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2006 Gaza–Israel conflict

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2006 Israel-Gaza conflict
Part of the 2006 Middle East conflict
File:54578.jpg
An Israeli tank enters Northern Gaza.
DateJune 25, 2006 –
Location
Gaza Strip
Result Conflict ongoing
Belligerents
Israel Defense Forces (Israeli Security Forces) Hamas
Popular Resistance Committees,
al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades,
Jaish al-Islam
Commanders and leaders
Dan Halutz (Chief of Staff)
Yoav Galant (Regional)		 Khaled Mashal (Leader of Hamas[1])
Mohammed Deif (Leader of Hamas' military wing)
Strength
3,000 Exact figure unknown. Est. 64,400+
Casualties and losses
3 killed
16 wounded
1 captured[2]		 116 militants killed
237 civilians killed
3 policemen killed
695+ injured
[3]

The 2006 Israel-Gaza conflict is the series of ongoing battles between Palestinians, mainly from Hamas, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The conflict began on June 24, 2006, when in light of ongoing Katyusha and Qassam rocket attacks on Israeli cities[4], Israeli operatives captured Osama and Mustafa Muamar. On June 25, a Hamas attack in Israeli territory resulted in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers and the capture of Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit. In turn, Israel launched Operation Summer Rains (Template:Lang-he, Mivtza Gishmey Kayitz), on June 28.

Israel maintains that it mobilized thousands of troops in order to suppress Qassam rocket fire against its civilian population and to secure the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit. Israel has stated that it will withdraw from Gaza and end the operation as soon as Shalit is released. [5] The Palestinians say the assault is aimed at toppling the democratically elected Hamas-led government and at destabilizing the Palestinian National Authority, citing the targeting of civilian infrastructure such as a power station and the captures of government and parliament members.[6]

Background

See also Timeline up to 2006 Gaza crisis

Exchange of fire

After Israel's unilateral disengagement plan in the summer of 2005, tensions had remained high for some time in Israel due to constant Qassam rocket attacks launched by Palestinians from Gaza into densely populated areas such as the Israeli city of Sderot, reported to have exceeded 800 rockets in the past seven months,[7] although there had been no casualties since Israel's withdrawal from Gaza.[8] Between the end of March and the end of May 2006, Israel fired at least 5,100 artillery shells into the Gaza Strip Qassam launching areas in an attempt to stop them from firing.[9]

On June 9, during or shortly after an Israeli operation, an explosion occurred on a busy Gaza beach, killing eight Palestinian civilians.[10][11] An investigation was promised by Israeli authorities, Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz and Chief of Staff Dan Halutz appeared alongside IDF General Klifi to announce the findings of an internal military enquiry. The enquiry disregarded the chance of Israeli artillery fire causing the deaths as "nil". The Israeli authorities theorised the deaths could have been caused by old ordnance. They also theorised that the deaths were caused by a Palestinian planted mine.[12] A spokesman for the US based Human Rights act aired the opinion that the injuries sustained by the Palestinian victims were "inconsistent" with an explosion from beneath the sand.[12] Israeli shelling was temporarily suspended, but resumed soon after and reached more than a thousand shells per week by the end of the month.[13] Other Israeli missile attacks included one on the Gaza highway on June 13 that killed 11 Palestinians and injured 30, and on June 20 that killed 3 Palestinians and wounded 15.[14][15]

After these incidents Hamas formally withdrew from its 16-month ceasefire on June 9 (or 10?), and began openly taking responsibility for the ongoing Qassam rocket attacks, although they have been firing for the past 8 months.[16] Confusion continues to dog commentators over the relationship which exists between the Hamas Military and Political wing. During the ceasefire, Hamas had regularly been implicated in similar attacks carried out by other Palestinian terrorist groups, as well as engaging in its own attacks.[17][18]

The Economist reported that plans for the capture and the incursion were laid in advance. They also theorize that perhaps Israel used the kidnapping as an excuse to launch them.[19] In a June 29th, 2006 Democracy Now interview, Norman Finkelstein discussed the usage of Qassams in contrast Israeli artillery shelling: "Since Israel withdrew from Gaza in September 2005 ‘til today, the estimates run between 7,000 and 9,000 heavy artillery shells have been shot and fired into Gaza. On the Palestinian side, the estimates are approximately 1,000 Kassam missiles, crude missiles, have been fired into Israel"..."approximately 80 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza due to Israel artillery firing"..."There have been exactly eight Israelis killed in the last five years from the Kassam missiles. [1] Shimon Peres, a prominent figure in the Israeli Left, claimed that Israel can afford to ignore Qassam fire[2]. Right wing Israelis counter that Israel cannot permit militants to continually impinge its sovereignty and security with impunity.

