A member of the Israeli police walks toward a fire as rockets are fired from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, southern Israel, October 7, 2023. Portal/Sinan Abu Mayzer LICENSE
Oct 7 (Portal) – The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas launched its biggest attack on Israel in years early on Saturday, firing a barrage of rockets from Gaza and sending fighters across the border.
Israel said it was on a war footing and began its own attacks against Hamas targets in Gaza. Israeli media reported shootings between groups of Palestinian fighters and security forces in southern Israel.
The following timeline, beginning with Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, details the largest outbreaks of conflict between Israel and Palestinian groups in the crowded coastal enclave, home to 2.3 million people.
August 2005 – Israeli forces unilaterally withdraw from Gaza, abandoning settlements and leaving the enclave under control of the Palestinian Authority, 38 years after it conquered Egypt in the Middle East war.
January 25, 2006 – The Islamist group Hamas wins a majority of seats in a Palestinian parliamentary election. Israel and the US cut off aid to the Palestinians because Hamas refuses to renounce violence and recognize Israel.
June 25, 2006 – Hamas militants capture Israeli army conscript Gilad Shalit in a cross-border attack from the Gaza Strip, prompting Israeli airstrikes and incursions. More than five years later, Shalit is finally released through a prisoner exchange.
June 14, 2007 – Hamas takes over Gaza in a brief civil war, ousting Fatah forces loyal to West Bank-based Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
December 27, 2008 – Israel launches a 22-day military offensive in Gaza after Palestinians fire rockets at the southern Israeli town of Sderot. About 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis are reportedly killed before a ceasefire is agreed.
November 14, 2012 – Israel kills Hamas military chief of staff Ahmad Jabari. Eight days of Palestinian rocket fire and Israeli airstrikes follow.
July-August 2014 – Hamas’ abduction and killing of three Israeli teenagers leads to a seven-week war in which more than 2,100 Palestinians in Gaza and 73 Israelis, including 67 military personnel, were reportedly killed.
March 2018 – Palestinian protests begin at the fenced border between Gaza and Israel. Israeli troops open fire to hold back the demonstrators. More than 170 Palestinians were reportedly killed in the months-long protests, which also led to fighting between Hamas and Israeli forces.
May 2021 – After weeks of tension during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, hundreds of Palestinians are injured in clashes with Israeli security forces at the Al-Aqsa compound in Jerusalem, Islam’s third holiest site.
After Hamas called on Israel to withdraw security forces from the site, it fired rockets from Gaza into Israel. Israel retaliates with air strikes on Gaza. The fighting has continued for 11 days and has claimed at least 250 lives in Gaza and 13 in Israel.
August 2022 – At least 44 people, including 15 children, are killed in three days of violence that begins when Israeli airstrikes hit a senior Islamic Jihad commander.
Israel says the attacks were a preemptive operation against an impending attack by the Iran-backed militant movement, targeting commanders and weapons depots. In response, Islamic Jihad fired more than 1,000 rockets into Israel. Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system prevents serious damage or casualties.
January 2023 – Islamic Jihad in Gaza fires two rockets into Israel after Israeli troops raided a refugee camp, killing seven Palestinian gunmen and two civilians. The rockets caused alarm in Israeli communities near the border but caused no casualties. Israel responds with air strikes on Gaza.
Oct. 2023 – Hamas launches its biggest attack on Israel in years from the Gaza Strip, with a surprise attack combining gunmen crossing the border with heavy rocket fire. Islamic Jihad says its fighters joined the attack.
The Israeli military said it was on a war footing, adding it had carried out attacks on Hamas in Gaza and called up reservists.
Compiled by Tom Perry and Angus McDowall; Edited by Jan Harvey
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