Palestinian political violence

Palestinian political violence refers to acts of violence or terrorism committed by Palestinians with the intent to accomplish political goals,^{[1][2][3][4][5]} and often carried out in the context of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Common objectives of political violence by Palestinian groups^[6] include self-determination in and sovereignty over all of Palestine (including seeking to replace Israel),^[7][8] or the recognition of a Palestinian state inside the 1967 borders. This includes the objective of ending the Israeli occupation. More limited goals include the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and recognition of the Palestinian right of return.^{[9][10][11][12][13]}

Palestinian groups that have been involved in politically motivated violence include the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), Fatah, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command (PFLP-GC), the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Abu Nidal Organization, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Hamas.^[14] Several of these groups are considered terrorist organizations by the governments of the United States,^[1] Canada,^[2] the United Kingdom,^[15] Japan,^[16] New Zealand^[17] and the European Union.^[18][19]

Palestinian political violence has targeted Israelis, Palestinians, Lebanese, Jordanians,^[20] Egyptians,^[21] Americans,^[22] and citizens of other countries.^[23] Attacks have taken place both within Israel and the Palestinian territories as well as internationally and have been directed at both military and civilian targets. Tactics have included hostage taking, plane hijacking, boat hijacking, stone and improvised weapon throwing, improvised explosive device (IED), knife attacks, shooting sprees, vehicle-ramming attacks, car bombs and assassinations. In the 1990s, groups seeking to disrupt the Israeli-Palestinian peace process began adopting suicide bombings, predominantly targeting civilians, which later peaked during the Second Intifada. In recent decades, violence has also included rocket attacks on Israeli urban centers. The October 7, 2023, attacks resulted in massacres, and hostage-taking.

Israeli statistics state that 3,500 Israelis have been killed as a result of Palestinian political violence since the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948.^[24][23] Suicide bombings constituted 0.5% of Palestinian attacks against Israelis in the first two years of the Al Aqsa Intifada; though this percentage accounted for half of the Israelis killed in that period.^[25] As of 2022,^[update] a majority of Palestinians, 59%, believe armed attacks against Israelis inside Israel are an effective measure to end the occupation, with 56% supporting them.^[26]