Resource Guide: 
Understanding October 7, 2023 and the Middle Eastern Conflict:
Contexts, Histories, and Tensions 

In light of the Israel-Hamas War, the Boisi Center would like to offer a resource guide to provide contextual information about the historical, political, and religious tensions fueling this conflict. We reached out to several Boston College professors from various departments, including political science, international studies, theology, and sociology. They have recommended some resources on the tensions in the Middle East, which are compiled below. We hope that this guide will be a useful resource for those seeking more information about the histories, perspectives, and tensions at play in the conflict. 

Israel-focused:
    What this War is about
    Israel, Hamas, and the Gaza Arena: A Timeline
    From a Kabbalist’s Grave to a Destroyed Kibbutz: Inside an IDF Press Tour

Palestine-focused:
    There Is a Jewish Hope for Palestinian Liberation. It Must Survive.
    
The Geopolitics of Palestine, Explained
    One or two states? The status quo is Israel’s rational choice 

About Hamas:
    What is Hamas
    What you need to know about Hamas
    
‘We Serve the People’ Hamas Policing in Gaza 

Other/Background/Context:
    Holocaust Survivors and the Establishment of the State of Israel (May 14, 1948) 
    
Iran’s Nuclear Threat in the Biden Era: Israel’s Response Options
    What is U.S. Policy on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?