Raids and captures

On June 24, 2006, Israeli commandos entered the Gaza Strip in the first capture raid into the Strip since Israel pulled out of Gaza in September 2005. In the raid they captured two Palestinians, identified by neighbors as brothers Osama Muamar, 31, and Mustafa, 20, who Israel claims are Hamas militants. [20][21][22] Noam Chomsky has claimed in a recent interview that these two Palestinians were civilians, a doctor and his brother.[23]

On June 25, 2006, armed Palestinians crossed the border from the Gaza Strip into Israel via a makeshift tunnel and attacked an Israel Defense Forces post. During the morning attack, two Palestinian militants and two Israel Defense Force soldiers were killed and four others wounded, in addition to Corporal Gilad Shalit, who suffered a broken left hand and a light shoulder wound. Hamas claimed that the attack was carried out in response to the death of the Ralia family on north Gaza beach a few weeks before, but the IDF concluded that the digging of the tunnel must have taken between 3 and 6 months.[24][25]

Shalit's captors issued a series of statements demanding the release of all female Palestinian prisoners and all Palestinian prisoners under the age of 18.[26] The statements came from Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades (the military wing of Palestinian governing party Hamas), the Popular Resistance Committees (which includes members of Fatah, Islamic Jihad and Hamas), and the Army of Islam.

More than 8,000 Palestinians are held as prisoners by the Israel Defense Forces and Israel Prisons Service. Approximately two thirds of these prisoners were convicted in court, while around ten percent are held without charge. [27]

Operation Summer Rains

IDF enters Southern Gaza

An IDF ground forces Achzarit heavy APC enters southern Gaza

Israeli forces entered Khan Yunis on June 28, 2006 to search for Shalit. Four Israeli F-16s flew over the Latakia residence of Bashar Assad, President of Syria, in a symbolic move linked by the IDF Spokesperson's Office to Israel's view of the Syrian leadership as a sponsor of terrorism, and the presence in Syria of Hamas leader Khaled Mashal.[28] In preparation for the Israeli operation, the government of Egypt announced it deployed 2,500 policemen to the border of Egypt and the Gaza Strip in order to prevent the possible transfer of Shalit into Egypt, as well as to prevent an influx of refugees out of the Palestinian territory.

In the early hours of the operation, several Palestinian civilian locations were targeted. Bridges were destroyed to effectively cut the Gaza Strip in half. Power was also cut to 65% of the Gaza Strip after Israeli planes fired at least nine missiles at Gaza's only power station. Israeli forces also occupied the Gaza International Airport. Airstrikes were carried out on Hamas training and munitions camps, though no casualties were reported.[29][30]

In apparent response to this, the Popular Resistance Committees announced they had abducted an 18-year-old man from the West Bank settlement of Itamar, Eliyahu Asheri, and would kill him if the invasion continued.[31] On 29 June, IDF combat engineers and Shabak agents, acting on intelligence, found Asheri's body in an abandoned car in an open field outside of Ramallah. The youth appeared to have been shot to death, and findings indicated that he may have been killed as early as Sunday, casting doubt on the PRC's earlier claims that he was alive and kept in captivity.[32]

Although the Popular Resistance Committees said it was behind the attack, it became known that the kidnapping was planned and carried out by Fatah militants.[33] Four suspects were captured by IDF forces for kidnapping and killing Asheri, all al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades activists and Palestinian Preventive Security force members.

The al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades later announced that they had captured a third Israeli, Noach Moskovich from the central Israeli city of Rishon LeZion.[34] However Moskovich was eventually discovered dead, apparently of natural causes, near the spot where he had last been seen.[35][36] The Brigades also threatened that, should there be any Palestinian civilian casualties as a result of the incursion, they would attack Israel's overseas embassies. As night fell, the Israel Defence Forces began shelling locations in Gaza with artillery, and hit two weapons warehouses.[37]

Incursion into Northern Gaza

File:Gaza-tanks.jpg
Israeli Merkava tanks on the north Gaza border

As night approached 28 June, IDF troops and tanks massed on the Northern border of Gaza Strip, and prepared to take strategic positions in the second phase of the operation, which Israel claims targeted the Qassam rocket sites.[38] Qassam rockets were continually fired into Israel, and during the early hours of 29 June, several Israeli naval vessels shelled Qassam locations.[39] Thousands of leaflets advising civilians to leave their homes were dropped on inhabited areas in the northern Gaza Strip towns of Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun which Israel had identified as frequent launch sites for Qassam rockets.[40]

An explosion was reported in Gaza City, and eyewitnesses reported it was at the Islamic University. The university is believed to be a pro-Hamas institute.[41] Witnesses reported Israeli tanks, soldiers, and bulldozers entering Northern Gaza. Following a plea from Egypt for more time for negotiations however, the IDF later announced it would put a hold on the second phase to give the militants a final chance to turn over Shalit. [42]

Capture of Hamas government members

IDF soldiers capturing Hamas officials in Ramallah

On 29 June, Israel captured 64 Hamas officials. Amongst them were Palestinian Authority cabinet ministers and members of the Palestinian Legislative Council[43]. Eight Hamas government members (five of whom in Ramallah) and up to twenty Legislative Council representatives were captured in the assault.

