Ramallah: Today marks the 38th anniversary of the outbreak of the First Intifada, also known as the "Stone Uprising," a pivotal moment in the history of their struggle for freedom. The Intifada, which lasted from 1987 to 1994, marked a turning point in Palestinian resistance against Israeli occupation.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the First Intifada began in the Jabalia refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, following the killing of four Palestinian workers at the Erez checkpoint by an Israeli settler driving a truck. The victims were identified as Taleb Abu Zaid, 46, Issam Hamouda, 29, Shabaan Nabhan, 26, and Ali Ismail, 25, all from Gaza. This tragic incident sparked outrage and protests across the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, leading to widespread demonstrations and confrontations with Israeli forces.
The following day, on December 9, 1987, angry protests erupted in Jabalia camp, turning into violent clashes with the Israeli military. During these early confrontations, Hatem al-Sisi, a young man from Jabalia, became the first Palestinian martyr of the uprising.
The Intifada quickly spread, first to the Balata refugee camp in Nablus, then across the West Bank and Gaza. In the first days of the uprising, Ibrahim al-Aklik, 17, was killed on December 10, 1987, followed by Suheila al-Kaabi, 19, and Ali Musa'id, 12, from Balata on December 11, 1987. These initial casualties were just the beginning, as the uprising gathered momentum, with hundreds of Palestinians losing their lives and thousands more wounded or imprisoned.
