Why are conflicts spreading in West Asia?

Subject: IR

Section: Places in news

Context:

West Asia is in flux which started as a direct military confrontation between Israel and Hamas has snowballed into a regional security crisis.
Hezbollah, Kataib Hezbollah, Hashad al Shabi, Houthis, Iran, Pakistan and the United States are all now part of an expanding conflict theatre.

What initiated the Israel-Palestine conflict?

The Palestinian group Hamas launched a significant barrage of rockets towards southern Israel. A total of 5,000 rockets were fired by the group, prompting a response from Israel’s military, which launched 2,500 rockets in return. Over 300 Israelis and 232 Palestinians were killed in the deadliest escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in decades.

What is Hamas?

Hamas is a Palestinian group founded in 1987. It aims to establish an Islamic state within Palestine. Presently, the organisation holds governance over the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian territory situated along the eastern Mediterranean coastline.
In 2006, following their victory in the Palestinian legislative elections, Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007 through a violent confrontation with their rival faction, Fatah. Subsequently, Hamas has functioned as the de facto governing authority in Gaza, while Fatah administers the West Bank

What is the status of Hamas?

Hamas is a Palestinian political and militant organization that emerged in the late 1980s. It has gained popularity in Gaza and contested the Palestinian Authority for control. Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States, and the European Union due to its use of violence and its refusal to recognize Israel’s right to exist.

What is the Israel-Palestine Conflict?

The Israel-Palestine conflict is a long-standing and complex conflict between the State of Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip.
The conflict has deep historical roots dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries when Jewish and Arab communities lived in the region known as Palestine. After World War II and the Holocaust, international support grew for the establishment of a Jewish state, leading to the creation of Israel in 1948.

What is the territorial issue between Israel and Palestine?

The main issue revolves around the territory, with both sides claiming historical rights to the same land, particularly in areas like Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem.
The conflict has created a large population of Palestinian refugees who were displaced from their homes during various wars and conflicts. Periodic conflicts and escalations have occurred over the years, involving rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel, Israeli military operations in Gaza, and clashes in the West Bank.
These conflicts have resulted in loss of life, suffering, and significant damage to infrastructure on both sides.