Medical personnel and humanitarian workers, including

those wearing the Red Cross and Red Crescent symbols, are also targeted.
Ambulances are destroyed, doctors are shot while helping victims, and
hospitals are bombed under the pretext of the presence of “militants.” Even
international journalists and activists who carry only a camera or a pen, not a
weapon, have been victims of violence or even killed as happened to Shireen
Abu Akleh, a senior Al Jazeera journalist who was shot dead while wearing a
press vest.
Moreover, Israel has imposed a total blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007,
making it the world’s largest open-air prison. Access to clean water,
electricity, food, medicine, and building materials is tightly controlled.
Children grow up in darkness and trauma, because they do not know when
the electricity will come on or when the sound of a plane in the sky will turn
into an explosion. In this Zionist-created system, the Palestinian people are
kept in poverty and fear, not because of natural disasters, but because of
deliberate political decisions.

All this is happening in conditions of a very stark power imbalance. Israel is

one of the world’s largest militaries, with advanced technological support
from the United States. They have tanks, drones, the Iron Dome system, and
F-35 fighter jets. On the other hand, the Palestinians have only stones,
slingshots, or simple rockets, mostly fired from the besieged territory. This is
not a war between two armies, but between an army and a people. When
schools are attacked, and children are martyred before they can even
memorize the name of their own country, the world should know that this is
more than a conflict, it is the blatant oppression of a nation trying to survive.

But while the world is often silent, the voices of resistance live on through
poetry, murals painted on crumbling walls, and the voice of a child who says,
“I am not afraid of death, I just want to live a decent life.” The atrocities that
continue to occur are not just historical records, but wounds that continue to
bleed and have not healed because the perpetrators are still free, and the
victims are still waiting for justice.

Wisdom and Great Power

But behind all the suffering and cruelty, there is one thing that can never be
destroyed by bullets or bombs: the spirit of resistance of the Palestinian
people. In their limitations, they still stand. In their occupation, they remain
dignified. From generation to generation, Palestinian children grow up not
only with trauma, but also with determination. In the eyes of the world, they
may seem defeated in terms of weapons — but in the field of meaning and
values, they are a victorious nation. That victory lies in their persistence in
defending their identity, land, and honor, even when the world chooses to
turn away. This is the greatest wisdom of the Palestinian resistance: that
truth does not die even when imprisoned, and that human dignity can
survive even in the rubble. They teach the world that fighting oppression is
not always about winning or losing but about standing still when everyone
tries to bring you down. When the world sees a small child holding a flag in
front of a tank, or a mother smiling over her child's body, saying "he is a
martyr," then the world realizes that what we are witnessing is not just
suffering, but the steadfastness of faith and the sincerity of love for the
homeland that is unmatched.

Kesimpulan

So for those of us who are far from the land of Palestine, it does not mean
that we cannot do anything. The struggle is not only on the battlefield - it
also lives in awareness, education, and solidarity. We can start from the real
thing:

 Spreading correct information, fighting biased media propaganda.

 Praying for them, because prayers from a caring heart transcend

geographical boundaries.

 Supporting materially, through trusted donations for medical, food, and

reconstruction.
  Speaking up in public spaces, whether through writing, art, content, or
discussion, so that the narrative of truth remains alive.

 Educating generations, so that our children and grandchildren know

who is being oppressed and who is fighting for independence.

Palestine is not just a name on a map. It is a symbol of steadfastness, love

for the land, and an unyielding spirit. And as long as there are still those who
care, as long as there are still those who speak up, Palestine is never alone.

❝Because in truth, every human being who stands up for justice is part of
Palestine - even if they have never set foot on its land.❞
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system of domination and crime against humanity. Diakses dari:
https://www.amnesty.org

Human Rights Watch. (2021). A Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the
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Al Jazeera. (2023–2024). Berbagai artikel investigasi dan dokumentasi visual

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Diakses dari: https://www.haaretz.com

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https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east

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the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. Diakses dari:
https://www.btselem.org

The Guardian. (2023). Israel claims Hamas uses human shields under
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The Intercept. (2023). Reports on media distortion in coverage of Gaza.

Diakses dari: https://theintercept.com

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