Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, and Ariel Sharon, the prime minister of Israel, signed a ceasefire agreement on February 8th, 2005, ending the The Second Intifada.
The 13 main Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, agreed to be bound by this agreement.
Hamas refrained from firing rockets towards for 14 months in accordance with the ceasefire, until IDF naval shelling hit a Gazan beach, killing 7 civilians on June 10th, 2006.
In January, 2006, Hamas wins the PA elections, to the chagrin of The Quartet, causing them to condition future assistance on the future government’s commitment to nonviolence, recognition of the State of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreemens.
Hamas rejects these demands, leading to a US/Israeli supported coup via Fatah that gets pre-empted by Hamas tossing Fatah out of the Gaza Strip.
In June 2007, after Hamas’ takeover, Israeli imposed a ground, air and maritime blockade.
Between 2005 and 2007, Palestinian groups in Gaza fired about 2,700 locally made Qassam rockets into Israel.
2008 six-month ceasefire
On June 19th, 2008, an Egyptian-brokered six-month “lull” went into effect, but it had no mutually agreed text or enforcement mechanisms and collapsed.
The agreement required Hamas to end rocket and mortar attacks, and Israel would stop attacks and military incursions into Gaza, plus ease the blockade of Gaza.
Hamas would not agree to stop military buildup in Gaza nor release Corporal Shalit.
Israel and Hamas both committed to agreeing to the ceasefire, but on November 4th, 2008, the IDF killed six Palestinians, claiming they were building tunnels to go under the Israeli border to kidnap more Israeli soldiers, which they claimed violated their ceasefire.
Implementation
Hamas attempted to maintain the ceasefire, but could not prevent other rogue groups from firing rockets into Israel from Gaza. Hamas contends that Israel never eased up off the blockade.
The UN recorded 7 IDF violations of the ceasefire between June 20th-26th.
9 rockets were fired into Israel in 3 separate violations from the 23rd-26th of June by non-Hamas Palestinian groups.
Islamic Jihad reportedly fired these rockets in retaliation for Israeli assassinations of their members in the west bank.
Israel did not comply well with the easing of the blockade after the truce was accepted.
Is this true? Why not?
The Carter Center recorded, based on UN OCHAO data, that the blockade was not eased very much.
Israel accused Hamas of continuing to allow rocket fire from the Gaza strip and continued smuggling of weapons.
The IDF was accused of continuing to violate the ceasefire agreement, attacking, killing, and bulldozing parts of the Gaza strip despite Hamas adherence to said ceasefire.
Pre-war escalations
November 4th IDF raid and aftermath
In November 4th, 2008, Israel launched Operation Double Challenge into Dayr al-Balah in central Gaza to destroy what they claimed was an opening of a cross-border tunnel concealed within a building 300 meters from the border.
Many seem to blame Israel for the failure of the ceasefire.
Tunnel threat
Dr. Ido Hart, an Israeli defence analyst, defined three types of Gaza tunnels: smuggling from Egypt, defensive tunnels for storage and protection, and offensive cross-border penetrations into Israel by Gaza militants.
Robert Pastor, who was involved in the indirect 2008 Hamas-Israel negotiations, stated he was unsure that the tunnels were going to be used for offensive purposes.
Raid
Infantry, bulldozers and tanks crossed 250 meters into the Gaza strip to destroy the tunnel.
Hamas launched 35 rockets into southern Israel in response.
Immediate repercussions
Rocket attacks increased after the 4th of November cross-border attacks, with more than 200 Qassam rockets and mortar shells landing in the western Negev region between November 4th and mid-December.
December repercussions
On December 13th, both Israel and Hamas fought over who was committing themselves to the truce, with both sides accusing the other of violating it continuously.
Rocket fire and IDF attacks continued throughout the next two weeks of negotiations for a truce/ceasefire.
On the 24th of December, Hamas issued a statement to begin “Operation Oil Stain.”
87 Palestinian mortar shells, Katyusha and Qassam rockets hit the Negev.
Events
Timeline of the war
Israeli offensive
Israel had been planning this offensive for 6 months prior to the beginning of the conflict and initiated in response to their “patience running out” (Ehud Barak) over rocket attacks.
Air strikes
On December 27th, 2008, Israel launched “Operation Cast Lead.”
