In the lead-up to the invasion, the British Mandate for Palestine officially ended, and Israel proclaimed its independence on May 14, 1948. This declaration was met with immediate resistance from the surrounding Arab nations who opposed the establishment of a Jewish state in what they considered Arab land. The armed forces of Egypt, Transjordan (now Jordan), Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia mobilized in a coordinated effort to counter Israel’s declaration, marking the commencement of hostilities that would define the region's geopolitics for decades. Ground invasions, aerial bombings, and armed skirmishes erupted as each army attempted to secure territorial advantages. Notably, the conflict involved both regular armies and local militias engaged in combat across various fronts, making it a complex battle for control over the land.Local populations were drawn into the conflict, with many civilians facing displacement as fighting escalated. The war was marked by significant military strategies, including the use of tanks and air support, as Arab forces aimed to undermine the newly established Israeli defense forces. Despite the combined strength of the invading Arab armies, Israel managed to organize its own defense, leveraging local knowledge and international support, notably from the Jewish diaspora and sympathizers abroad. The war would ultimately lead to the armistice agreements in 1949, reshaping the map of the region significantly and leading to long-term consequences for both the Israeli and Palestinian people, intertwined with issues of national identity and territorial claims.