yeah, the various conquests and wars have moved different groups into the region. Under the invasion of Saladin it was more "southern" Arabs (Copts and Bedouins). Under the Turks it was more "northern" arabs(Armenians, Assyrians, Circassians, Kurds). There have also been several invasions from the east that have pushed other tribes into the region (Druze, Persians, Zoroastrians). Even today the Sunni/Shia divide is present in Palestinian muslims, most are Sunni, but the Shia have enough of presence to have their own political group and aspirations.
even among the Jews you have had Adeni, Habbani, Mizrahi, and I am sure plenty of others. the term "Semite" as in anti-semitic isn't 100% specific towards Jews, even though that is how it is typically used. There were also all the tribes the Bible mentions, Canaanites, Samaritans and the like. Those were all Semitic peoples who lived in the region for a real long time, thousands of years, not hundreds or dozens.
The Christians even saw a lot of change. Before the crusades they were what we would now call "eastern/orthodox" Christians. after the crusades it was much more of western christians, which would now be closer to "Catholics", and over various points it shifted back to various eastern groups as they were pushed out of Turkey, parts of Caucuses, and even Russia and other areas for being the wrong types of Christians at home.
Before christians came along there was a strong "greek" presence too under the Romans and Greeks.
^I don't think all of those were majorities, just that they were major influences on the population at various points. I can't find a census that breaks down the population much more than beyond major religion; and just have to read up on generally who moved in when.
after about the 1800s I don't really see anything talking about different ethnicities and its broken down as "Palestinians" "Jew" "Christian", but when the British took over after WW1 they noted that most of the Palestinians weren't born in the area. So it really seems like Palestinian is used in a general term to cover muslims who currently live in Palestine. Not that they are specific ethnicity and from a certain back ground, and generally conform to specific cultural heritage.
at least for the Jews, they started from the region. were kicked out a various points, and then came back even though they may be considered "German" "Russian" "African" or whatever, their culture and ancestors came from the area of Israel. Not sure most of the rest can make that claim. I am sure there are still some other Semites in the area, but it doesn't seem to be the argument they make for claiming the area of Israel as their home.
Like I said it becomes a circular argument
thehill.com
