Stand for Israel

Hamas-Gaza War

The uneasy co-existence of Hamas and Fatah began to unravel with the death of Yasser Arafat in 2004. The tensions escalated after Hamas won the legislative elections in January of 2006. Hamas’ victory was not a complete surprise. Hamas had slowly gained power and popularity with the Palestinian masses over the years, thanks to their numerous social welfare programs and strong religious beliefs. Fatah, on the other hand, was viewed as rife with internal corruption. Many Palestinians objected to Fatah’s too-soft stance on Israel, and lack of religious fundamentalism. Hamas, it seemed, had the answer to their questions and problems.

Immediately after the election results were announced, the United States, European Union, and many other countries, including some Arab countries, placed sanctions on foreign aid to Palestine. Hamas’ victory and subsequent takeover seemed to put a decisive end to any hopes for peace between the Palestinians and Israelis, and the other countries hoped to place pressure on Hamas through the economic sanctions. They promised to remove the sanctions if Hamas met a number of conditions, such as recognizing Israel and renouncing violence. Despite the sanctions, though, Hamas managed to remain well-funded through illegal donations and smuggling. The US began financing the Fatah movement, empowering it in the hopes it would be able to successfully overtake Hamas.

Between March and December 2006, tensions rose between the two factions, and finally erupted in violence in December. Thus began a series of armed conflicts between Hamas and Fatah, continuing well into 2007. After the decisive Battle of Gaza in June 2007, Hamas emerged victorious and established control of the Gaza Strip, forcing out Fatah. In the aftermath, Abu Mazen declared a state of emergency and the Palestinian controlled territory was effectively divided into two: Hamas ruled the Gaza Strip, and the Palestinian Authority remained in control of the West Bank.

Aid to the Palestinian Authority was reinstated now that Fatah had broken with the militant Hamas.

However, the situation in Gaza deteriorated, both for its Palestinian citizens and for the citizens of Israel. Rocket fire into Israel continued unabated, and in June 2006, Hamas crossed the border, attacked a tank, and captured wounded soldier Gilad Shalit, who remains in captivity until today. Rocket fire from the north led Israel to invade and launch the Second Lebanon War.

Israel, though facing assault and rocket attacks, demonstrated remarkable restraint. Many in Israel criticized the government for the lack of retaliation. The towns along the Gaza border, specifically Sderot and Ashkelon, were under constant bombardment. Fatalities, destruction, and terror were part of the daily lives of the citizens living on Gaza’s border. Finally, in December 2008, with the collapse of yet another cease-fire agreement with Hamas and Israel, Israel launched operation Cast Lead.

Israel launched a heavy air strike, targeting buildings with known ties to Hamas. Rocket launching pads, headquarters, and terrorist enclaves were sought out and destroyed. The IDF took whatever measures necessary to avoid civilian casualties, although Hamas’ placement of weapons stores and bunkers within the civilian infrastructure made it impossible to avoid completely.

Preceding the air strikes, the IDF placed calls to residents of the targeted buildings, giving them advanced warning to take their things and leave.

The IDF followed the air raids with a ground operation, sending troops in to root out the terrorist infrastructure, including high-ranking Hamas operatives. During the operation, Israel held its fire for a few periods in order to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza; however, the IDF contends that much of the aid never reached the suffering civilians, but was rerouted to aid the Hamas gunmen. Rocket attacks into Israel continued, and the range of the rockets grew to nearly forty kilometers (about a twenty-five mile range.) For the first time, rockets hit Beersheba. Schools were closed down as Hamas made it explicit they intended to hit civilian targets—including kindergartens. Roads, buildings, and other city infrastructure were destroyed in the affected cities. At the height of the campaign, Hamas launched eighty rockets per day into Israel. Lebanon and Syria became involved as well, with rockets and fire exchange occurring in the north of Israel.

In addition to attacking Israel, Hamas murdered many of its fellow Palestinians, those that they accused of being “Fatah collaborators.” The fighting lasted until January 17, when Israel announced it would pull out and agree to a truce if the shelling ceased. A condition was made that Israel would continue to respond militarily if it felt Israeli lives live were in danger. Indeed, since the cease-fire took effect, the rocket fire lessened, but did not completely abate, and Israel has launched more air strikes at terrorist targets within Gaza. Israel declared the operation a victory, citing the low casualty numbers and the huge blow to Hamas’ infrastructure and weapons ability. However, Hamas has proven that they cannot be discounted yet, as rocket fire and shootings have continued.