F-16 fighter jets and AH-64 Apache attack helicopters struck 100 preplanned targets within 220 seconds, then returned with a second wave to strike an additional 60 targets.
The IDF accused Hamas of hiding in the al-Shifa basement, attempting to utilize human shields.
The IDF took multiple precautions to reduce civilian casualties
They used A-4 Skyhawks to drop more than 2 million leaflets
They engaged in roof knocking on civilian buildings.
The IDF issued warning calls before air strikes on civilian buildings.
They contacted residents of a building to leave 10-15 minutes before an attack.
The IDF used sound bombs to warn civilians before striking homes.
In some cases, the IDF commanders called off airstrikes, when residents of suspected houses have been able to gather on its roof.
Naval operations
Israel launched attacks from sea.
They reportedly attacked an Iranian ship loaded with arms for Hamas, which was docking in Sudan.
On December 29th, Israeli navy patrol turned back a Free Gaza Movement relief boat, Dignity.
Ground Invasion
The ground invasion began on January 3rd, Israel pushed into and destroyed parts of the city.
Arms interdiction and the Sudan strike
In January and February of 2009, there were two air strikes in Sudan and one in the Red Sea allegedly conducted by Israel against Iranian smuggled arms shipments.
Attack on Gaza City
On January 7th, Israel launched 40 airstrikes overnight, then entered Central Gaza with troops.
Almost all members of Hamas’ 100-man “Iranian Unit” were killed during a battle in the Zeytoun neighborhood on January 15th.
The UNRWA was shelled on January 15th, with tons of food and fuel being destroyed in the process.
After an investigation, the IDF claimed that militants ran for safety inside the U.N. compound after firing on Israeli forces from outside.
Humanitarian Ceasefires
There were daily (or every other day) ceasefires to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza strip.
Physicians for Human Rights and the Palestinian Medical Relief Society noted that local testimonies claimed IDF ground forces breached the daily ceasefire agreement.
Palestinian paramilitary activity
Islamic Jihad, the PFLP, Saiqa, the Popular Struggle Front, the Revolutionary Communist Party, Palestinian Liberation Organization, Fatah’s ‘Intifada’ faction, and others issued a joint statement refusing any security arrangement that doesn’t include an end to the blockade and an opening of all of Gaza’s crossings.
Preparation
Hamas prepared for months leading up to the war by booby-trapping houses and building extensive systems of tunnels.
The IDF claims Hamas members hid weapons caches under their homes.
The IDF claimed satellite dishes were armed with bombs and that one-third of houses with booby-trapped. They also claimed schools were booby-trapped as well.
The IDF claimed anti-personnel IED’s were planted, manufactured from medicine bottles transferred to the Gaza strip as humanitarian aid by Israel.
They also claimed that Hamas representatives said they were fighting with the aid of armored vehicles and weapons confiscated from the Palestinian National Authority.
Shin Bet released details that mosques were used for weapon caches and military training.
Militants admitted to the location of Hamas weapon storage sites in tunnels, in the homes of activists, and in citrus groves and mosques.
Palestinian rockets in Gaza
Two rockets hit friendly targets in Gaza, and according to Human Rights Watch witnesses on the ground reported that Hamas police came and confiscated the shrapnel parts.
Rocket attacks into Israel
Both Fatah and Hamas were firing rockets from Gaza into Israel.
The UN Fact finding mission and HRW noted that the firing of rockets at Israel constituted a deliberate attack against the civilian population and was in violation of international law.
Rockets were also fired into Israel from Lebanon and Syria.
Outcome
Unilateral ceasefires
On January 17th, 2009, Israel announced a unilateral ceasefire to go into effect that night, at 0:00 January 18th.
Continued negotiations
Egypt urged Britain, France and Germany to stop sending warships to patrol off the waters of Gaza.
Israel wanted international aid groups to control aid from donations around the world to avoid money ending up in the hands of Hamas.
Hamas still wanted a full border opening, not just for humanitarian aid.
Ehud Olmert, the Israeli PM, would not agree to a truce or blockade lift without the freeing of Gilad Shalit, but Hamas demanded Israel release 1,400 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit, and for those negotiations to be kept separate from ceasefire negotiations.
