The conflict in the Middle East is rooted in a complex mix of historical, cultural, political, and economic factors, with some key causes including:

• The establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 on land that was then British-controlled Palestine, which was opposed by the Arab majority and led to the first Arab-Israeli war. This event, known as Nakbah ("catastrophe") to Palestinians, saw many Arabs displaced and has fueled ongoing hostilities.
• Competing nationalist movements: The rise of Zionism (Jewish nationalism) and Arab nationalism in the early 20th century created conflicting claims to the land now Israel and Palestine, which led to enduring territorial and political disputes.
• Colonial legacies: After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the Middle East was divided by European powers (primarily Britain and France) through mandates and territorial agreements that ignored ethnic, religious, and tribal realities, stoking long-term instability.
• Regional rivalries and proxy conflicts: Iran-Israel standoff, power struggles between Sunni and Shia factions, and involvement of external powers like the US have continuously escalated conflicts.
• Socioeconomic and political instability driven partly by authoritarian regimes, struggles over resources (notably oil), and movements such as the Arab Spring uprisings have added turbulence in recent decades.
• Specific crises and wars such as the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Gaza wars, struggles involving Iran-backed militias, and wars in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen contribute to the broader conflict web.

The current heightened conflict environment stems from all these deep-rooted issues ignited by historical events like Israel's 1948 declaration of independence and subsequent wars, compounded by ongoing political, sectarian, and territorial disputes among many state and non-state actors in the region.