Second Intifada
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| Conflict | Second Intifada |
| Caption | Palestinian demonstration in Ramallah, 2002 |
| Date | Late September 2000 – February 2005 |
| Place | West Bank, Gaza Strip, Israel, Jerusalem |
| Combatant1 | Israel Defense Forces |
| Combatant2 | Palestinian National Authority; Hamas; Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine; Fatah; Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades |
| Strength1 | Active-duty and reserve personnel of Israel Defense Forces |
| Strength2 | Palestinian militants, security forces, and civilian participants |
| Casualties1 | Over 1,000 killed (Israeli civilians and soldiers) |
| Casualties2 | Over 3,000 killed (Palestinian militants and civilians) |
Second Intifada The Second Intifada was a period of intensified Israeli–Palestinian violence beginning in late 2000 and lasting until about 2005. It involved clashes, suicide bombings, military incursions, and uprisings across the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Israel, reshaping regional politics and international mediation efforts. The uprising influenced leaders, negotiations, and security doctrines across the Middle East.
Background and Causes
Scholars and participants point to the 1993 Oslo Accords, the stalled Camp David 2000 summit between Bill Clinton, Ehud Barak, and Yasser Arafat, disputes over Jerusalem sovereignty including the Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, and persistent settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as proximate triggers. Palestinian frustration with the Palestinian Authority's governance, economic pressures under the Paris Protocol (1994), and Israeli domestic politics influenced by Ariel Sharon's 2000 visit to the Haram al-Sharif compound contributed to mobilization. International actors such as the Quartet on the Middle East, European Union, and United States Department of State attempted mediation amid frayed trust between Likud and Palestine Liberation Organization constituencies.
Timeline and Major Events
The uprising escalated after the 28 September 2000 visit by Ariel Sharon and ensuing clashes in Jerusalem, followed by days of demonstrations and confrontations in Nablus, Hebron, and Ramallah. Major episodes include the 2001 siege of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the 2002 Operation Defensive Shield by the Israel Defense Forces, the 2002 Battle of Jenin controversy, and repeated incursions in the Gaza Strip including the 2004 assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and strikes on Khan Yunis. High-profile attacks such as the 2001 Sbarro restaurant suicide bombing, the 2002 Passover massacre at Netanya, and the 2003 assassination of prominent militants drew responses including targeted killings and the 2002 announcement of the Israeli West Bank barrier construction. Ceasefires, including the 2003 Road Map for Peace endorsed by the Quartet on the Middle East and sporadic truces mediated by Egypt and Jordan, punctuated but did not immediately end the violence.
Actors and Tactics
Primary Israeli actors included the Israel Defense Forces, Shin Bet, and political leaders such as Ariel Sharon and Ehud Olmert. Palestinian actors ranged from the Palestinian Authority and Fatah leadership to armed groups including Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and smaller factions like the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Tactics encompassed suicide bombings in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, rocket attacks into southern Israel from Gaza, ambushes near Gaza Strip crossings, urban warfare in West Bank cities, targeted assassinations by Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet, use of checkpoints and curfews, and civil actions such as strikes and protests in refugee camps like Jenin and Balata. International organizations including United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and NGOs documented methods and provided humanitarian assistance amid restrictions.
Casualties and Humanitarian Impact
The uprising resulted in several thousand deaths on both sides, with a higher Palestinian civilian toll recorded in cities such as Gaza City and Hebron. Injuries numbered in the tens of thousands, compounded by destruction of infrastructure, damage to hospitals like those in Jenin and Gaza City, and widespread displacement in refugee camps. Economic impacts affected employment and trade in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, while blockade measures and checkpoint regimes impeded movement to clinics and workplaces. Humanitarian reports from agencies such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and Amnesty International highlighted concerns over detention practices, targeted killings, and access to basic services.
Political and Diplomatic Responses
International responses involved the United States, the European Union, the United Nations Security Council, and regional mediators like Egypt and Jordan. Diplomatic initiatives included the 2002 Road Map for Peace, U.S.-led talks under Anthony Zinni and George Tenet, and periodic negotiations aimed at prisoner exchanges and ceasefires. Israeli domestic policy shifted toward security measures such as the Israeli West Bank barrier and intensified counterterrorism operations, while Palestinian politics saw rivalry between Fatah and Hamas harden, affecting later elections including the 2006 Palestinian legislative election. Legal and human rights debates engaged the International Court of Justice in later proceedings and UN bodies through resolutions and fact-finding missions.
Aftermath and Legacy
The conflict reshaped Israeli and Palestinian strategies: Israel emphasized layered defense, intelligence reforms, and barrier construction, while Palestinian society experienced political fragmentation leading to the 2006 electoral victory of Hamas in the Palestinian Legislative Council and subsequent Fatah–Hamas conflict. The Second Intifada influenced later confrontations including the 2008–2009 Gaza War and periodic escalations involving Hezbollah and regional actors. Memory of the period persists in commemorations, literature, and legal disputes, affecting Israeli settlements policy, negotiation frameworks such as the Two-state solution, and international perceptions of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.