Middle East conflict live ticker: Rubio: Israel must feel comfortable with Gaza peacekeeping force

The conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians shape the entire region, regularly bring great suffering and play a role in many areas of international politics.

Israel conquered the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967. The Palestinians claim these territories for an independent state of Palestine with the predominantly Arab eastern part of Jerusalem as its capital.

According to the UN, more than two million people live in the Gaza Strip under extremely poor conditions. Hamas, classified as a terrorist organization by the EU, the US, and Israel, violently seized sole power in 2007. Israel subsequently tightened a blockade of the coastal area, which is supported by Egypt.

More information on the background, actors and history of the Middle East conflict can be found here:

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