1948 Arab–Israeli War

The 1948 Arab–Israeli War followed civil conflict in Mandatory Palestine and expanded after Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948. Armies from neighbouring Arab states entered the former mandate, while newly organised Israeli forces fought to hold territory, secure roads and establish control.

The war ended with armistice agreements rather than a peace settlement. Israel survived and expanded beyond the boundaries proposed by the United Nations partition plan, while hundreds of thousands of Palestinians became refugees and the Gaza Strip and West Bank came under Egyptian and Jordanian control.

The Hope opens within this conflict and uses the defence of Jerusalem, improvised military organisation and the creation of the Israel Defense Forces as foundations for its characters. Real figures including David Ben-Gurion, Mickey Marcus and Yigael Yadin appear alongside the fictional officers.