The First Intifada Begins

The First Intifada, an uprising against Israeli occupation, erupted on December 9, 1987, in the Gaza Strip and quickly spread to the West Bank and East Jerusalem. It was a mass movement of Palestinian resistance against Israeli military rule, lasting until 1993 and fundamentally reshaping the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The immediate spark came when an Israeli military truck collided with a civilian car, killing four Palestinian workers in Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza. Widespread frustration over Israeli settlements, military control, and economic hardships boiled over, leading to mass protests, strikes, and violent confrontations. The uprising was largely grassroots-led, involving young Palestinians throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at Israeli soldiers, along with widespread boycotts, general strikes, and civil disobedience. The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), while influential, did not directly organize the uprising. Instead, local leaders and newly formed groups like Hamas (founded in 1987) played major roles. Israel responded with harsh military measures, including mass arrests, curfews, and live ammunition. The controversial "Iron Fist" policy resulted in thousands of deaths and injuries, as well as international criticism of Israeli tactics. The intifada also led to increased global attention on the Palestinian cause, with media coverage showing the brutality of the occupation. The First Intifada officially ended in 1993 with the signing of the Oslo Accords, which granted limited Palestinian self-rule in parts of the West Bank and Gaza. However, it also deepened divisions between those who supported negotiations and groups like Hamas, which rejected any peace with Israel. The uprising remains a key turning point in Palestinian history, showing the power of mass resistance and shaping future conflicts, including the Second Intifada (2000–2005). #FirstIntifada #PalestinianResistance #IsraeliOccupation #MiddleEastConflict #OsloAccords #MomentsOfLife #MoofLife