Final answer:
The signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993 marked the first significant step toward Palestinian statehood by granting some self-rule to Palestinians and leading to the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority.
Step-by-step explanation:
The event that marked the first step toward Palestinian statehood can be considered the signing of the Oslo Accords in September 1993. These accords were a landmark moment, as they led to the mutual recognition by Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), and provided for some self-rule in the territories of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. A key aspect of the Oslo Accords was the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority, giving Palestinians a degree of autonomy over parts of these territories.
Prior to the Oslo Accords, the region was known as Palestine and the conflict dates back to the early Arab opposition to Jewish sovereignty. Notably, the UN resolution in 1947 and the subsequent establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 were critical events. These events led to ongoing conflicts and displacements of Palestinian Arabs, with over 800,000 becoming refugees. However, it was the Oslo Accords that marked a significant move towards the possibility of an independent Palestinian state.
Efforts to create peace and work towards the establishment of a Palestinian state have been punctuated by various conflicts and wars, such as those in 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973, and 1982, with Israel defending its sovereignty and expanding territories, while the Arab world contested its legitimacy.