Gaza protests: Theme and variations

The relationship between Palestine and Syria is complex and deeply rooted in history. Historically, the region now known as Palestine was part of various empires and territories, including ancient Canaan, the Roman and Byzantine Empires, the Islamic Caliphates, the Ottoman Empire, and the British Mandate for Palestine.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there was a significant Arab nationalist movement that sought to unite Arab-majority regions under one state. This included territories that are now part of modern-day Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine. The Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916, however, divided the region into areas of influence between Britain and France after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

After World War I, Britain gained control over Palestine, which eventually led to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, a historical event known as the Nakba (catastrophe).

While there are historical and cultural connections between Palestine and Syria, including shared linguistic, religious, and ethnic ties, the idea that Palestine is "all actually a part of southern Syria" is a simplification and does not fully capture the complexities of the region's history, politics, and identity.