The Israel-Palestinian conflict has witnessed several major flare-ups over the years. Here’s a timeline of significant events and confrontations in the ongoing conflict:
August 2005: Israeli forces unilaterally withdraw from Gaza, abandoning settlements and leaving the enclave under the control of the Palestinian Authority.
January 25, 2006: Hamas wins a majority of seats in a Palestinian legislative election. Israel and the U.S. cut off aid to Palestinians due to Hamas’s refusal to renounce violence and recognize Israel.
June 25, 2006: Hamas militants capture Israeli army conscript Gilad Shalit in a cross-border raid from Gaza, leading to Israeli air strikes and incursions. Shalit is eventually freed more than five years later in a prisoner exchange.
June 14, 2007: Hamas takes over Gaza in a brief civil war, ousting Fatah forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is based in the West Bank.
December 27, 2008: Israelian launches a 22-day military offensive in Gaza in response to rocket attacks from Palestinians. The conflict results in casualties on both sides and a ceasefire agreement.
November 14, 2012: Israelian kills Hamas’s military chief of staff, Ahmad Jabari, leading to eight days of Palestinian militant rocket fire and Israeli air strikes.
July-August 2014: The kidnapping and killing of three Israeli teenagers by Hamas sparks a seven-week war, resulting in numerous casualties on both sides.
March 2018: Palestinian protests begin at Gaza’s fenced border with Israel, leading to clashes and casualties. The protests also prompt fighting between Hamas and Israeli forces.
May 2021: Tensions rise during Ramadan, leading to clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces at the Al Aqsa compound in Jerusalem. Hamas launches rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel, resulting in an 11-day conflict.
August 2022: A series of violent events, including Israeli air strikes and rocket attacks from Islamic Jihad, lead to casualties in Gaza and Israel.
January 2023: Islamic Jihad fires rockets at Israel after Israeli troops raid a refugee camp, resulting in air strikes on Gaza.
October 2023: Hamas launches a significant attack on Israel from Gaza, combining gunmen crossing the border with a heavy rocket barrage. Israel responds with air strikes and calls up reservists.
The Israel-Palestinian conflict continues to be marked by periodic escalations in violence and tensions, with both sides experiencing significant challenges and losses.
