The term occupied territories refers to 3 disputed regions in the Middle East:
- the West Bank
- the Gaza Strip
- the Golan Heights
The legal status of these territories has been violently disputed for several decades, going back to the early-to-mid 20th century.
As the 21st century began, they still have no internationally-recognized legal status.
Occupation
Jordan occupied the West Bank, and Egypt occupied Gaza for nearly two decades after the Arabs failed to drive Israel into the sea during the first Arab-Israeli war in 1948.
Israel occupied these territories after it emerged victorious from its second war for national survival in 1967.