The war in Gaza has absorbed the attention of the international community, and for good reason. The humanitarian disaster there is an abhorrent consequence of the tactical reality in Gaza. The conflict, while a current event, is directly connected to the region's complex history. The history of Israel’s creation in the West is an unknown and often misunderstood story of tragedy,  political strife, war, and intervention. It is a 20th-century phenomenon that stretches beyond the two central nations themselves. This article does not seek to assert an opinion on this issue but offers an accessible history to serve as a contextual backdrop to the origins of the ongoing conflict. The focus will be on the events leading up to the creation of Israel and how it connects to today.