The latest political crisis between Israelis and Palestinians was sparked by the kidnapping of three Israeli settlers. Israeli leaders immediately blamed Hamas, sparking a political confrontation that claimed thousands of lives.
OPINION:
Israel’s Gigantic Nuclear Elephant
June 12
Three Israeli teenagers were kidnapped in the West Bank. They were Naftali Fraenkel, Gilad Shaer and Eyal Yifrah. Three days later, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of orchestrating the kidnapping, but refused to publicize evidence. In subsequent speeches, Netanyahu demanded the Palestinain Authority's ruling faction Fatah cancel a recently announced unity government with Hamas due to the kidnappings. A massive crackdown was imposed by Israeli security forces in the West Bank. Hundreds of Palestinians are rounded up in the search for the teens.
June 30
The bodies of the three teenagers were recovered near Hebron. By then, over 300 Palestinians had been arrested by Israeli forces, including religious leaders, politicians, Hamas members and ordinary civilians. The West Bank was in a state of lockdownPalestinian movement was restricted, and Israeli forces were blocking roads and searching houses.
Four Palestinians had already died in clashes with Israeli forces. Israeli human rights group B’Tselem stated the crackdown was illegal, and amounted to collective punishment. Hamas responded to mass arrests of its supporters by firing rockets at Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which are illegal under international law. No deaths were reported from rocket fire. Netanyahu continued to urge Fatah to break ties with Hamas over the kidnapping of the three teens, though it appeared the kidnappings were committed by a rogue militant group in Hebron, not Hamas.
July 2
Sixteen-year-old Mohammed Abu Khdeir disappeared. His family claimed it was a tit-for-tat killing in response to the three murdered Israelis. Two weeks later, three Israelis admitted to burning Khdeir alive in a Jerusalem forest. The death sparked protests across the West Bank, which were brutally repressed by Israeli forces.
July 3
Israel began air strikes against Gaza in response to Hamas rocket file. Fifteen people were injured, and the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) begins massing troops on the border. Netanyahu continued to hit out at Fatah over its support of Hamas.
July 8
Israel begun “Operation Protective Edge.” In the first three days, 72 Palestinians were killed, including children. Eight of the deaths were caused on July 10, when Israel bombed a coffee shop in Khan Yunis.
OPINION: Israel’s Gigantic Nuclear Elephant
It was packed with football fans watching the world cup. Netanyahu claimed the strikes were aimed at defending Israel from Hamas rockets. However, the PA's head Mahmoud Abbas hit back by stating, “Israel is not defending itself, but its settlements”. There were still no Israeli deaths.
July 13
An IDF spokesperson stated Israeli forces had already conducted 1300 airstrikes on Gaza since the offensive started, while accusing Palestinian militants of firing a total of 800 rockets into Israel. Over 160 Palestinians had died, according to Gazan health authorities, including over 30 children. There were reports of a handful of Israeli injuries, but no deaths.
July 15
Israel announced a cease-fire, though Palestinians say they weren't informed. Hamas rejected the truce, arguing that conditions allowing IDF troops to hold positions within the Gaza Strip would undermine humanitarian efforts. Israel suffered its first casualty: a civilian hit by a Palestinian rocket near the Erez border crossing. The Palestinian death toll was close to 200.
July 16
Hamas offered its own cease-fire deal. Under the truce, Hamas issued 10 demands, including the release political prisoners, withdrawal of IDF troops from Gaza, the opening of a U.N: owned and operated airport and seaport in Gaza and permission for Gazans to visit Jerusalem's al-Aqsa Mosque. The offer was widely ignored by the press, and disregarded by Israel. Later in the day, four Palestinian boys were killed on a beach by Israeli naval forces.
July 17
A U.N. brokered cease-fire lasted around five hours, before Israel restarted its ground offensive.
July 20
The Shuja'iyya massacre leaves over 70 Palestinians dead, and hundreds wounded. The IDF bombarded the area after IDF ground forces encountered heavy resistance from Hamas fighters. Thirteen Israeli soldiers were killed. Shuja'iyya is a densely populated neighborhood in Gaza City. Refugee shelters were already overflowing before the offensive even started, according to human rights groups. Three more Israeli soldiers were killed in the neighborhood in the hours after the massacre.
