Place Name
Palestine (فِلَسْطِين)Place Description
Palestine is defined by the geographic region between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. The place names used throughout the museum's collection use Palestinian names prior to 1869. The preservation of this knowledge is a vital element in preserving Palestinian identity.
The region encompasses a varied landscape of coastal plains, fertile valleys, central and northern highlands, the Jordan Valley, and Al Naqab, with settlement and agriculture shaped by differences in terrain, rainfall, soils, and access to water. Palestine has been governed and colonized under successive political systems, including Ottoman rule, the British Mandate established after the First World War, and the political and territorial transformations that followed the 1948 al-Nakba and the 1967 June War (al-Naksa). The 1948 al-Nakba resulted in the displacement of more than 750,000 Palestinians, while the 1967 al-Naksa brought the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip under illegal Israeli military occupation.
While many Israeli bombardments, settlements, and checkpoints have destroyed Palestinian land, events since October 7, 2023 have reflected a harrowing and tragic human toll. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have experienced a devastating campaign of Israeli violence, mass displacement, destruction of homes and civilian infrastructure, and inhumane restrictions on access to food, water, healthcare, and other basic necessities of life. In June 2026, the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israeli authorities and security forces had committed acts of genocide against Palestinians. The International Court of Justice maintains active arrest warrants for Israeli leaders and is evaluating South Africa's case against Israel under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, with proceedings continuing as of this writing.Also Known As
فِلَسْطِين, Greater Syria, Bilad al-ShamPlace Type
Historical RegionMap Coordinates
Latitude
31.9167Longitude
35.3333General Notes
Note Type
Cataloging NoteNote
BWB_ID:8Updated By
Wafa Ghnaim