Palestinian Militants
Palestinian political violence refers to acts of violence undertaken to further the Palestinian cause. These political objectives include self-determination in and sovereignty over Palestine, the "liberation of Palestine" and establishment of a Palestinian state, either in place of both Israel and the Palestinian territories, or solely in the Palestinian territories. Periodically directed toward more limited goals such as the release of Palestinian prisoners, another key aim is to advance the Palestinian right of return.
Palestinian groups involved in politically motivated violence include Hamas, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, 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, and the Abu Nidal Organization. Tactics have included plane hijackings, stone throwing, stabbing, shootings, and bombings. Several of these groups are considered terrorist organizations by the United States government.
Palestinian political violence has targeted Israelis, Palestinians, Lebanese, Jordanians, Egyptians and citizens of other countries. The attacks have taken place within and outside Israel and have been directed at both military and civilian targets. Israeli statistics state that 3,500 Israelis have been killed and 25,000 have been wounded as a result of Palestinian violence since the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. These figures include soldiers as well as civilians, including those killed in exchanges of gunfire.
Read more about Palestinian Militants: Involvement of Governments, Involvement of Children, Involvement of Women, Violence Against Civilians, Internal Violence, Designations of Terrorism, Palestinian Groups Involved in Political Violence, Notable Attacks, See Also
Famous quotes containing the words palestinian and/or militants:
“I have told my husband that if he denies women equality, I will be in the vanguard of women on the streets, protesting outside his office in the new Palestinian state.”
—Suha Tawil (b. 1963)
“I’ve always had the impression that real militants are like cleaning women, doing a thankless, daily but necessary job.”
—François Truffaut (1932–1984)