On 27 December 2008, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) began an offensive into Gaza at 11:30am. The campaign has been codenamed 'Operation Cast Lead'. Its main objective is to target members of the Hamas political party.
The initial bombardment, made by more than 50 attack helicopters and fighter jets killed between 200 and 300 Palestinians and wounded more than 1000 others.
Background Behind the Offensive
On June 19 2008, a ceasefire became effective between Hamas and Israel which was in place for sixth months. This ended on 19 December 2008. During the ceasefire, Gaza accused Israel of breaking the ceasefire agreement when Isael raided an area on the Gaza border and killing six Hamas members. Hamas responded with in significant increase in rocket attacks in to Israel during November 2008.
On 13 December 2008, Israel expressed interest in extending the ceasefire if Hamas agreed to its conditions.
Operation Cast Lead
Following the first bombardment on 27 December 2008 which was targeted at Hamas paramilitary bases, training camps and police stations, the Israeli Air Force continued to inflict huge amounts of damage to the infrastructure of Palestine. During these attacks, a number of high-ranking Hamas officers and commanders were killed.
By 3 January 2009, over 400 Palestinians had been killed, and about a quarter of these were civilians.
At the end of December 2008, Israeli ground forces were massing by the Israeli-Gaza border and in the evening of the 3 January 2009, Israel began its ground offensive in to Gaza. Its purpose was to secure the positions within the Gaza strip from which rockets have been launched. The same day, the Israeli Air Force attacked the Ibrahim al-Maqadna mosque during evening prayer. 13 people were killed, including 6 children and many more were injured.
On 6 January 2009, at least 125 Palestinians and 5 Israeli soldiers were killed.
The next day, 7 January 2009, the Israeli's announced a 3 hour 'humanitarian' truce, which Hamas accepted and opened a 'corridor' to allow aid and supplies to reach the Gazan people. 80 trucks entered the strip and Israel delivered fuel for the Gaza strip's power plant. A second truce was carried out on the 9 January.
The Israeli Offensive Continues
On the morning of January 11 2009, the Israeli army started the third stage of its offensive, with an attack on the suburbs of Gaza City. Hamas fighters ambushed Israeli convoys in a number of locations and heavy fighting followed.
Is is not known as yet when the conflict will stop.
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