2023-10-07 15:07:58
This Saturday, Israel is once again “at war”, announced its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Thousands of rockets have been fired from Gaza and fighting rages around the enclave between the Israeli army and infiltrated Palestinian fighters. The latest reports show 40 dead and hundreds injured on the Israeli side, and 9 dead on the Palestinian side.
These events are in line with the tensions which have opposed Israel and the Palestinian movements, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, in recent years. Here are some benchmarks.
“Cast lead” in 2008
On December 27, 2008, Israel launched a vast air offensive against the Gaza Strip to put an end to rocket fire from this Palestinian territory which the Islamist movement Hamas has controlled since 2007. This is Operation “Cast Lead”.
A few days later, on January 3, 2009, Israeli troops entered Palestinian territory. On January 18, a ceasefire put an end to the operation. Some 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed. In July, Amnesty International will release a damning report on the offensive, accusing both Israel and Hamas of “war crimes.”
“Pillar of defense” in 2012
On November 14, 2012, the Israeli army launched Operation “Pillar of Defense” against armed groups in Gaza, which began with the assassination of the head of Hamas military operations, Ahmad Jaabari. In eight days of intensive airstrikes, more than 170 Palestinians died, including around a hundred civilians. Six Israelis, including four civilians, are killed.
The Israeli army says it struck 1,500 targets, including 19 command centers. More than 900 rockets launched from Gaza reached Israel, more than 400 others were intercepted. The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, claim to have fired more than 1,500 rockets alone.
“Protective edge” in 2014
On July 8, 2014, Israel launched Operation Protective Edge to stop rocket fire and destroy tunnels dug from Gaza. On August 26, after 50 days of war, Hamas and Israel concluded a ceasefire agreement, negotiated through Egypt.
The war, which ravaged the enclave, left at least 2,251 dead on the Palestinian side, most of them civilians, and 74 on the Israeli side, almost all soldiers. Nearly 55,000 houses were affected by Israeli strikes, including at least 17,200 totally or almost completely destroyed, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha).
“Guardian of the walls” in 2021
In 2021, Hamas launched hostilities on May 10 by firing salvos of rockets in “solidarity” with the hundreds of Palestinians injured during clashes with Israeli police on the Jerusalem Mosques Esplanade. In the process, Israel launched Operation “Guardian of the Walls”, aimed at “reducing” Hamas’ military capabilities by increasing airstrikes. A ceasefire comes into effect on May 21.
In 11 days, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Palestinian movements described as “terrorist” by Israel, the EU and the United States, launched more than 4,300 rockets; 90% of projectiles were intercepted by its anti-missile shield.
The clashes left at least 232 dead on the Palestinian side, including 65 children, and 12 dead in Israel, including a 6-year-old child and a 16-year-old girl.
“Shield and Arrow” in 2023
A few days after exchanges of fire with Islamic Jihad, Israel launched air raids on the Gaza Strip on May 9, 2023, via Operation “Shield and Arrow”. Fifteen Palestinians are killed, including three military commanders of the movement. Islamic Jihad responded with several hundred rockets, which caused no injuries in Israel.
On May 11 and 12, Israel eliminated two military leaders of the Palestinian movement in quick succession. A truce negotiated by Egypt comes into force on May 13, after five days of war which left 35 dead.
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