What's happening?

It began just after 1am on Monday, people in JeninA Palestinian city in an area of the West Bank occupied by Israel. in PalestineAn area located in the Southern Levant region of Western Asia. woke up to smoke and noise. Israeli soldiers had stormed in.

Ten PalestiniansPeople from Palestine, an area located in the Southern Levant region of Western Asia. are believed to have been killed, with a hundred others wounded.

IsraelA country in the Middle East, and the only Jewish nation in the modern period. It is seen by Jews, Christians and Muslims as the Holy Land. claimed the raid was needed to stop terrorists. Palestinians do not agree. Either way, experts say, it is a sign that one of the world's longest-running conflictsSerious and longstanding disagreements. still goes on.

This conflict began in 1948, when two countries were formed. The UNUnited Nations. An intergovernmental organisation based in New York that aims to maintain international peace and security. had drawn the borders of an Israeli and a Palestinian state, with the city of JerusalemAn ancient city that is considered holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims alike. split between them.

However, war immediately started and Israel seized most of the land given to Palestine. Egypt and Gaza took over the rest: the Gaza stripThe smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, surrounded by Israel and Egypt. and the West BankA landlocked territory bordered by Israel, Jordan and the Dead Sea. It is the largest of the Palestinian territories. .

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Then, in 1967, Israel declared war on Egypt, Jordan and Syria and swept the West Bank and Gaza. It put these lands under military occupationWhen one state takes over and controls area of another. Also a term for a job or profession. and annexedTake possession of an area of land without permission or by force. East Jerusalem.

After this, the outline of a future peace deal was made. Israel should keep the land it had won in 1948, and a Palestinian state should be established in the West Bank and Gaza. This was called the "two-state solution".

But most experts do not believe it will happen. The first problem is disagreement over land. Since 1967, many Israelis have moved to live on land that would be in the Palestinian state.

Most Israeli politicians want these towns to be part of Israel. But the Palestinians would not accept a peace deal that meant losing even more land.

Yes! Too many lives are being lost. People will want there to be a peace deal. Constant fighting is not good for ordinary people.

No! Peace is far away. This conflict has been going on for many years. There are many big problems to solve. And it is not clear who would solve them.