The Palestinian people are the Arab natives of Palestine. Many live in Israel and many are Palestinian refugees. Populations remain in Gaza and on the West Bank. Most Palestinians are Muslims but there are thousands of Arab Christians and small numbers of other groups such as Samaritans and Druze, some of which are not Arabs.

Gaza is governed by Hamas while the West Bank is governed by the Palestinian Authority. Hamas does not recognize the legitimacy of Israel. Gaza is not directly occupied by Israel, but remains under its military control. The West Bank and Jerusalem are under military occupation by Israel which has permitted substantial settlement by Israeli settlers.

External links and further reading

• "Hamas Wouldn’t Honor a Treaty, Top Leader Says:

Abu Marzook Says He's Open to a New Israel Relationship" interview by Larry Cohler-Esses in The Jewish Daily Forward published April 19, issue of April 27,