Effects
Early estimates say $2billion lost in assets, including 4,000 homes destroyed, 600-700 factories, 24 mosques, 31 security compounds, and 10 water/sewage lines.
On January 22nd, 2010, Israel paid $10.5mil in compensation to the UN for property damage.
Gaza humanitarian crisis
Heavy damage on the agriculture industry in the Gaza Strip after the war.
More than 50,800 Gazans were left homeless.
On January 7th, 2009, UNRWA claimed blankets and food parcels were stolen by Hamas. after some communication, these supplies were returned.
Injured patients needing referral outside Gaza for specialized care were evacuated exclusively through the Egyptian Rafah border crossing. In the early stages of the conflict, Hamas sealed the border, and prevented wounded Palestinians from seeking medical attention in Egypt.
Effects on Israel
Effects of rocket attacks paralyzed southern Israel during the conflict.
Hamas’ Grad rockets’ increased range of 40 km put more than 700,000 Israelis within strike range.
International law
In April 2012, the International Criminal Court (ICC) rejected the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) request that Israel be investigated for claimed war crimes in Gaza in 2009, holding that since the PA is recognized by the UN General Assembly as an “observer” rather than a “state”, the ICC lacked jurisdiction to hear its request.
Important Notes
Civilians versus combatants
In The Jerusalem Post, Israeli-Arab journalist Khaled Abu Toameh suggested that killed fighters in civilian clothes led to the over-counting of civilian casualties and under-counting Hamas military casualties, as Palestinian casualties arrived at hospitals without weapons or any other signs revealing they were fighters.
Did this actually happen?
Gazan police
Israel allegedly attacked a police cadet graduation ceremony early on in the war. Over 250 policeman were killed by Israeli actions.
Legality
The UN fact Finding Mission declared that targeting the Gaza police was a violation of international humanitarian law.
HRW and B’Tselem said that generally police officers are presumed to be civilians.
Israeli Views
The IDF claims that the police officers were being trained as militants and that Hamas leadership presented these organizations as Jihadists for Palestine.
Israeli Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center alleges that the internal security forces serve as Hamas militants, and that police officials stated that police were to fight the enemy in case of invasion.
Gazan rockets
Over 750 rockets and mortars were fired from Gaza into Israel during the conflict wounded 182 civilians, killing 3 people, and causing minor suffering to another 584 people suffering from shock and anxiety. Several rockets landed in schools and one fell close to a kindergarten, all located in residential areas. The UN fact finding mission stated that this constituted a deliberate attack against the civilian population and was unjustifiable in international law.
Aftermath
Hamas refused to recognize Israel, accept the Oslo accords and abandon violence in exchange for international recognition as representatives of the Palestinian people.
In November 2010, after previously stating lower numbers, the Hamas Interior Minster acknowledged that around 700 militants either part of Hamas or affiliated factions were killed in the war.
In the year prior to the war, Hamas had fired over 3,300 rockets, with that number dropping to below 300 in the ten months following the conflict.
Propaganda and psychological warfare
Hamas
Hamas texted Israeli citizens warning of rocket fire in Tel’Aviv, broadcasted inaccurate numbers of Israeli soldiers killed, and used Gilad Shalit as a form of intimidation against Israeli soldiers.
Israel
An Islamic Jihad broadcaster claimed Israel was breaking into its broadcasts once an hour to broadcast messages negative about Hamas to the Gazan population.
Israelis also dropped leaflets stating that the Gazans were suffering due to Hamas.
Criticism of IDF
Collective punishment
The Goldstone Report claimed that Israel was collectively punishing those in Gaza.
Disproportionate force
Human rights groups accused Israel of using disproportionate force.
IDF use of human shields
On March 24th, a UN team report claimed it found hundreds of violations of the rights of children and accused Israeli soldiers of using children as human shields.
The Guardian made a similar claim, that testimony from three Palestinians aged 14, 15, and 16 also claimed to have been used as human shields.
White Phosphorous
The Goldstone report and Human Rights Watch claimed that Israel used white phosphorous in the conflict, with the latter claiming it was done indiscriminately in a way that would amount to contravention of international law.
Dense inert metal explosives (DIME)
It was alleged that Israel utilized these, though they are not against international law.