July 24
Protests erupted across the West Bank as Palestinians demanded an end to Israel's assault on Gaza. Scores were wounded and two killed when Israeli security forces cracked down on protesters. A UNRWA school in Beit Hanoun was bombed, killing 11 civilians. The school was being used as a shelter, and seven children were among the dead. Neither side took responsibility.
July 26
Both sides agreed to a 12-hour cease-fire. However, IDF forces continued to destroy Hamas underground tunnels—used to transport goods and people, and to launch surprise cross-border assaults. Israeli officials claimed this had become the main purpose of the incursion.
Hamas also continued to fire rockets into Israel. The following day Hamas rejected an Israeli offer to extend the cease-fire, citing the IDF's continued presence within the Gaza Strip. The IDF's death toll reached 42. In total, three non-combatants had been killed on the Israeli side of the border.
July 30
A UNRWA school was bombed again, leaving 19 Palestinians dead. Israel took responsibility for the bombing, but claimed shots had been fired at troops from the area. After a day of heavy fighting, the IDF's death toll reached 56. Over 1300 Palestinians were dead—mostly civilians.
July 31
While continuing to call for a cease-fire, the U.S. transferred fresh munitions to the IDF, including 40 mm grenades and 120 mm mortar rounds.
August 1
A planned 72 hour cease-fire collapsed within an hour. Israel accused Hamas of staging an ambush in Rafah shortly after the cease-fire started, and kidnapping Second Lieutenant Hadar Goldin. Hamas rejected both claims, arguing the ambush probably happened before the cease-fire came into effect, and that Goldin was almost certainly dead. Both sides resumed artillery fire shortly later.
August 2
Netanyahu announced Israel's offensive would continue even after all of Hamas' tunnels were destroyed.
August 3
Goldin was confirmed dead by the IDF, after extensive bombing of Rafah. A U.N: school also came under fire. Palestinian death toll reached 1800. The IDF withdrew most of its troops from the Gaza Strip.
August 4
Israel announced a partial, unilateral cease-fire for seven hours, before resuming bombardment. A desalination plant was bombed in Gaza. Netanyahu pledged to continue the attack until Israel had “quiet and security.”
August 5
Shortly before the cease-fire came into effect, Obama handed Israel US$225 million for its Iron Dome defense system.
August 7
Amnesty International demanded an “immediate investigation” into allegations the IDF intentionally targeted hospitals and health workers in Gaza. The human rights group warned there was “mounting evidence” the IDF had committed war crimes.
August 8
Cease-fire collapsed, and cross-border shelling resumed shortly later. Within hours five Palestinians were killed by Israeli bombing, including a child.
August 10
Another 72-hour cease-fire comes into effect, after days of bombing. The U.N. warns around 425,000 Palestinians have been displaced by fighting.
August 11
Egyptian authorities announced they would reopen a border crossing to allow aid into Gaza.
August 12
Israel breaks the cease-fire by attacking civilian fishing boats near the Gazan coast. The Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation announced it would attempt to break the Israeli siege of Gaza.
August 13
Israeli ordnance exploded in Beit Lahiya, killing at least five people. Bomb experts who were trying to disarm the missile and a journalist were among the dead. Palestinians announced a five day extension to the cease-fire, though Israeli authorities reported more rockets were fired from Gaza overnight.
August 14
Both sides vowed to honor the cease-fire, while accusing the other of violating the truce. The IDF said it fired missiles into Gaza in response to rocket fire. However, Hamas denied launching the rockets. Obama announced the sale of Hellfire Missiles to Israel had been suspended. Indirect negotiations continued in Cairo.
August 19
Nine Gazans killed as the Israeli Air Force bombard Gaza, allegedly in response to around 29 Hamas rockets being launched from the Strip. Tel Aviv orders its delegation from Cairo, breaking off peace talks.
August 22-26
Over 700 rockets and mortar shells fired into Israel in response to ongoing attacks from Israeli Defence Force troops, killing three Israelis. On August 26 the warring parties agree on a fresh cease-fire. Other than a few isolated incidents, the cease-fire holds.