Written by Diala and Stephanie

The Al-Aqsa Intifada, which lasted from September 2000 to February 2005, was a Palestinian uprising driven by deep frustrations with Zionist colonization and failed ‘peace’ talks.

Over the course of 4 years, more than 4,464 Palestinians were murdered, including 1,262 children, 274 women, and 32 medical personnel. Additionally, over 9,800 Palestinians were taken as hostages. The uprising left 47,440 people injured, 10,000 of whom were children. In terms of property destruction, over 5,000 homes were demolished, and 6,500 more were damaged beyond repair. This intifada symbolized the Palestinian struggle against occupation and injustice.

In September 2000, former IOF commander Ariel Sharon, accompanied by over 1,000 soldiers and settlers, stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, deliberately provoking Palestinians to respond. Sharon’s actions were seen as retaliation for disagreements with “Israeli” Prime Minister Ehud Barak after the failed peace talks at Camp David.

Palestinians were already enraged due to ongoing settler expansion and terrorism, as well as failed ‘peace’ talks and the 18th anniversary of the Sabra and Shatila massacre (for which Sharon was responsible), fueling more resentment. The massacre's commemoration further reminded Palestinians of decades of unresolved suffering and injustice. Protests began unarmed as Palestinians rallied in Al-Quds, but after “Israeli” forces fired over 1 million bullets in the first 3 days, killing at least 47 people, Palestinians decided to take up arms and defend their land and their people. The Camp David Summit in July 2000, led by “Israeli” Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, failed to achieve a ‘peace’ agreement.

PLO and its leader, Yasser Arafat, claimed to hold firm on the thawabit (principles). Still, these were already compromised in the Oslo Accords of 1993 and 1995 in exchange for power, ultimately betraying the Palestinian people in the process. This failure left Palestinians deeply disillusioned, as they felt ‘peace’ talks always favored the occupation. With no diplomatic solution in sight and Sharon’s storming of Al-Aqsa as the final spark, Palestinians rose in the Second Intifada, expressing their outrage at the ongoing occupation and the PLO’s inability to secure their fundamental rights.

After Yasser Arafat died in 2004, the PLO led by Mahmoud Abbas shifted dramatically towards diplomacy. Seeking international legitimacy, Abbas embraced negotiations by advocating for a two-state solution and compromising the fundamental values of liberation and Al-Thawabit. As “Israel” expanded settlements and maintained its military hold on Palestinian territories, the PLO’s failed diplomatic efforts resulted in further deterioration of Palestinian’s faith in the PLO. The PLO’s inaction inadvertently strengthened Hamas, who rejected the PLO’s participation in a “peace” process. Hamas’s commitment to armed resistance resonated with Palestinians.

The Second Intifada was not spontaneous; it was the culmination of years of mounting frustration and anger fueled by a series of pivotal events. The Oslo Accords (1993), which promised a “peaceful” resolution through negotiations and the creation of a Palestinian state, ultimately failed to stop Israel’s settlement expansion or end the occupation. This growing skepticism of diplomacy was further exacerbated by the haunting memory of the Sabra and Shatila Massacres in 1982, where thousands of Palestinian refugees were brutally slaughtered in the camps of Beirut. “Israeli” forces, in control of the area, stood by and allowed the massacre to unfold under their watch.

The Sabra and Shatila Massacres starkly exposed “Israel's” contradictory stance, facilitating brutal violence against Palestinians while simultaneously presenting itself as a partner in "peace" negotiations. The PLO was unprepared for the intensity of resistance that the Second Intifada unleashed, further amplifying the perception of its leadership as disconnected and ineffective in addressing the realities of occupation.