Israel and Palestinians Conflict Timeline: Early on Saturday, the Palestinian islamist group Hamas attacked Israel in its heaviest assault in years, unleashing a barrage of rockets from Gaza and sending fighters across the border.
Israeli media reported gunfights between groups of Palestinian fighters and security personnel in southern Israel as Israel declared itself to be in a state of war and started its own attacks against Hamas targets in Gaza.
Israel and Palestinians Conflict Timeline
The confrontation between Israel and Palestinian organisations in the packed coastal enclave, which is home to 2.3 million people, has seen several major flare-ups during the course of the following timeline, which starts with Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005.
August 2005: 38 years after Egypt was taken over by Israeli soldiers in the Middle East war, Israel unilaterally withdraws its military from Gaza, abandoning colonies and handing over administration of the enclave to the Palestinian Authority.
25 January 2006: A majority of seats in the Palestinian legislative assembly are won by the islamist organisation Hamas. Because Hamas won’t stop using violence and acknowledge Israel, Israel and the US have stopped providing help to the Palestinians.
June 25, 2006:- Israeli airstrikes and raids are launched after Hamas militants seize Israeli army recruit Gilad Shalit in a cross-border raid from Gaza. After more than five years, Shalit is finally let free in a prisoner swap.
June 14, 2007:- In a brief civil war, Hamas seizes control of Gaza and drives out the Fatah militias devoted to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is stationed in the West Bank.
27 December 2008: Palestinians hurl rockets at the Israeli town of Sderot in the south, prompting Israel to launch a 22-day military onslaught in Gaza. Before a ceasefire is reached, it is estimated that 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis have died.
14 November 2012: Ahmad Jabari, the head of the military for Hamas, is killed by Israel. Israeli airstrikes and Palestinian militant rocket fire continue for eight days.
2014, July–August: Following the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli youths by Hamas, a seven-week conflict breaks out in which more than 2,100 Palestinians are reported dead in Gaza and 73 Israelis, including 67 soldiers, are reported dead.
March 2018: – Palestinian demonstrations start at the gated border between Gaza and Israel. To push back protests, Israeli soldiers start firing. In the course of many months of rallies, which also result in fighting between Hamas and Israeli forces, more than 170 Palestinians are reportedly dead.
May 2021: – Hundreds of Palestinians are hurt in clashes with Israeli security forces at the Al Aqsa compound in Jerusalem, the third holiest site in Islam, following weeks of tension during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
Hamas launches a salvo of rockets into Israel from Gaza after demanding that Israel remove its security personnel from the facility. Israel responds by attacking Gaza with airstrikes. 11 days of fighting result in at least 250 deaths in Gaza and 13 in Israel.
August 2022: Israeli airstrikes target a prominent Islamic Jihad commander, sparking three days of unrest that result in at least 44 deaths, including 15 minors.
Israel claims that the attacks, which targeted leaders and arsenals, were a preventative measure against an impending assault by the terrorist movement supported by Iran. Islamic Jihad replies by launching more than 1,000 rockets towards Israel. Any significant damage or casualties are avoided thanks to Israel’s Iron Dome air defence system.
January 2023: After Israeli troops raid a refugee camp and kill seven Palestinian gunmen and two civilians, Islamic Jihad in Gaza fires two missiles towards Israel. Although the rockets raise fear in Israeli neighbourhoods close to the border, no one is hurt. Israel reacts by attacking Gaza with airstrikes.
October 2023: From the Gaza Strip, Hamas launches the largest attack on Israel in years, combining a surprise border crossing by armed men with a ferocious missile barrage. According to Islamic Jihad, its militants have joined the assault.
The Israeli military declared that it was in a warlike situation and announced that it had launched attacks against Hamas in Gaza and called up reservists.
