Due to the nature of this story I feel that it is important for those who have no knowledge on the occupation of Palestine, to be enlightened. I have created a short summary of the historical context of how and why Israel came to occupy Palestine, which will hopefully provide an introduction and allow you - the reader - to have a better understanding of this story. 

NOTE: This is an EXTREMELY undetailed and concise recollection of what occurred. If anyone is interested in a more detailed and specific explanation please do not hesistate to ask.

Historical Context 

On the 15th of May 1948, Israel (supported by Britain and America) occupied the land of Palestine, expellling 750,000 Palestinians from their homes, committing 31 massacres and destroying 531 towns, committing one of the largest acts of genocide. 

After the Ottoman Empire was defeated (WW1), Palestine became a British mandate (was under British rule). In the early 1900's anti-semitism was on the rise and numerous events (e.g. the Dreyfus Affair in France), caused Jewish people to feel that they weren't safe unless they had their own homeland. In WW2 anti-semitism only increased.

In response, some Jews created the political concept of Zionism - where political manipulation would be used to allow them to gain land to live in. Zionism was particularly popular in America and Britain. 

In November of 1917 the foreign secretary officer (Arthur James Baflour) sent a letter to Britain's wealthiest and most influential Jew (Walter Rothschild) expressing his and the British governments support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Thus the Balfour Declaration was created whereby, Britain illegally authorised Jews to establish a homeland in Palestine. 

To be unbiased the letter did state that 'nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine ..." This however only goes to show that Israel defied every authority it was given. It certainly, not only prejudiced, but destroyed every Palestinian and Palestinian land that was in it's way. First and foremost, what gave them the right to just hand over a country, already populated by one peoples, to another? 

The influence of this declaration was almost immediate and with international support of Zionism growing after WW2 and the holocaust, in 1948, the official declaration of the State of Israel occurred. It has now been 66 years since Israel came to illegally occupy Palestine, bringing with it generous amounts of murder and bloodshed. 

- This is NOT an Arab-Israeli conflict. This is a one-sided act of war 

- This is NOT a war based on religion - religion has nothing to do with this

- It is solely based on Zionist movements to illegally gain Palestinian land to live in, utilising religion to justify their acts of genocide

- Gaza is the only area under 'Palestinian authority'. However these areas are constantly being bombed by Israel and are under extreme danger. 

- The Gaza strip is a tiny area of land and is one of the most densely populated areas on Earth with 1.7 million people living in it. There are two borders at the top, or North of Gaza (Erez border) and one at the bottom South of Gaza (Rafah border). The Erez border connects and leads into the Israeli settlements areas (e.g. Jersualem and West Bank). The Rafah border divides Gaza and Egypt. This border is controlled by the Egyptian army (who are pro-Israeli).

- Everything that comes in and out of Gaza is monitored, right down to the calories of food.

- If you want to travel outside of Gaza you need permits, I.D.s and visas as well as travelling through checkpoints. This is timely, inconvenient, dangerous and let's not forget happens within their own homeland. 

- The current state of Gaza after operation Protective Edge which began in July 2014; Gaza city is completely in ruins. Not one single home has been rebuilt, no rubble cleared, electricity can cut out for up to 16 hours a day leaving people freezing/burning in their homes and those in hospitals without proper treatment. Thousands of people are now homeless, economy is downtrodden and many rely on the charity and aid from international corporations.

- It is not uncommon, that in the West Bank, Israeli settlers will simply walk into a Palestinian home and evict/kick out everyone who is currently living there so that they can inhabit the home. Can you just imagine this?

- Israeli settlers are constantly provoking aggression and starting violence. 31st July 2015 - settlers set fire to a home in the Duma Village in occupied West Bank resulting in the death of a 1.5 year old baby (Ali Dawabshe) and his father. Only six months sentencing was given to the murderer whilst a Palestinian who dares to throw a rock can be jailed for up to 20 years.