Narrative building plays a pivotal role in shaping public perceptions and influencing individual opinions amidst Israel-Palestine conflict. To make sense of their reality and identity, people construct and convey narratives. The Israel-Palestine conflict is a long-standing dispute that has many facets. It involves not only political, territorial, and security issues but also historical, religious and cultural dimensions. Both sides of conflict have their own narratives on which they draw upon their own interpretation of the past to justify their positions and claim their rights., ignoring or dismissing the perspectives and experiences of the other side.

In case of Israel-Palestine, narratives also reflect and reinforce the sense of nationalism and identity, of the groups involved, as in how people see themselves and their group in relation to other. For example, Israelis see themselves as a democratic state surrounded by hostile enemies and non-state actors who seek their destruction by undermining their security, while Palestinians see themselves as oppressed people who struggle for their freedom and dignity. Their narratives are incompatible and irreconcilable, making it difficult for both sides to acknowledge the legitimacy of the other. However, these narratives are often contested and challenged by the other side, as well as by external actors and observers.

The global perception of conflicts is shaped by media narratives, which can evoke sentiments and influence public opinion. Narrative building is a powerful tool used to advance agendas, often through propaganda and framing via media. Media portrays one side as victims or heroes to justify their stance, put blame on the other party, and influence perception. Intentional propaganda by sharing selective information, distorting facts, exaggerating claims or fabricating evidence creates an incomplete picture of the situation. This leads to division, hatred, and lack of trust, hindering peace efforts.

Navigating objective reporting in a conflict zone such as Israel-Palestine, is particularly challenging due to potential biases, agendas, and restrictions imposed by authorities, activists or threats from public. Social media campaigns also shape narratives, influencing public opinion and potentially exacerbating tensions. We have seen several social media campaigns that stem from this conflict and cement existing narratives, calling for collective action across globe. While social media can raise awareness and empower marginalized voices, it also carries risks of spreading hate speech, polarizing opinions, and creating echo chambers.

The Israel-Palestine conflict has far-reaching international implications, with foreign powers aligning with either side based on their interests, values or ideologies. This alignment impacts humanitarian aid, diplomatic relation security cooperation, and regional stability. For instance, The United States stands as Israel’s staunch ally, providing military and economic aid while vetoing resolutions critical of Ukraine. In contrast, many Arab and Military nations have expressed solidarity with Palestinians, condemning Israel’s actions and seeking a just resolution based on international law.

Some analysts believe that the US deliberately ignited or fuelled the Israel-Palestine conflict to maintain its relevance in the Middle East, given its declining influence and rising competition from other regional and global powers. They point to the 2018 US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move its embassy there as a provocation that escalated tensions and jeopardized the two-state solution. Additionally, the US withdraweal from Iran Nuclear Deal in 2019 and the assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in 2020 were seen as part of a strategy to isolate Iran and rally regional allies against it. Recent developments such as US withdrawal from Afghanistan, China’s mediation of reproachment between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and US’s “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” policy further suggest US waning influence in the Middle East. Therefore, by provoking or supporting Israel’s actions against Hamas in Gaza, the US maybe attempting to reassert itself in the region. This exemplifies how narratives can be manipulated to justify political decisions with severe humanitarian consequences.

Another example is how Israel supported the rise of Hamas in Gaza over PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) in West Bank since 1980, as a way to divide and weaken the Palestinian resistance. However, this strategy backfired, as Hamas became a formidable opponent that challenged Israel’s security and military superiority, in recent Intifada. Hamas reminded the world of the Palestinian right of self-determination that has been long forgotten amid the normalization of relations between Israel and some Arab states, significantly in the wake of recent agreement of India-Middle East-Europe Corridor.

Israel’s response to Hamas’ attacks has raised concerns as it, being a recognized state, has been criticized for violating international law. These violations include expanding settlements in occupied territories, annexing parts of Jerusalem, demolishing Palestinian homes, imposing a blockade, using disproportionate force against civilians, targeting media and health facilities, and conducting ethnic cleansing. Despite global solidarity movements supporting Palestine and criticism of Israel’s actions, major powers, have not taken the significant actions against Israel’s alleged crimes against humanity and apartheid policies. The EU and UK have maintained trade and cooperation agreements with Israel despite concerns about human rights.

The lack of collective action in support of Palestine stems from divergent interests among Arab and Muslim states, despite widespread public sympathy for the Palestinian cause. Notably, both the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have been ineffective to pass a meaningful resolution against Israel’s atrocities, impose sanctions or call for a ceasefire. This lack of unified response among nations with shared cultural and religious ties underscores the challenges in aligning geopolitical interests within the Arab and Muslim world to effectively address the ongoing conflict in the region.

The history of Intifadas (recent in October 2023), the conflict between Israel and Palestine transcends narratives to reveal a stark truth; one party oppresses, the other suffers. Illegitimate Israeli occupation and Palestinian hardship are undeniable. While both narratives are intertwined as double helix, the narratives must be recognized as distinct. Both sides must engage in meaningful negotiations, with Israel acknowledging Palestinian national rights and Palestinians recognizing the existence of Zionism. Achieving lasting peace demands mutual acceptance and recognition based on the International Law, as any peace efforts without this foundation will remain temporary.