If you learned about it from news reports from Oct. 7th onward, you should know that this conflict did not start then. The current battle is part of a longer war. Just when the war began depends on who you ask...

Pro-Pal antizionists (& antisemites who use antizionism as a cover) claim it began in 1948 when those nasty European settler-colonialist Jews expelled the Palestinians. Most pro-Israel folk & history geeks like myself, will tell you the modern phase of the conflict began in the 1880's when Zionist movements emerged in response to persecution of Europe's Jews, particularly in France & Russia. (Some of us will also inform you that the 1948 War of Independence & the events that led to it are way more complex than "evil white bastards killed & kicked out innocent Arabs", but that's a whole 'nuther discussion)

In a wider sense, though, even the late 19th century is not a sufficient starting point. Israel, & the Levantine region, are in an unusually unfortunate location: between Europe, Africa & (Western) Asia. Several trade routes went through it; it is also not far from the Fertile Crescent--the birthplace of almost every non-Chinese empire prior to that of Rome. Because of that, well...

If you want a more historically conscious perspective, start with this:

This Land Is Mine

It doesn't give you a complete answer, but it is a good start.