The First Intifada

The First Intifada, erupting in December 1987, was not a sudden outburst but the culmination of twenty years of Israeli military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, territories captured in the 1967 Six-Day War. Palestinian society experienced increasing frustration due to restrictions on movement, economic limitations, and the perceived lack of political progress towards self-determination. The immediate catalyst was a tragic traffic accident in the Jabalia refugee camp where an Israeli truck driver collided with parked civilian vehicles, killing four Palestinian workers.

While Israel denied intentionality, Palestinians widely viewed it as a retaliatory act for an earlier killing of an Israeli, igniting widespread protests and marking the beginning of a sustained popular uprising against the occupation.

The Intifada demonstrated remarkable ingenuity and diversity in its methods of resistance. At its core was a powerful wave of civil disobedience, including widespread general strikes that paralyzed daily life, boycotts of Israeli goods and settlement products, and refusal to pay taxes to the Israeli Civil Administration. These non-violent actions were complemented by more confrontational tactics such as mass demonstrations, the erection of roadblocks, graffiti campaigns to disseminate political messages, and the throwing of stones and Molotov cocktails at Israeli military personnel and infrastructure.

This multifaceted approach aimed to disrupt the functioning of the occupation and exert pressure on Israeli authorities and the international community.

The Israeli response to the First Intifada was characterized by a significant military deployment, involving approximately 80,000 soldiers tasked with quelling the unrest. Initial countermeasures included the frequent use of live ammunition against protesters, a tactic heavily criticized by international observers, including Human Rights Watch, for its disproportionate nature. The graphic images of Israeli soldiers beating adolescents with clubs led to a shift towards the use of semi-lethal plastic bullets.

Despite these measures, the uprising persisted. Over its duration, the Israeli army was responsible for the deaths of at least 1,087 Palestinians, including 240 children, and injured thousands more. Concurrently, Israeli civilians and soldiers also fell victim to attacks, with over 100 civilians and 60 soldiers killed.

Beyond the direct confrontation between Palestinians and Israeli forces, the First Intifada was also marked by significant internal Palestinian violence. A prominent feature was the widespread execution of Palestinians accused of collaborating with the Israeli authorities. An estimated 822 Palestinians were killed under suspicion of collaboration between 1988 and 1994.

This phenomenon stemmed partly from Israel's efforts to gather intelligence, reportedly obtaining information from thousands of Palestinians. The internal purges created an atmosphere of fear and suspicion within Palestinian society, complicating the broader resistance movement and highlighting the complex social fabric under occupation.

The First Intifada had profound geopolitical consequences, significantly raising international awareness of the Palestinian cause and the realities of occupation. The sustained popular resistance and the international condemnation of Israeli security measures compelled diplomatic engagement. It played a crucial role in creating the conditions for the Madrid Conference of 1991 and ultimately the Oslo Accords signed in 1993, which represented a landmark attempt at establishing a framework for peace and Palestinian self-governance.

The Intifada demonstrated the power of grassroots mobilization and continues to be a reference point in discussions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, influencing subsequent events and negotiations.