2021 Israel–Palestine crisis

conflict between Israelis and Palestinians beginning in May 2021

On 6 May 2021, a conflict began between Palestinian protesters and the Israeli police over a planned Supreme Court of Israel decision about the evictions of Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah, a neighborhood of East Jerusalem. It lead Hamas to launch rockets onto Israeli cities. The clashes injured more than 300 people, mostly Palestinian civilians.[1]

Israeli police in Lod
A sign at the entrance to the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, East Jerusalem

Conflict

change

Protests began on 6 May in Sheikh Jarrah. On 8 May, crowds threw rocks at Israeli police and chanted "Strike Tel Aviv" and "in blood, we will redeem al-Aqsa". On 9 May, Israeli police stormed the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in response to stone-throwing Palestinian crowds.[2][3] In response, on May 10, Hamas and the Islamic Jihad started firing rockets into Israel.[4] Israel responded with airstrikes into Gaza.

 
A bus and a car in Holon, after being hit by a rocket from Gaza

Victims

change

Since 10 May, 62 Palestinians were killed, including fourteen children, and 335 more were wounded.[5] According to the Israel Defense Forces, at least fifteen of Palestinian casualties were Hamas members, and some were killed by Palestinian rockets. Israel reported that Palestinian rockets hit homes and a school, killing four Israeli civilians and an Indian citizen who lived in the country[6] and injuring at least 70 Israeli civilians.[7][8]

Ceasefire

change

On 20 May 2021, Israel agreed a ceasefire agreement with Gaza militants after 250 deaths due to the conflict. The ceasefire came into effect the next day.[9]

References

change
  1. Kingsley, Patrick (2021-05-09). "Israeli Court Delays Expulsion of Palestinian Families in East Jerusalem". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2021-05-09. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  2. Kingsley, Patrick; Kershner, Isabel (10 May 2021). "After Raid on Aqsa Mosque, Rockets from Gaza and Israeli Airstrikes". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  3. "TV: Palestinians stocked rocks for Temple Mount riots, police caught unawares". The Times of Israel. 8 May 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-05-10. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  4. Alexander Smith, Lawahez Jabari and Paul Goldman (11 May 2021). "33 killed in Israeli airstrikes, Hamas rocket attacks as unrest spreads beyond Jerusalem". NBC News. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  5. "As Israelis and Palestinians Battle, Rockets and Airstrikes Intensify". The New York Times. 2021-05-11. Archived from the original on 2021-05-12. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  6. Gross, Judah Ari. "1 killed, 3 injured as Hamas fires anti-tank missile at Israeli jeep". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 2021-05-12. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  7. "Two Israelis ded, over 90 injured after rockets strike Ashkelon, Ashdod". The Jerusalem Post. 11 May 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-05-12. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  8. "1 dead, 3 hurt as 'largest ever' Hamas barrage hits Ashdod, Ashkelon". Ynet. 2021-05-11. Archived from the original on 2021-05-12. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  9. "Israel approves Gaza ceasefire to halt 11-day conflict". The Guardian. 2021-05-20. Archived from the original on 2021-05-20. Retrieved 2021-05-20.