The Israeli–Palestinian conflict has ebbed and flowed through decades of wars, insurgencies, and peace talks. Now Israel has normalized relations with more Arab countries, while the Palestinians become more isolated and divided.
With the prospects for political progress bleak for years and with world powers now distracted by the Ukraine war, violence continues to escalate.
The latest outbreak killed 190 Palestinians after months of confrontation, according to UN figures. In addition to the seven people killed on Friday, 29 Israeli and foreign nationals, including civilians and soldiers, were killed by Palestinians last year, according to Israeli government figures.
Tensions have risen further since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to power in December with religious nationalists in key cabinet positions, promising a tougher stance and angering Palestinians.
“I think this decline is going to continue and is inevitable,” said Ghassan Al Khatib, a Palestinian analyst and professor of politics at Birzeit University in the West Bank.
Khatib said the rise of populist Israeli politics was fueling calls for disproportionate action against Palestinians, which would “bring forth Palestinian reactions and lead to a continuation of the current escalation”.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who angered Muslims by visiting the Al Aqsa Mosque compound within days of taking office, the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis, and Israeli soldiers and police Support immunity from prosecution for.