Among those captured are the Finance Minister Abed Razek; Labour Minister Mohammad Barghouti;[29] Religious Affairs Minister Nayef Rajoub, brother of former West Bank strongman Jibril Rajoub of the rival Fatah party; East Jerusalem legislative council member and number two on Hamas list, Muhammad Abu Tir; as well as heads of regional councils, and the mayor of Qalqilyah and his deputy. At least a third of the Hamas cabinet have been captured and held by Israel. As a result, Hamas officials have gone into hiding.

The IDF stated that the captured Hamas ministers "are not bargaining chips for the return of the soldier - it was simply an operation against a terrorist organization".[44] Israeli Minister of National Infrastructure, Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, hinted that the Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority, Ismail Haniya, is not immune from being captured or attacked by the Security Forces. The Israeli army and government officials said, the captured Hamas officials will be questioned and eventually indicted.[40] "Their arrests were not arbitrary. They will be put to trial, and they will be able to defend themselves in accordance with a legal system which is internationally recognized," Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres said, explaining the capture of Hamas members.[45]

The operation to capture these Hamas ministers was reportedly planned several weeks before and was met then with the approval of Israel's Attorney General, Menachem Mazuz. On 28 June, Shabak Director Yuval Diskin brought a list of names to the approval of Israel's Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert. Mazuz decided that those captured will be prosecuted for the criminal offences of failing to prevent acts of terror and membership of a terrorist organization (which carry a maximum sentence of twenty years) and tried by military judges before an open military tribunal, as would be the case for any other Gaza or West Bank resident.[46]

On August 6, Israeli forces detained the Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Aziz Dweik, at his home in the West Bank. Dweik is also regarded as a key member of Hamas, which controls the government, and was held after Israeli military vehicles surrounded his home in Ramallah [47].

Bombardment phase

File:53628.jpg
An aerial attack is carried out on the Palestinian Prime Minister's office.

Beginning on 30 June, the IDF began to hit the Gaza Strip with a variety of targeted bombardments. Israeli warplanes struck more than a dozen times in Gaza in the hours after midnight, hitting a Fatah office and a Hamas facility in Gaza City as well as roads and open fields.[citation needed]

Israeli Air Force aircraft struck the Palestinian Interior Ministry in Gaza City. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed its planes hit the office of Interior Minister Said Siyam, which it called "a meeting place to plan and direct terror activity". Shortly after, several militants approached an IDF position in Southern Gaza carrying anti-tank weaponry. The Israeli forces opened fire, wounding two militants, and causing them to leave their position.[citation needed]

In a separate Israeli airstrike, three missiles hit the office of Khaled Abu Ilal, a Interior Ministry official, who also heads a pro-Hamas militia.[48]

After Israeli warnings that the Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya could be targeted for assassination if Corporal Shalit was not freed,[49] Israeli aircraft hit the Prime Minister's office with two missiles in the early hours of 2 July.[50]

On July 12, the IDF droped a 550lb bomb on a building in Gaza City, killing a family of nine. A spokesman for the Israeli army said they were trying to kill a group of Hamas militants led by Mohammed Deif, and did not know that a family was living inside the house when they bombed it. [51]

High-trajectory fire into Israel

On July 4, high-trajectory fire by Palestinian militants into Israel reached a milestone when an improved Qassam rocket succeeded in reaching central Ashkelon, the first Palestinian-made rocket to do so, hitting an empty school yard, and causing light damage and no injuries. [52]

The next day, two more Qassam rockets hit a neighborhood in southern Ashkelon, wounding 8 civilians. The IDF was given the go-ahead to move into Northern Gaza with a large force, with the stated aim of attempting to push the militants farther into Gaza, and out of range from Ashkelon and other coastal towns. [53]

Qassams also struck near Netivot (which is 12 km. east of Northern Gaza),[54] Saad,[55] Kibbutz Kfar Azza, as well as smaller towns and kibbutzim in the Negev.[56]

Ongoing responses

On July 5, 2006, the Israeli Security Cabinet called for prolonged and gradual military action in Gaza. A communique issued after the meeting said that in light of the kidnapping of Cpl. Gilad Shalit and the continuation of the rocket fire on Israel, "preparations will be made to bring about a change in the rules of the game and mode of operating with the Palestinian Authority and Hamas."

