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Palestine’s Struggle: From Ottoman Rule to Modern Divisions


(photo: Arab News)

by Martin Aslan

As the attack on October 7 of this year burst out in extreme violence on both sides, it seems necessary to look back on a long lasting conflict that worries the international opinion like no other.

During the Ottoman period, Palestine was under Turkish ruling for 400 years. After the collapse of the Ottoman empire and under the British mandate, a Partition Plan was voted by the UN General Assembly on 29 November 1947 for the creation of a Jewish state and an Arab state. By rejecting this decision, Palestine entered a long lasting conflict with the Jewish state. Now a symbol, the Palestinian issue has become a token for some Muslim countries to amplify their anti Western rhetoric. 

A throwback to the 16th century – Ottoman ruling:

1517 is a turning point for the Ottoman Empire: Suleiman the Magnificent takes the Calif after conquering Egypt and within the same year, Palestine is falls under Ottoman control. From 1535 to 1541, the Emperor orders the restoration of the Dome of Rock and the city walls and shuts down the Golden Gate to prevent the Messiah from entering the city. The Calif influence puts non Muslim populations under pressure but the millet systems allows for a certain cultural and religious tolerance in exchange for their loyalty to the Ottoman Empire. 

From Ottoman ruling to British mandate to independence:

After the fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1923, Palestine falls under British mandate. In the wake of the vote of the UN General Assembly on 29 November in 1947, clashes broke out between the Arab and Jewish communities. The British Empire abandon their sovereignty and in 1948 David Ben Gourion proclaims Israel independence. As a consequence of these communal conflicts, the Nakba begins: 750 000 Palestinians flee their lands to find refuse in Lebanon, Syria and Jordan camps. 

Palestine’s independence is finally proclaimed on 15 November 1988. Although the Palestinian National Authority became the Palestinian State, the country remains divided between the Hamas in Gaza and the Fatah on the West Bank. 

The supporters of the Palestinian cause: 

The Muslim Brotherhood founded in Cairo becomes progressively involved in the Palestinian and Israeli tensions in the 1940s. In 1945 an armed branch is created in Palestine to fight Zionism and many activists join the struggle in 1948. Founded in 1987, Hamas is a radical Islamist and nationalist Palestinian movement. Although Hamas is classified a terrorist organization by close to thirty Western countries, the organization is financially supported by the Qatar. Although Iran is a Shiite-majority country, it remains Hamas' primary supporter through the Revolutionary Guards. The Lebanese Hezbollah is also a key ally of Hamas. 

Turkiye now presents a unique case: while Palestine was under Ottoman rule for 400 years, Turkiye became the first Muslim-majority state to recognize Israel in 1949. Despite its deep cultural and religious ties to Palestine, Turkiye remains a strong advocate for the Palestinian cause. However, it is also working to strengthen economic relations with Israel, particularly in the energy sector. This ambiguous stance reflects Ankara’s strategic approach to maximizing its influence in international affairs.


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