The 2021 Israel-Palestine conflict, often called the "Unity Intifada" or "Sword of Jerusalem Battle," erupted in May as a flare-up in a decades-long dispute rooted in land, identity, and sovereignty claims.

Tensions boiled over from specific Jerusalem flashpoints amid broader grievances.

Immediate Triggers

Protests ignited on May 6, 2021 , when Palestinians in East Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood rallied against a pending Israeli Supreme Court ruling to evict six Palestinian families from properties claimed by Jewish settlers—land tied to 19th-century purchases but occupied since 1967 under international law.

Israeli police clashed with demonstrators during Ramadan , restricting access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque (Temple Mount/Noble Sanctuary), especially on Qadr Night (May 8) and ahead of Jerusalem Day (May 9-10) , when far- right nationalists planned a provocative "Dance of Flags" march through Muslim areas.

The Palestinian Authority's cancellation of elections earlier that year fueled frustration, positioning Hamas to seize the mantle as Jerusalem's defender, absent a response from Fatah.

Escalation to Violence

By May 10 , after unmet ultimatums, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fired over 150 rockets from Gaza toward Jerusalem and southern Israel, killing civilians and prompting Israeli airstrikes under Operation Guardian of the Walls.

The 11-day war saw 4,000+ rockets from Gaza, Israeli strikes killing 256 Palestinians (mostly civilians, including 66 children), and 13 Israeli deaths, displacing 72,000 Palestinians.

Incidents included a Gaza rocket misfire on a crowded market and an Israeli strike on a media tower housing AP and Al-Jazeera offices.

Underlying Causes

This wasn't isolated—it's layered on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since 1948: Israeli control of East Jerusalem (annexed 1980), West Bank settlements, Gaza blockade since 2007, and failed peace talks.

Political opportunism played in: Israel's caretaker government under Netanyahu faced elections; Hamas boosted its standing among Palestinians wary of PA weakness.

Multiple Viewpoints

  • Palestinian perspective : Evictions and Al-Aqsa raids symbolized erasure of rights in occupied territories; Hamas framed it as resistance to "Judaization" of Jerusalem.
  • Israeli perspective : Rocket barrages terrorized civilians; operations targeted Hamas infrastructure after warnings, amid threats from Iran-backed groups.
  • International lens : UN and HRW condemned excessive force by both sides as potential war crimes; calls grew for ICC probes into strikes and indiscriminate rockets.

Key Players| Role in 2021 Crisis
---|---
Hamas/PIJ| Launched rockets; positioned as Palestinian unity champions 3
Israel (IDF)| Airstrikes, evictions enforcement; defended as self-defense 37
PA/Fatah| Inactive, criticized for election cancelation 3
Far-right Israelis| Provocative Temple Mount prayers, Sheikh Jarrah claims 5

Aftermath and Legacy

A ceasefire held on May 21, but destruction lingered: Gaza's economy crippled, unity talks stalled. By 2026, core issues—borders, Jerusalem, refugees—persist, with flare-ups tied to similar triggers.

TL;DR : Sparked by Sheikh Jarrah evictions and Al-Aqsa clashes in May 2021, Hamas rockets met Israeli airstrikes in an 11-day war, amplifying deep- rooted occupation and security disputes.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.