TEL AVIV, Israel  —Israel's recent military raid into the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank has drawn comparisons to the second Palestinian uprising of the early 2000s. The airstrikes and armored bulldozers targeting Palestinian militants, along with protests and a rising death toll, evoke memories of a period marked by significant violence and loss of life.

However, the current conflict differs in its scale and focus, with Israeli military operations concentrated on specific strongholds of Palestinian militants rather than a widespread and sustained campaign.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine is a reflection of an unresolved and seemingly endless struggle. The Palestinian leadership is in a weakened state, while the Israeli government has been actively expanding settlements, which has further undermined the prospects of establishing a Palestinian state.

The term "intifada," meaning "shaking off" in Arabic, originated to describe an uprising against Israel's military occupation that began in 1987 and ended in 1993 with a recognition agreement between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization. The first intifada was characterized by widespread Palestinian protests and a harsh Israeli response. The second intifada, which started in 2000, witnessed Palestinian militants carrying out deadly suicide bombings, targeting buses, restaurants, and hotels, leading to severe Israeli military retaliations.

 The conflict resulted in the deaths of over 4,000 people, with a disproportionate number of Palestinian casualties, including a large number of civilians. The Palestinian death toll was roughly three times higher than that of Israelis.

During the second intifada, the Israeli crackdown had a profound impact on Palestinians, with restrictions on movement and a struggling economy.

Israelis faced fear and insecurity due to frequent bombings. The protests involved Palestinians from the captured territories of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem, with Palestinian leaders accused of supporting militants.

The second intifada gradually subsided after Arafat's death, and Mahmoud Abbas assumed power. In 2022, Palestinian attacks led to Israeli raids in the West Bank, aiming to dismantle militant networks.

However, the violence continued, resulting in a rising death toll for both sides, making last year one of the deadliest for Palestinians since the second intifada.

Since the rise of Israel's far-right government, comprised of hard-line ultranationalist settlement supporters, the violence has escalated further. The death toll among Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem this year has surpassed 135, nearly matching the total for the entire year of 2022. Numerous Palestinians have been arrested, while Palestinian attacks against Israelis have resulted in the deaths of 24 individuals.

While this sustained cycle of violence resembles the duration of the second intifada, recent periods of bloodshed have not lasted as long or involved such a significant display of military force.

The tactics employed in the recent events, such as airstrikes, armored bulldozers, and a large troop presence, echo those used during the second uprising. However, analysts highlight that the similarities between the two periods largely end there.

The recent Israeli raids in comparison to the second intifada have been smaller in scale, targeting local armed groups and militants rather than imposing a widespread clampdown on cities in the West Bank. Key differences include the weakened Palestinian leadership and limited popular participation, with protests not encompassing the entire West Bank as in previous uprisings.

According to analysts, the current conflict is driven primarily by militant groups funded by Iran, rather than being a broad-based people's uprising.

Instead, it is described as "waves" of Palestinian anger. The underlying issue is seen as the lack of a political solution, with a desire for freedom and dignity among the youth who perceive a bleak future under ongoing occupation and oppression.

The recent Israeli raids in comparison to the second intifada have been smaller in scale, targeting local armed groups and militants rather than imposing a widespread clampdown on cities in the West Bank. Key differences include the weakened Palestinian leadership and limited popular participation, with protests not encompassing the entire West Bank as in previous uprisings.

According to analysts, the current conflict is driven primarily by militant groups funded by Iran, rather than being a broad-based people's uprising. Instead, it is described as "waves" of Palestinian anger. The underlying issue is seen as the lack of a political solution, with a desire for freedom and dignity among the youth who perceive a bleak future under ongoing occupation and oppression.