Palestines

Palestine refers to a geographical region in the Middle East, located in the Southern Levant. It is situated on the southeastern Mediterranean coast. Historically, the term has been used to describe a larger area, encompassing parts of modern-day Israel, the Palestinian territories (the West Bank and Gaza Strip), and sometimes parts of Jordan and Syria. The exact boundaries have varied throughout history depending on political and historical contexts.

The region holds deep religious significance for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, with numerous holy sites located within its historical and modern boundaries. These include Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Hebron. Throughout millennia, Palestine has been inhabited by various peoples and has been under the rule of numerous empires, including the Canaanites, Israelites, Philistines, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Crusaders, Mamluks, and Ottomans.

In the modern era, the term "Palestine" is most commonly associated with the Palestinian people and their aspirations for statehood. Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the region came under British Mandate rule. The subsequent creation of the State of Israel in 1948 and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict have significantly shaped the political landscape and the current de facto division of the territory. Today, the Palestinian territories consist of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, areas that are central to the ongoing political situation and international discussions regarding a two-state solution.