However, in 1917, the British government made the Balfour Declaration, aiming to gain Jewish support, which also promised a independent nation for the Jews. This triggered an ongoing conflict between Jewish and Arab populations in the region, as both groups claimed the land as theirs. The declaration set the stage for decades of tension, disputes, and confrontations eventually leading to all out war. For clarification, a commonly held misconception is that the Israelis are currently in war against Palestine. However, this is not true as the Israelis are currently in conflict with the Islamic resistance movement Hamas, who are strongly against Israel and hold power over the Gaza strip.