Britannica Sources used in this answer

What caused the first intifada to begin in 1987?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

The first intifada, which began in December 1987, was the result of years of mounting frustration among Palestinians living under Israeli occupation.1

The uprising was driven by several long-term factors, including:
* Land and Settlements: Intensified Israeli land expropriation and the construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.1
* Repression: Increasing Israeli military and police repression in response to Palestinian protests.1
* Socioeconomic Conditions: A generation of Palestinian youth facing diminished civil rights, economic dependence on Israel, and a lack of faith in traditional leadership, such as the Palestine Liberation Organization.12
* Political Alienation: The rise of Jewish ultranationalism and policies that marginalized Palestinian political expression.2

The immediate spark occurred in December 1987 when an Israeli vehicle struck two vans carrying Palestinian workers, killing four people. This event was widely perceived by Palestinians as an act of revenge for the recent stabbing death of an Israeli in Gaza, serving as the final precipitant for the uprising.1