2021 Israel–Palestine crisis

2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
Israel Police · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Conflict	2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
Partof	the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
Caption	Smoke rises over Gaza City during the conflict.
Date	6–21 May 2021 (main hostilities)
Place	Israel, Palestinian territories, East Jerusalem
Result	Ceasefire
Combatant1	Israel, Supported by:, United States
Combatant2	Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Supported by:, Iran
Commander1	Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel Benny Gantz, Israel Aviv Kochavi
Commander2	Hamas Yahya Sinwar, Hamas Mohammed Deif, Palestinian Islamic Jihad Ziyad al-Nakhalah

2021 Israel–Palestine crisis. The 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis was an intense eleven-day military confrontation primarily between Israel and Palestinian militant groups led by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip. The conflict, one of the most severe since the 2014 Gaza War, was sparked by tensions in East Jerusalem and saw widespread rocket attacks on Israeli cities and airstrikes on Gaza. It resulted in significant casualties, widespread destruction, and triggered major international diplomatic efforts.

Background

Longstanding tensions in East Jerusalem, particularly around the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, escalated in April 2021. Palestinian families faced potential eviction due to an Israeli Supreme Court case, leading to nightly protests and clashes with Israeli police. During the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Israeli authorities restricted access to parts of the Old City, further inflaming sentiments. Concurrently, the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, was in the process of forming a new coalition government following the 2021 Israeli legislative election. The annual Jerusalem Day flag march by Israeli nationalists through Damascus Gate was also a flashpoint, with Hamas issuing ultimatums to Israel to withdraw its security forces from the Temple Mount.

Timeline of events

On 6 May, clashes at the Al-Aqsa Mosque intensified after evening prayers. By 10 May, Hamas launched a large barrage of rockets from Gaza toward Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, prompting the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to initiate Operation Guardian of the Walls. The IDF conducted extensive airstrikes targeting Hamas military infrastructure, including its network of tunnels dubbed the "Gaza Metro." Palestinian groups fired thousands of rockets, some reaching as far as Haifa and Rishon LeZion, with many intercepted by the Iron Dome system. On 15 May, an IDF airstrike destroyed the Al-Jalaa Tower in Gaza City, which housed offices of The Associated Press and Al Jazeera. Hostilities continued until a Egypt-brokered ceasefire took effect in the early hours of 21 May.

Casualties and displacement

According to the United Nations and the Gaza Health Ministry, over 250 Palestinians were killed in Gaza, including at least 66 children; the IDF stated that approximately 200 were militants. In Israel, 13 people were killed by rocket fire, including two children. Widespread airstrikes caused massive destruction in Gaza, damaging tens of thousands of homes and critical infrastructure like the Gaza Power Plant and water networks. The UNRWA reported that over 72,000 Palestinians were internally displaced, seeking shelter in schools run by the agency. In cities like Lod and Acre, violent intercommunal clashes between Arab and Jewish citizens of Israel resulted in additional casualties and arrests.

International reactions

The crisis drew urgent international concern. The United States, under President Joe Biden, initially blocked United Nations Security Council statements but later engaged in intense diplomacy, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken visiting the region afterward. The European Union called for an immediate ceasefire, while countries like France and Egypt spearheaded mediation efforts. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned Israel's actions, and South Africa accused Israel of apartheid. Pro-Palestinian protests occurred globally, including in London, New York City, and Berlin, while pro-Israel rallies were held in major cities like Los Angeles and Miami.

Aftermath and impact

The ceasefire largely held, though minor skirmishes occurred. In Israel, the conflict contributed to the collapse of the coalition government led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid in 2022. In Gaza, reconstruction efforts overseen by the UN and Qatar began slowly, hampered by the ongoing Blockade of the Gaza Strip. The crisis bolstered the political standing of Hamas within the Palestinian territories, while weakening the Palestinian Authority led by Mahmoud Abbas. It also renewed international focus on the broader Israeli–Palestinian peace process, though no substantive negotiations resumed. The events were cited in the subsequent 2023 Israel–Hamas war as a significant escalation in the cycle of violence.

Category:2021 in Israel Category:2021 in Palestine Category:Wars involving Israel Category:History of Gaza