Israel-Palestinian violence: why is it on the rise?

The current violence is mainly taking place in the West Bank and East Jerusalem - areas occupied by Israel since the 1967 Middle East war. Although the starting point is debatable, it started in March 2022 and has continued since then. After a series of deadly Palestinian attacks rocked Israel for days, the Israeli military launched an open-ended operation in the West Bank in response, which resulted in frequent raids into the occupied territories.

In what ways has it gotten worse?

Over the past year, Israeli military operations and Palestinian attacks have resulted in many injuries and deaths, but what sets this period apart is the scale of loss of life and the number of incidents in which multiple people have been killed.

At least 146 Palestinians - militants, civilians, and attackers - were killed by Israeli forces last year, the highest number since UN records began in 2005. As a result of attacks by Palestinians or Israeli Arabs, 29 Israelis, and two foreign nationals were killed - all but four of them civilians. This is the deadliest year for Israelis since 2015.

A total of 60 Palestinians and 14 Israelis have died in the first two months of this year, surpassing any similar period in 2022.

A military raid in Nablus in February resulted in 11 Palestinians being killed and dozens more being injured by bullets, according to the Palestinian health ministry. A raid in Jenin the previous month resulted in 10 Palestinians being killed.

In January, seven civilians were shot dead outside an East Jerusalem synagogue, while in February three people were killed in a ramming attack at a bus stop outside the city.

Near-daily violence has resulted in many deaths and injuries on both sides, fueling what is often described as a cycle of violence.

Why is violence so prevalent?

Both sides blame each other, but there are also underlying causes that are more long-term.

Those who support Palestinian attackers claim they are fighting Israel and the occupation as well as vengeance for Israeli attacks. Some of the attacks have been carried out by "lone wolves" - individuals who did not act on the orders of an organization. Israel accuses the Palestinian Authority (PA) of inciting such attacks.

Palestinian militant groups have also carried out attacks, including the newly formed Lions' Den, which has gained popularity on Palestinian streets.

As part of its ongoing operation in the West Bank, called Break the Wave, Israel is conducting arrest raids to prevent militant groups from launching attacks. However, these raids often take place in densely populated refugee camps and other urban areas and often turn bloody due to gunmen's resistance.

Is there any hope for an end?

The Palestinians say attacks are a response to Israel's actions and overwhelmingly more powerful military. Israel says it has to keep its operations going to weaken militant groups and thwart attacks, but the Palestinians insist they are a response to Israeli actions. In addition, there is no political peace process that offers the prospect of a permanent solution, leaving decades-old grievances - the Palestinians' desire for a state and Israelis' desire for security chief among them - festering.

The PA - derided and seen as complicit in Israel's military occupation by many Palestinians - shows no appetite to act against militants, a move that would be unpopular among ordinary Palestinians and put its own survival at risk. In addition to accelerated demolition of attackers' homes, deporting attackers, and expanding Jewish settlements in the West Bank, Israel's new hard-line, right-wing government is also intensifying measures against Palestinian violence.

Israeli settlements on land Palestinians claim for a future state are seen by them as a major cause of the conflict. Under international law, settlements are illegal. Israel disputes this.

Israel and the Palestinians met face-to-face for the first time in years in Jordan on Sunday in an effort to de-escalate tensions, with the aim of meeting again in March under US-brokered talks.