Israel-Gaza conflict: Why does the fight breaks out time and again
Since 2007, Gaza is governed by Hamas, a Palestinian Sunni Islamic Organisation, after it won a majority of seats in the parliamentary elections, defeating Fatah. Hamas was founded in 1987, as an offshoot of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood with an aim to liberate Palestine from Israeli occupation and to establish an Islamic State in the area that is now Israel, West Bank and Gaza strip. But following its over-whelming victory, the militants intensified their operations. The de- facto ruling party of Gaza was not acceptable to Israel because Hamas (designated as a terrorist organisation by Israel and a number of Western and non-Western countries) was strongly opposed to it.
Israel imposed economic sanctions against Gaza
Following victory of Hamas in 2006 elections, US, UN, Russia and European Union imposed conditions on the assistance received by it and asked the Hamas Government to recognise the State of Israel, and also accept the previous agreements. But, when Hamas declined the proposal, they suspended its foreign assistance program. Also, citing increasing belligerence of Hamas in the area, Israel imposed a land, air and sea blockade, controlling the flow of essentials. Exports of produce were banned and electricity supply also cut. These developments sent Gaza into poverty, making it largely dependent on international aid.
Angered
at
the
blockade
and
Israeli
attempts
to
destroy
it,
Hamas
started
firing
rockets
at
Israel
regularly.
The
Israelis
retaliated
and
attacked
Gaza
escalating
the
tension
in
the
area.
Israel imposed a land, air and sea blockade on Gaza
After
Gaza
war
that
broke
out
in
2008,
Hamas
continued
to
govern
the
Gaza
strip
and
Israel
maintained
its
economic
blockade.
After
2012
attack,
a
ceasefire
was
in
place
between
Hamas
and
Israel.
On
May
4,
2011,
Hamas
and
Fatah,
two
major
faction
of
Palestian,
announced
a
reconcillation
agreement
ending
eight
years
of
conflict
and
formed
a
Unity
Government,
which
paved
paving
way
for
joint
care
taker
Government
before
parliamentary
elections.
Israel saw the unity between the two major factions as a threat.
The on-going tussle
On 12 June 2014, three Israeli teenagers were kidnapped and murdered by West Bank Palestinian family. Israel claimed that Hamas has hand into the killings but Hamas refuted it. As a part of operation, Israeli military killed 5 to 10 Palestinians and arrested between 350 to 600 people, say reports. Key leaders from West Bank were also detained to pressurize Hamas. The increased tensions soon escalated and full military operation began on July 8. Hamas responded with rockets with Israel striking back.
So far, more than 800 Palestinian, mostly civilians and 36 Israelis have been killed since the attacks began on July 8. According to UN, Israeli air strike killed 68 more people in Gaza on Friday, bringing the total number of Palestinians died to 870.