Al-Aqsa Intifada: An Important Stage in the Liberation Journey of Palestine

Sep 05, 2020 09:39 am
Mohammed Abu Qamar

Mohammed Abu Qamar

Editor in Chief at Alresalah Newspaper

Since the Palestinian lands were occupied 72 years ago, the Palestinian resistance has worked hard using both armed and popular methods to reobtain the rights and lands of the Palestinian people, the real owners of Palestine. 

The Israeli occupation also tried to oppress the First Palestinian Intifada in 1987 through ‘peace talks’ in the early 90s but failed. The Palestinians refused to accept having only 22% of their land.

Perhaps the main reason that led to the eruption of Al-Aqsa Intifada was the Israeli occupation’s miscalculations. The occupation thought it had separated the Palestinian people from any religious attachment to their holy sites and beliefs. However, their perception was proven wrong when Ariel Sharon broke into Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa on September 28th, 2000.

The Intifada was both popular and spontaneous, and soon spread over all Palestinian lands, which made it difficult for the Israeli occupation to stop. This Intifada marked an important stage in the path for liberation.

Although the Palestinian people paid a huge price and sacrificed a lot, that Intifada was a key factor in the development of confrontation methods with the Israeli occupation: Moving from stones, to rifles to martyrdom operations behind enemy lines.

4,406 Palestinians were martyred, 826 of them were children and 289 were women. More than 47,000 Palestinians were wounded and over 9,800 were captured and imprisoned (according to the National Information Center for the time period from September 2000 until June 2006).

All attempts to oppress the Intifada failed. The occupation finally realized it could not divert the Palestinians from their demands to liberate Palestine. One of the Israeli army’s officials even said, “How can we face a person who wants to die?” Referring to the large-scale  martyrdom operations executed at the time.

After 20 years from Al-Aqsa Intifada, the following can be deduced:

  1. The occupation’s attempts to tame the Palestinians and seduce them with money in exchange for silence and giving up their rights and lands failed. The Intifada showed the occupation how wrong it was to think that paying a lot of money could change the Palestinian people’s creed and could force them to live under the occupation’s rule.
  2. The Palestinian holy sites are a redline, one no one can cross. Trying to Judaize or violate them will be met with force. This was clear when the occupation tried to establish electronic gates in 2017 in Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, and the Palestinians rebelled against them.
  3. Al-Aqsa Intifada restored the Palestinian issue’s position among the Arab and Muslim nations. It received international and popular support, and reminded all Muslims around the world of their duties towards Palestine and its holy sites.
  4. The Second Intifada was an important stage in the long journey of resistance development against the occupation. It laid the foundations for a powerful resistance that scares the Israeli occupation.
  5. The Palestinian cause has survived several key incidents since it was occupied; such incidents could spark a new confrontation with the occupation to remind it of the great losses it would face for occupying the land.
  6. The Intifada produced important Palestinian figures and role models such ask Sheikh Raed Salah, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Yassir Arafat and others.
  7. Al-Aqsa Intifada initiated the role of new Palestinian media that started broadcasting through local radios and TV channels setting the start of resistance using media.

At the end, history will tell the story of heroes who stood against the occupation, refused to give in to its rule, and fought with their souls for their holy sites and land. These people’s names will always be remembered as honorable figures who protected Palestine.

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