[Datelines: Jerusalem/Gaza City, May 2021]
JERUSALEM — A major outbreak of violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, now known as the Unity Intifada, erupted on May 10, 2021, and continued for 11 days until a ceasefire took effect on May 21. The crisis was marked by widespread protests, police crackdowns, rocket attacks on Israel by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and devastating Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. The escalation was triggered by tensions in East Jerusalem, specifically the threatened eviction of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood and violent clashes at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, one of Islam’s holiest sites.
The conflict resulted in at least 256 Palestinian deaths, including 66 children, and 13 Israeli deaths, including two children. Over 1,900 Palestinians and 200 Israelis were injured, and more than 72,000 Palestinians were displaced. The violence also saw unprecedented communal unrest within Israel, with Arab and Jewish citizens clashing in mixed cities like Lod, Acre, and Haifa.
The Spark: Sheikh Jarrah and Al-Aqsa Mosque
The immediate catalyst for the crisis was the looming eviction of six Palestinian families from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem. The families, who had lived in the area since the 1950s, faced displacement due to a decades-long legal battle with Israeli settler organizations claiming ownership of the land. The case, which reached Israel’s Supreme Court, became a symbol of the broader struggle over land and housing rights in East Jerusalem, where Israeli settlements and Palestinian communities exist in a state of constant tension.
On May 6, 2021, Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah began protesting the anticipated court ruling. The demonstrations quickly spread to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, where Israeli police clashed with Palestinian worshippers during the final days of Ramadan. On May 7, Israeli forces stormed the mosque, firing stun grenades, rubber bullets, and tear gas at protesters. The violence escalated as Palestinians threw stones and fireworks, and Israeli police responded with force. Over 300 Palestinians were injured in the clashes, which drew international condemnation.
“The provocative acts across Jerusalem must cease,” said Tor Wennesland, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, in a statement on May 7. “The indiscriminate launching of rockets towards Israeli population centers violates international law and must stop immediately.”
Hamas Ultimatum and the 11-Day War
On May 10, Hamas, the militant group controlling the Gaza Strip, issued an ultimatum to Israel: withdraw all security forces from the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and Sheikh Jarrah by 6 p.m. or face rocket attacks. When the deadline passed without compliance, Hamas and PIJ launched a barrage of rockets toward Jerusalem and southern Israel. The Israeli military responded with airstrikes on Gaza, marking the beginning of an 11-day conflict.
Over the next 11 days, Hamas and PIJ fired more than 4,360 rockets toward Israel, many of which were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. Israel, in turn, conducted approximately 1,500 airstrikes on Gaza, targeting Hamas military infrastructure, tunnels, and command centers. The strikes resulted in the destruction of residential buildings, schools, hospitals, and media offices, including the al-Jalaa Tower, which housed the offices of the Associated Press and Al Jazeera.
“We gave advance warning to civilians in the building and provided sufficient time for them to evacuate the site,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement justifying the strike on the al-Jalaa Tower. Hamas denied the presence of military assets in the building, and the Associated Press called for an independent investigation.
Humanitarian Crisis and International Response
The 11-day conflict exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. According to the United Nations, Israeli airstrikes destroyed or damaged 94 buildings, including 461 housing and commercial units, and displaced more than 72,000 Palestinians. The Gaza Ministry of Health reported that 66 children were among the 256 Palestinians killed, while Israel reported 13 deaths, including two children.
The international community responded with calls for an immediate ceasefire. On May 18, France, Egypt, and Jordan proposed a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding an end to the violence. The United States, a key ally of Israel, initially blocked the resolution but later supported diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire. Egypt played a pivotal role in mediating the truce, which finally took effect on May 21.
“The ceasefire is a step in the right direction, but it is not enough,” said Lynn Hastings, the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator for the Palestinian Territories. “We need a political solution that addresses the root causes of this conflict, including the occupation, settlements, and the blockade of Gaza.”
Communal Violence Inside Israel
The 2021 crisis was not confined to Gaza and the West Bank. For the first time in decades, Israel experienced widespread communal violence between Arab and Jewish citizens. In cities like Lod, Acre, and Haifa, Arab rioters attacked Jewish homes, synagogues, and businesses, while Jewish mobs targeted Arab communities. The violence led to the declaration of a state of emergency in Lod, the first such declaration in an Arab community since 1966.
“We are on the verge of civil war,” warned Yair Revivo, the mayor of Lod, as he urged the Israeli government to deploy additional security forces. The unrest resulted in the deaths of at least two Arab Israelis and one Jewish Israeli, as well as the destruction of property and infrastructure in mixed cities.
Background: The Roots of the Conflict
The 2021 crisis was the latest chapter in a conflict that dates back to the late 19th century, when the movement for a Jewish state in historic Palestine gained momentum. The 1948 Arab-Israeli War, known to Palestinians as the Nakba (“catastrophe”), resulted in the displacement of approximately 750,000 Palestinians and the establishment of the State of Israel. Since then, the conflict has been defined by cycles of violence, failed peace negotiations, and the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The status of Jerusalem, claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians as their capital, remains one of the most contentious issues. The Sheikh Jarrah evictions highlighted the broader struggle over land and housing rights in East Jerusalem, where Israeli settlers and Palestinian residents live under a system that human rights groups describe as discriminatory. The United Nations and international law consider East Jerusalem to be occupied Palestinian territory, a position rejected by Israel.
Aftermath and the Road Ahead
The ceasefire that ended the 11-day war brought temporary relief but left the underlying issues unresolved. The crisis underscored the fragility of the status quo in Jerusalem and Gaza, as well as the deep-seated grievances of both Israelis and Palestinians. In the months following the conflict, efforts to rebuild Gaza and address the humanitarian crisis were hampered by ongoing political divisions and the lack of a comprehensive peace process.
“The events of May 2021 were a wake-up call,” said Michael Lynk, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories. “Without a just and lasting solution that addresses the root causes of the conflict, we will continue to see cycles of violence and suffering.”
Key Events Timeline
- May 6, 2021: Palestinians begin protesting in Sheikh Jarrah over threatened evictions. Israeli police clash with protesters at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, injuring hundreds.
- May 10, 2021: Hamas issues an ultimatum to Israel, demanding the withdrawal of security forces from Al-Aqsa and Sheikh Jarrah. After the deadline passes, Hamas and PIJ launch rockets into Israel, and Israel responds with airstrikes on Gaza.
- May 11–20, 2021: The conflict intensifies, with Hamas firing thousands of rockets and Israel conducting airstrikes on Gaza. Communal violence erupts in mixed cities inside Israel.
- May 21, 2021: A ceasefire brokered by Egypt takes effect, ending 11 days of fighting. Both sides claim victory, but the humanitarian toll is severe, with hundreds dead and thousands displaced.
Conclusion
The 2021 Israeli-Palestinian crisis was a stark reminder of the unresolved tensions at the heart of the conflict. From the threatened evictions in Sheikh Jarrah to the violent clashes at Al-Aqsa and the devastating 11-day war in Gaza, the events of May 2021 exposed the deep divisions and grievances that continue to fuel the cycle of violence. While the ceasefire brought a temporary halt to the fighting, the underlying issues—including the occupation, settlements, and the blockade of Gaza—remain unaddressed.
As the international community calls for a renewed commitment to a two-state solution, the path forward remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that without meaningful progress toward peace, the risk of further escalation and suffering will persist for both Israelis and Palestinians.