Accusations of misconduct by IDF soldiers
In July 2009, the Israeli NGO Breaking the Silence published testimony from soldiers, claiming that the IDF used Gazans as human shields and fired improperly on civilian areas.
Did this happen?
These claims were rebutted by the IDF, claiming they were all hearsay or secondhand accounts.
Prosecutions
One IDF soldier prosecuted for stealing a Visa card from a Palestinian home and spending money with it.
Convicted and sentenced to 7 1/2 months in military prison.
Two soldiers fired white phosphorous to cover troop retreats in Tel al-Hawa, causing a UNRWA compound to be set on fire.
An IDF investigation found that there was likely no criminal activity, so the case was not referred for criminal investigation.
Criticism of Palestinian factions
Civilians as human shields
Amnesty International claimed Hamas did not use any human shields.
IAF videos allegedly show terrorists using groups of children as cover.
The commander of the military-terrorist wing of the PFLP-GC in the Gaza Strip stated in an interview that some areas did not present a problem because of the “population and building density” that would “provide the resistance with a shield”.
Professor Newton, an expert in laws of armed conflict testifying in front of a United Nations Fact Finding Mission, criticized a statement by a Hamas brigade commander who said, “The entire people of Gaza are the combatants and therefore, it is appropriate for us to issue warnings and then whether – if, even if they disregard them, to occupy their basement or their house or their backyard.”
During the Gaza War, Hamas invested great effort in preventing civilians from leaving neighborhoods that were in the line of fire and letting them flee to the south of the Strip.
Combatant use of civilian
There were claims that Hamas consistently dressed in civilian clothing to fight.
Military use of medical facilities and uniforms
An IDF investigation concluded that Hamas forced the Red Crescent to hand over medic and nurse uniforms for militants and commandeered ambulances for fighter transportation.
An ambulance driver registered with and trained by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society spoke of Hamas’ efforts to “lure the ambulances into the heart of a battle to transport fighters to safety” and the hijacking of the al-Quds Hospital’s fleet of ambulances.
After an Israeli airstrike on the central prison, which resulted in prisoners being released into the streets, several of the 115 prisoners accused of collaboration with Israel who had not yet been tried were executed by Hamas militants wearing civilian clothes in the Shifa hospital compound.
The IDF claimed that Hamas operated a command and control center inside Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
The Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, an Israel-based group with close ties to the Israeli military establishment, reported that Hamas made extensive use of the Al-Fahoura Medical Centre and that they established a military camp and training base next to it. The ITIC released aerial pictures showing tunnels dug around the building and the medical centre and that the area surrounding the hospital was heavily mined. Rockets were launched in close proximity of the centre. The ITIC report stated that Hamas used 10 Gazan hospitals for launching rockets at Israeli towns and for attacking IDF troops.
Hamas also set up a command centre within a children’s hospital located in the Nasser neighbourhood of Gaza City.
Amnesty International rejected the charges by Israel that Hamas had systematically used medical facilities, vehicles and uniforms as a cover, stating that no evidence had been provided proving such actions.
Media
Denied media access
Reporter access to the war zone was limited. During the Gaza raids against Hamas, the Israeli army denied international media access to the conflict zone, against a decision by the Israeli Supreme Court to lift the embargo.
Attacks on the media
Media facilities in Gaza, both foreign and domestic, came under Israeli fire in the military campaign.
On one occasion a Grad rocket may have been launched from a location near the television studios in the Al-Shuruk tower in Gaza City. Although the Israeli recording of a reporter describing a rocket launch was during the initial aerial bombardment phase the tower was only bombed in the final few days.
New media
YouTube and other forms of new media became relevant during this conflict.
Reactions
The conflict triggered a wave of reprisal attacks against Jewish targets in Europe and elsewhere. The worldwide number of recorded anti-Semitic incidents during the conflict more than tripled the number of such incidents in the same period of the previous year, marking a two-decade high.
Reactions in Israel
The war provoked mixed reactions inside Israel, with the Jewish majority largely supporting it, and the Arab minority mostly opposing it. A poll taken on 8 January 2009 showed that 91% of the Jewish public supported the war, and 4% opposed it, while a separate poll conducted 4–6 January showed a 94% approval of the war among Jews and 85% disapproval among Israeli Arabs.
The largest Arab demonstrations in Israel’s history took place.