Gaza-Israel conflict: Why are civilians on the front lines?

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Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip are involved in some of the
most intense violence for months. Militants are firing volleys of rockets into
Israel and Gaza is being hit by waves of air strikes. Here is a look at what is
going on.
Why is there always fighting between Israel and Gaza?
The Gaza Strip, sandwiched between Israel and Egypt, has been a recurring
flashpoint in the Israel-Palestinian conflict for years.
Israel occupied Gaza in the 1967 Middle East war and only pulled its troops and
settlers out in 2005. Israel considered this the end of the occupation, but it still
exercises control over most of Gaza's borders, waters and airspace. Egypt
controls Gaza's southern border.
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The trouble with Gaza - in 80 seconds

Israel has imposed tight restrictions on the movement of goods and people in
and out of the Gaza Strip, measures it says are vital for its own security.
However, Palestinians in Gaza feel confined and are suffering socio-economic
hardship. The dominant Islamist Palestinian movement Hamas and other militant
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groups say the restrictions are intolerable.
Hamas's charter is committed to Israel's destruction but in recent years it has
said it will consider a long-term truce with Israel. It cites Israel's continued
occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem as reasons for its attacks on
the Jewish state before and after 2005.
It says it is also acting in self-defence against Israeli air strikes, incursions and
other military assaults.
Who are Hamas? History of Mid-East peace talks


What caused the latest escalation?
Rocket fire and air strikes increased after the abduction and killing of three Israeli
teenagers in June, which Israel blamed on Hamas and which led to a crackdown
on the group in the West Bank. Hamas denied being behind the killings. Tensions
rose further after the suspected revenge killing of a Palestinian teenager in
Jerusalem on 2 July, after which six suspects were arrested.
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On 7 July, Hamas claimed responsibility for firing rockets for the first time in 20
months, after a series of Israeli air strikes in which several members of its armed
wing were killed.

The next day, Israel launched Operation Protective Edge, which it said was
aimed at stopping rocket attacks and destroying Hamas' capabilities.
Since then, there have been hundreds of air strikes and hundreds of rockets
have been fired.
Analysts point to the fact that Hamas has become increasingly isolated in Gaza
after losing the support of its former staunch ally Syria and to a lesser extent Iran,
and seeing the Egyptian authorities crack down on smuggling tunnels following
the overthrow of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. Attacking Israel, they say,
may be a way for Hamas to try to boost its popularity and obtain concessions in
any eventual ceasefire.
A vicious cycle of violence Gaza-Israel conflict: 'It's not worth living'



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There have been two ceasefires, so why are they still fighting?

Israel refrained from attacks for six hours in compliance with Egypt's truce plan,
while Hamas continued firing rockets
Efforts to broker a ceasefire have been difficult so far - one was upheld by Israel
but did not have Hamas' agreement, while the other was only ever meant to be
brief to give respite to civilians in Gaza.
The first ceasefire came eight days into Israel's offensive - Israel accepted an
Egyptian truce plan, but Hamas did not give a definitive response. Its armed wing
rejected the Egyptian plan as "a surrender", while the Cairo-based deputy head
of its political bureau, Moussa Abu Marzouk, said the movement was considering
the proposal. The group's spokesman in Gaza, Sami Abu Zuhri, however said
Hamas had not received an official draft and rejected the proposal as "not
acceptable".
Fifty rockets were launched at Israel during the six hours the Israeli military
halted air strikes before returning fire.
The following day, Israel and Hamas agreed to a UN call for a humanitarian
ceasefire. There were no air strikes or rocket attacks for five hours, although
Hamas fired some mortar shells, as did Israel two hours later. Minutes after the
truce expired, Hamas resumed rocket attacks and Israel renewed air strikes.
Meanwhile, Egypt is continuing to try to broker a fresh truce.
Why Israeli ground operation would be risky
Jeremy Bowen: No appetite for ceasefire
Can Egypt deliver a Gaza-Israel truce?

What are the two sides' goals?
Israel's main declared aim is to stop rocket fire from Gaza once and for all. It said
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it was prepared to launch a ground offensive if necessary.
Hamas did not give any clear objectives early on, but its armed wing has said it
will only accept a ceasefire if:
Israel stops "all aggression" in the West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza
Commits to the 2012 ceasefire
Stops trying to undermine the recently formed Palestinian unity
government
Frees prisoners released in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit
in 2011 but who have recently been re-arrested
Hamas chief in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh has also said a truce should bring and an
end to the blockade of Gaza.
What can Israel and Hamas gain from latest conflict?
How come civilians are bearing the brunt?
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Are Israeli air strike warnings effective? The BBC examines footage from both
sides
Gaza is a small territory with a large population and Palestinian officials say
many of the casualties were caused by air strikes in residential areas. President
Mahmoud Abbas has accused Israel of committing "genocide" while human
rights groups have warned Israel that air strikes in densely populated areas or
direct attacks on civilian homes could violate international law.
Israel has said the homes it has bombed belonged to senior militants and served
as command centres where rocket attacks were co-ordinated. It says militants
deliberately fire rockets from civilian areas and store rockets in places like
homes, school and hospitals.
Israel-Gaza attacks
8 July
Israeli offensive began

227 people killed in Gaza
77% were civilians - UN
1,300+ rockets fired at Israel
1 civilian killed in Israel,5 seriously injured
Sources: Palestinian Health Ministry, OCHA, IDF
Getty Images
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Israel also points out that the hundreds of unguided rockets that have been fired
at its territory directly threaten its civilians.
Long-range rockets have been launched towards Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, as well
as further north. Human rights groups have said the firing of indiscriminate
rockets endangers civilians and constitutes a war crime.
What weapons are being used in the Israel-Gaza conflict?

The two sides have fought wars before. How did they end?

Gaza's civilian infrastructure was damaged extensively during Israel's ground
offensive in 2009
Israel launched a ground offensive in December 2008 dubbed Operation Cast
Lead in response to rocket fire. It ended when Israel declared a unilateral
ceasefire 22 days later, saying its goals were "more than fully achieved".
An estimated 1,300 Palestinians had been killed, many of them civilians. Thirteen
Israelis also died, including four soldiers in a "friendly fire" incident. Gaza's
civilian infrastructure was damaged extensively.
Four years later, Israel launched Operation Pillar of Defence, again with the
stated goal of stopping rocket fire and crippling Hamas's capability to launch
attacks. Eight days into the operation, Egypt brokered a ceasefire agreement that
included a promise from both sides to stop attacks. At least 167 Palestinians and
six Israelis were killed.