The term Palestinian (Hebrew: פָּלֶסְטִינִי, Palestini; Arabic: الفلسطيني, al-Filastīni) refers to the Arab population of the region of Palestine, the modern-day territory of Israel and the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Palestinians are an ethnonational group that shares cultural, historical, and linguistic ties, primarily speaking Arabic and adhering to Islam, with a significant Christian minority. The term can refer to people who self-identify as Palestinian, regardless of their residency or citizenship status. The concept of a distinct Palestinian identity has evolved over centuries, influenced by various historical, political, and social factors, including the region's Ottoman and British Mandate periods, as well as the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Arab ethnonational group of the Levant
Palestinians are an Arab ethnonational group native to the Levantine region of Palestine. They represent a highly homogeneous community who share a cultural and ethnic identity, speak Palestinian Arabic and share close religious, linguistic, and cultural ties with other Levantine Arabs.