Warum Krieg und wann Frieden?

The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has been ongoing for decades, with no solution in sight. In view of both the global situation and the changing priorities of various key political players, this conflict has no longer been at the forefront of the media agenda in recent years. Since Hamas’ bloody attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 and the invasion of the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces, this conflict has once again become the focus of political and media interest. The escalation and the new dimension of violence with the Hamas attack bring to light psychological forces that become clearer and more accessible to analysis in the face of the escalation of war. Using current events as an example, this essay attempts to understand the psychodynamics of this never-ending conflict, exploring the psychological and psychosocial functions at work perpetuating mutual animosity and thus the distance from peace and activating a recurring re-traumatization of two population groups.