Israelis, Palestinians and Gaza: Before and After the Current Conflict: A Series

Join Peter Krause, PhD, Associate Professor of political science at Boston College and a Research Affiliate with the MIT Security Studies Program, as he presents two important campus discussions.

Session 1

The Israel-Hamas War: Historical and Political Context before October 7
Tuesday, March 26, 6:30 pm
Veterans Hall, Ellison Campus Center

This session will provide historical and political context to help attendees understand the ongoing conflict in and around Gaza. Topics to be discussed include the history of the Zionist and Palestinian national movements, the causes and consequences of previous wars and peace processes between Israelis, Palestinians, and their Arab state neighbors, and the strategy of Hamas and Israel leading up to and during the current conflict. 

Session 2

The Current Situation in Gaza and the Future of Israeli-Palestinian Relations
Tuesday, April 2, 6:30 pm
Veterans Hall, Ellison Campus Center

Whereas the first session focused on the past, this session will focus on the present and future. What is the situation in Gaza today? Will Israel be able to achieve its aim of removing Hamas from power? How are the U.S., the U.N., and the Palestinians themselves navigating the ongoing humanitarian crisis? Is a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians still possible—and does each side even desire such an outcome? If not, what are the other options to end the conflict and/or achieve a real peace? And how can we have constructive conversations about these incredibly important and sensitive subjects in our community? Professor Krause will address each of these questions during his presentation and discussion.

Peter Krause, PhD, is an Associate Professor of political science at Boston College and a Research Affiliate with the MIT Security Studies Program. His research focuses on Middle East politics and Israeli-Palestinian relations, political violence, nationalism, rebels and revolution, and peacebuilding. He is the author of Rebel Power: Why National Movements Compete, Fight, and Win (Cornell University Press, 2017), co-editor of Coercion: The Power to Hurt in International Politics (Oxford University Press, 2018), and co-editor of Stories from the Field: A Guide to Navigating Fieldwork in Political Science (Columbia University Press, 2020). He has offered analysis of Middle East politics, political violence, and U.S. foreign policy with a variety of national and local media. In the summers, he leads academic programming and dialogue sessions for Our Generation Speaks (OGS) and Middle East Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow (MEET), two Israeli-Palestinian organizations focused on entrepreneurship and person-to-person peace-building.