Glossary

Definitions of terms used throughout this site, including contested terms where meaning is genuinely disputed.

A

Antisemitism Contested

Apartheid Contested

B

Blood Libel

A false antisemitic accusation, originating in 12th-century England, that Jews murder non-Jewish children — often for ritual or religious purposes. The accusation has no factual basis and has historic...

G

Genocide Contested

H

Hamas

The Islamic Resistance Movement (Arabic: حركة المقاومة الإسلامية). Founded in 1987 in Gaza during the First Intifada as an offshoot of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. Governs the Gaza Strip since sei...

I

IDF

The Israel Defense Forces (Hebrew: צבא ההגנה לישראל, Tzva HaHagana LeYisra'el). The military of the State of Israel, established May 26, 1948 shortly after independence. Comprises ground, air, and nav...

O

Occupation Contested

October 7, 2023 Attack

On October 7, 2023 (Simchat Torah / Shabbat), Hamas and allied armed groups breached the Gaza–Israel security barrier in a pre-planned, multi-pronged assault. Approximately 3,000 militants entered Isr...

P

Palestinian Authority

The interim self-governing body established by the Oslo Accords (1993) to govern parts of the West Bank and Gaza. Currently governs only portions of the West Bank. Led by Fatah since its founding; Pre...

Proportionality Contested

R

Resistance Contested

S

Settler Colonialism Contested

T

Two-State Solution

A proposed framework for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the establishment of two independent states: Israel and a Palestinian state, generally envisioned to include the West Bank a...

U

UNRWA

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Established in 1949 to provide services to Palestinians displaced in the 1948 war. Unlike UNHCR (which resettles ref...