In the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, several Arab countries joined the Palestinian Arabs in opposing the establishment of Israel. These countries included Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. Each of these nations sent military forces to support the Palestinian cause and to attempt to prevent the establishment of a Jewish state. The conflict resulted in significant territorial changes and the displacement of many Palestinians.
In May 1948, about 1,250,000 Arabs lived in British Mandate Palestine. 670,000 Arabs fled the new state of Israel and slightly less than 65,000 were ever able to return to their homes. That resulted in slightly more than 605,000 Palestinian Arabs, becoming refugees in countries outside of the new state of Israel. Children and other relatives, have been added to the total number of Palestinian refugees over the years.
Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq all declared war on Israel on May 15, 1948 and joined with the Palestinians. Additionally, Saudi Arabia and Yemen sent military forces to the conflict, but did not actually declare wat.
The State of Israel, declared in 1948.
It is unclear what an "Israeli" is prior to 1948 as there was no state of Israel before that point. If the term "Israeli" is also pushed back to the forerunners of the State, the Zionist Palestinian Jewry, it still only goes back to conflicts in the early 1920s. Additionally, many non-Zionist Palestinian Jews and Palestinian Arabs would also have descendants who would be Israeli citizens. Between all of the various wars and riots since the 1920s, roughly 25,000 Israelis and Palestinian Jews were killed at Arab hands (either Palestinian Arabs or Arabs from other countries). Prior to 1920s, the numbers would been incidental.
Many Arabs fled Israel and were forced to live in refugee camps for decades.
Nur Masalha has written: 'Imperial Israel And The Palestinians' 'An Israeli plan to transfer Galilee's Christians to South America' -- subject(s): Palestinian Arabs, Population transfers, Relocation, Christians 'A Land Without a People' 'Israeli plans to resettle the Palestinian refugees, 1948-1972' -- subject(s): Arab Refugees, Palestinian Arabs, Population transfers, Refugees, Arab
Many Palestinian Arabs rejected the United Nations' partition plan, feeling that it was unfair and unjust as they believed the land belonged to them. They saw it as a loss of their rights and a denial of self-determination. This led to widespread protests and ultimately the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
In 1948, Jews didn't have a country, so they invaded Palestine, killed many Palestinians, and forced many out. The Jews then changed the name of Palestine to Israel.
Many Palestinians became refugees living in camps in Syria and Lebanon.
Israeli is the common term. However, I know Israeli Arabs who would prefer to be called Palestinians, and before 1948, Jews from the region now known as Israel were known as Palestinian Jews.
In 1948-1955, 720,000 Palestinians fled Israel and 850,000 Jews fled the Arab countries.
Which Palestinian conflict is the question referring to? Is it the Arab-Palestinian Conflict? -- 1948, but became much more violent in the 1970s and 1980s, killing between 5,000-25,000 Palestinians depending on the estimates used. Is it the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict? -- 1920s, but became much more widespread in 1947 with the Jewish-Arab Engagement and the Arab-Israeli War of 1948-9. Approximately 13,000 Palestinians have died in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Is it the Palestinian Civil War? -- 2006, but most violence took place in 2007 with approximately 600-1000 deaths. Please see the the Related Questions to read about all three of these wars.