Context:
Militants from the Gaza Strip infiltrated southern Israel and unleashed thousands of rockets into the country, with Hamas officially announcing the start of “Operation Al-Aqsa Storm.”
What is Al-Aqsa?
- Lies at Jerusalem’s Old City on a hill known to Jews as Har ha-Bayit (Temple Mount), and to Muslims internationally as al-Haram al-Sharif (The Noble Sanctuary).
- 3rd holy site in Islam after Mecca and Medina – Home to Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque (Qibli Mosque)
- A site from where the Prophet is believed to have ascended to paradise.
- Western Wall (a sacred place of prayer for Jews) in Temple Mount as Jews believe biblical King Solomon built the 1st temple here.
Important Mapping Locations
Gaza Strip –
- Located between Israel and Egypt.
West Bank –
- Sandwiched between Israel and Jordan.
- One of the major city – Ramallah (de facto administrative capital of Palestine)
Golan Heights –
- A strategic volcanic plateau that Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 war.
- In 1981, Israel effectively annexed the territory, and more recently, the USA officially recognized both Jerusalem and the Golan Heights as integral parts of Israel.
Sinai Peninsula –
- Location – Egypt
- Bounded by – Mediterranean Sea (north) and Red Sea (south)
- Lies between –
- Gulf of Suez and Suez Canal on the west
- Gulf of Aqaba and Negev desert (of Israel) on the east
- Only part of the country to be located in Asia and acts as a land bridge between Asia and Africa.
Source: Indian Express
Previous Year Question
Consider the following pairs:
Area of conflict mentioned in news: Country where it is located
1. Donbas: Syria
2. Kachin: Ethiopia
3. Tigray: North Yemen
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
The Donbas area, also known as the Donets Basin, is a region located in eastern Ukraine. The Kachin area, also known as Kachin State, is a region located in northern Myanmar (Burma). The Tigray region is a northernmost regional state in Ethiopia, located in the Horn of Africa. Hence, all the three pairs are not correctly matched.
