List of violent incidents in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, 2008

In 2008, Israel sought to halt the rocket and mortar fire from Gaza that killed four Israeli civilians that year and caused widespread trauma and disruption of life in Israeli towns and villages close to the Gaza border. In addition, Israel insisted that any deal include an end to Hamas's military buildup in Gaza, and movement toward the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit. Hamas wanted an end to the frequent Israeli military strikes and incursions into Gaza, and an easing of the economic blockade that Israel has imposed since Hamas took over the area in 2007.[1]

Israelis killed by Palestinians in Israel (blue) and Palestinians killed by Israelis in Gaza (red) during 2008

January

January 2

January 3

February

February 4

February 5

February 7

February 24

February 25

February 27

February 29

March

March 6

March 18

March 27

The military said Omar Jabar planned the attack at the Park Hotel in the coastal city of Netanya. The attack was a turning point in the conflict, spurring Israel's military to launch a broad offensive and retake control of West Bank cities. Also Wednesday, Gaza militants shot and lightly wounded an Israeli farmer in his kibbutz's fields near the border fence, according to the Israeli military. Militants also launched more than 10 rockets into Israel, but there were no casualties, the military said.

April

April 1

April 2

April 16

April 18

April 19

April 24

April 25

April 28

April 30

May

May 1

May 6

May 9

May 12

May 14

June

June 2

June 6

June 8

June 10

June 11

June 12

June 17

June 18

June 20

June 28

October

During October 2008 Israel-Palestinian violence fell to its lowest level since the start of the al-Aqsa intifada in September 2000. Several Israeli violations were reported: In South Gaza on 3 October the IDF fired on two unarmed Palestinians near the border and sent soldiers into the strip to arrest them and detain them in Israel. On the 27 October IDF soldiers fired into Gaza for unknown reasons damaging a school in Khuza and injuring one child. Palestinian fishing boats off the Gaza coast were fired upon on four separate occasions during the month wounding two fisherman. Throughout the month of October 2008 a single Palestinian violation was reported: 1 rocket was fired into Israel causing no damage or injuries. At the end of the month the American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice sent a message to Hamas acknowledging their efforts to keep the peace.[3]

November

Since violence flared on November 4, Israeli forces and militants, some of them from Hamas, engaged in almost daily tit-for-tat exchanges.[4] In about ten days since the November 4 incident, eleven militants were killed and about 140 rockets and mortars were fired from Gaza at Israel. On November 16, four Popular Resistance Committees fighters were killed by an Israeli airstrike as they fired mortars at Israel.[5] On November 17 Hamas leaders went underground amid Israeli targeting threats.[6]

December

Throughout December 12 - December 15 period, five Qassams and two mortar shells fired from northern Gaza landed in Israel's western Negev. [7][8][9][10]

On December 16, eight Qassam rockets were fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip.[11][12] On December 17, twenty three Qassam rockets landed in the western Negev.[13]

Throughout December 20, at least 15 Qassams and 26 mortars were fired toward the western Negev region.[14] The Israeli air force attacked several targets in the Gaza Strip, including a weapons storehouse in the Jabalya refugee camp, a rocket factory in Khan Yunis and a Hamas border police post, wounding two Hamas members.[15]

On December 23 night Israeli soldiers killed three Hamas gunmen. The army said the men were preparing to plant explosives along the border.[16]

On December 26, Israel reopened five border crossings between Israel and Gaza, after an eight-day closure, to supply fuel for Gaza's main power plant and to provide about 100 truck loads of humanitarian aid, including grain and other goods.[17][18] On that day, militants fired approximately a dozen rockets and mortar shells from Gaza at Israel; one accidentally struck a northern Gaza house, killing two Palestinian sisters and wounding a third.[19][20] According to Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (IMFA), the commercial crossings into Gaza Strip were mostly closed since November 6, due to the barrage of approximately 230 rockets and mortar that were launched at Israel. IMFA stated that the Erez crossing has continued to be open to international and medical traffic.[21]

See also

References

  1. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/world/middleeast/18mideast.html?em&ex=1213848000&en=21ca79f07f38e25b&ei=5087%0A
  2. "Killing of 8 at Jewish seminary threatens latest truce efforts". USA Today. March 6, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2009.
  3. Esposit, Michele K. "Prelude to Operation Cast Lead Israel's Unilateral Disengagement to the Eve of War". Journal of Palestine Studies 38 (3): 139–168. doi:10.1525/jps.2009.xxxviii.3.139. Retrieved 2013-03-18.
  4. "Israel decides to maintain Gaza blockade". London: The Telegraph. 2008-11-17. Retrieved 2009-01-23.
  5. http://www.herald.ie/breaking-news/world-news/middle-east/four-palestinians-killed-in-israeli-airstrike-1541564.html
  6. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-11/17/content_10372373.htm
  7. 2 Qassams hit south Israel; no injuries, YNET, December 12, 2008
  8. Rocket, mortars land in Negev, YNET, December 13, 2008
  9. Qassam rocket lands in open area in western Negev; no injuries reported, YNET, December 14, 2008
  10. Qassam lands near Ashkelon; no injuries, YNET, December 15
  11. 4 Qassams land in Negev; child suffers shock, YNET, December 16, 2008
  12. 4 Qassams fired at western Negev, YNET, December 16, 2008
  13. High alert ahead of cease-fire's end, JPost, December 17
  14. 5 Qassams fired towards Negev Saturday evening, YNET, December 20, 2008
  15. "Hamas declares end to cease-fire, Israeli gov't sources fear violence is unavoidable - Haaretz - Israel News". Haaretz. Retrieved 2010-03-24.
  16. al-Mughrabi, Nidal (December 24, 2008). "Flare-up dims truce hopes along Israel-Gaza border". Gaza City, PS: Reuters. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
  17. Israel launches deadly Gaza attacks, Guardian, December 27, 2009
  18. "Ha’aretz".
  19. "Israeli attacks on Gaza kill 227". Yahoo. December 27, 2008. Archived from the original on December 30, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
  20. "Israel Reopens Gaza Crossings". The New York Times. December 26, 2008. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
  21. Humanitarian assistance to Gaza during the period of calm (June 19 - Dec 18, 2008) IMFA, 2008
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