Aqṣā Intifāḍah

Palestinian-Israeli history

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July 15, 2026

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The term "intifada" means uprising or rebellion in Arabic. In English, it primarily refers to the Palestinian uprisings against Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.1

The first intifada began in December 1987 after an Israeli vehicle struck Palestinian workers, killing four. This uprising was fueled by years of Palestinian frustration over Israeli land expropriation and settlement construction. It ended in September 1993 with the signing of the first Oslo Accords, which aimed to establish peace negotiations.12

The second intifada, also known as the Al-Aqsa intifada, started in September 2000. It was triggered by a visit from Ariel Sharon to the Temple Mount, a site sacred to both Jews and Muslims. This uprising was significantly more violent than the first, with most analysts agreeing it concluded by late 2005.123

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Israel
The second intifada
…to be known as the Aqṣā intifada convinced a majority of Israelis that they lacked a partner in Arafat to end the conflict. Barak paid the political price, losing the premiership to Sharon by nearly 25 percent of the vote in elections held in February 2001. Sharon formed a broadly…
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…to be known as the Aqṣā intifada convinced a majority of Israelis that they lacked a partner in Arafat to end the conflict. Barak paid the political price, losing the premiership to Sharon by nearly 25 percent of the vote in elections held in February 2001. Sharon formed a broadly…
Read More