First Intifada

The First Intifada was a sustained uprising by Palestinian civilians and militants. It occurred in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, specifically the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. This movement involved a mix of violent and non-violent protests. It also included acts of civil disobedience, riots, and terrorist attacks. The uprising was a reaction to the Israeli military occupation. This occupation had been in place since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. The period of unrest lasted from December 1987 until the Madrid Conference in 1991. Some historians mark its end with the 1993 Oslo Accords.

Several deep-seated issues fueled the Palestinian frustration. By the late 1980s, the occupation had lasted nearly twenty years. Over 40 percent of the Palestinian workforce traveled to Israel daily for jobs. Palestinians also faced rising population density and high unemployment. Even college graduates struggled to find work. Only one in eight degree-holders could find a job related to their studies. Additionally, the Jewish settler population in the West Bank grew quickly. It rose from 35,000 in 1984 to 64,000 in 1988. This growth created fears of a "de facto annexation" of the land.

Palestinians used various methods to resist the occupation. They engaged in civil disobedience through general strikes and boycotts. Some refused to work in Israeli settlements or buy Israeli products. Others refused to pay taxes or drive cars with Israeli licenses. At the same time, many protests turned violent. People threw stones and Molotov cocktails at the Israeli army. They also used graffiti and built barricades to block roads. These different tactics showed the many ways people expressed their anger.

The uprising began with a specific, tragic event in December 1987. In the Jabalia refugee camp, an Israeli truck driver collided with parked vehicles. This accident killed four Palestinian workers. Three of those workers were from the Jabalia camp. Many Palestinians believed the collision was a deliberate act. They felt it was a response to a previous killing of an Israeli in Gaza. Israel denied that the crash was intentional or coordinated. Regardless, this event acted as a catalyst for the mass rebellion.

Israel responded to the uprising with a large military presence. The country deployed approximately 80,000 soldiers to the territories. Israeli security forces used various countermeasures to manage the unrest. These included the use of live ammunition during riots. Human Rights Watch criticized the use of lethal force as disproportionate. After images showed soldiers beating adolescents with clubs, Israel began using semi-lethal plastic bullets. These military actions were part of a broader struggle for control.

The human cost of the First Intifada was very high. During the six-year period, the Israeli army killed at least 1,087 Palestinians. This total included 240 children. Among Israelis, 100 civilians and 60 soldiers were killed. Many militants operated outside the control of the Unofficial Local Underground Leadership (UNLU). There was also significant intra-Palestinian violence. An estimated 822 Palestinians were killed for being alleged Israeli collaborators. More than 1,400 Israeli civilians and 1,700 soldiers were injured during the conflict.

The Intifada had complex political connections. It was not just a struggle against the military occupation. Some historians, like Shlomo Ben-Ami, suggest it was also a rebellion against the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The PLO was seen by some as uncompromising. The uprising also involved different social groups. A new Palestinian elite emerged from the university system. This group was often more activist and confrontational. These internal and external pressures shaped the entire movement.