Later that day IDF soldiers apprehended a Palestinian wearing an explosives belt, who entered the industrial zone in the West Bank town of Barkan, near the Jewish settlement of Ariel, in a Palestinian taxi which the IDF said was destined for a major Israeli city.[57][58]

Ground Invasion of Northern Gaza Strip

On July 6, 2006, the IDF's Golani Brigade under the command of Colonel Tamir Yadai, backed by IAF jets and artillery fire, reoccupied the site of three former Israeli settlements of Dugit, Nisanit and Elei Sinai in the northern Gaza Strip. Additional forces entered the nearby Palestinian town of Beit Lahiya. A Beit Lahiya resident was quoted in Ynetnews.com as saying, "It's a crazy scene — everyone is shooting at everyone," and "Soldiers are coming out of the trees, from the rooftops. The residents don't know if they should leave their homes or hide."[59] Israeli tanks and helicopter gunships entered Beit Lahiya firing at militant positions. Palestinian militants responded with automatic weapons fire.[60]

Impact on Gaza Strip residents

Palestinian officials say that it could take six months and some $15 million to repair the damage done to the destroyed power plant. [61]

According to the Palestinian Environmental NGOs Network, "The public health and safety and environmental hazards stemming from the damage caused to infrastructure as a result of this military operation include water shortages, contaminated remaining drinking water, uncontrolled discharge and untreated sewage flowing in the streets resulting in groundwater pollution, pollution of agricultural land which Gazans will now be unable to cultivate to harvest crops, negatively impacting their earning." [62]

On 29 June the IDF made the following announcement to Gaza residents, distributed through pamphlets and broadcasted through other means:

To the civilians of the area: The IDF extends its operations to all areas of the Gaza Strip, and therefore conducts military activities in your area, for the time period that is required. The operations will be launched in order to locate the site in which the kidnapped soldier, Gilad Shalit, is being held, to rescue him, and to continue to defend the citizens of Israel. For your own safety and due to our intent to prevent injuring citizens who are not involved in activities against our forces, you must avoid being on any premises in which the IDF is operating and be attentive to the IDF's instructions. Anyone who interrupts IDF forces activities, conducted in order to complete the mission to bring the kidnapped soldier home safely, will be in danger.[63](bold in the original)

Concern for potential humanitarian crisis

File:Gaza-supplies.jpg
Between July 2-3, supplies were allowed to be brought into Gaza through the Karni crossing

Early on, all border crossings in and out of Gaza were shut. Gas stations predicted petrol supplies would run out by sundown Thursday as companies rely on generators.[64]

On June 29, Álvaro de Soto, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and the Secretary-General's Special Representative to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, said that fuel in Gaza would run out in two to three days, which would result in the collapse of the sewage system. Senior UN officials estimated that Gaza has two weeks of food supply left.[46]

UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland said, "No one can hide from us what they’re doing, neither the Palestinian nor the Israeli side. We are appalled by seeing how they're playing with the future of defenseless civilians, including children," and warned that Gaza was three days away (as of 29 June) from a humanitarian crisis.[65]

It was predicted that all 22 Gaza hospitals would lose electricity from spare generators within one week due to the shortage of fuel and an average of 200 daily surgeries would be postponed or cancelled. There were fears that about 250 citizens suffering renal failure would face death due to the lack of electricity to run dialysis units.[66]

On Sunday July 2, Israel reopened Gaza's main cargo crossing — the Karni crossing, allowing 50 trucks with food, medical supplies and fuel, to travel from Israel to Gaza. Other trucks carrying fuel entered northeastern Gaza through the Nahal Oz border crossing.[67] The next day, however, citing a security threat, Israel once again closed the Karni crossing.[68]

On July 14, 2006, Hundreds crossed the Gaza-Egypt border, into the Gaza strip from Egypt, after Palestineans blew a hole in the wall separating Gaza and Egypt. [69]

On July 20, Paul Hunt, the UN Human Rights Council's Special Rapporteur on the Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Health has claimed that some Israeli attacks on Gaza constitute a violation of international humanitarian law, and called for an independent inquiry into war crimes in Gaza by Israel. [70] Hunt stated that "The destruction of Gaza's electricity power station is profoundly inconsistent with the health and safety of all civilians living in Gaza, especially the young, sick, infirm and elderly, as well as their right to the highest attainable standard of health, enshrined in the International Bill of Rights and other international human rights instruments." [71]

On July 24, Israel partially re-opened the Karni corssing. PNA sources reported that the Raffah crossing might also be re-opened in the next two days. [72]

Casualties

See 2006 Israel-Gaza conflict casualties timeline

Reaction

Involved parties

  • Hamas (military wing) - The military wing of Hamas urged Palestinians to rise up, and stated "fight your enemies, who came to their deaths. Grab your rifles and resist".[73] On July 6, 2006, PA Interior Minister Said Siyyam of Hamas issued the Palestinian government's first, official call to arms since Israeli ground forces invaded Gaza, appealing on Thursday to all security forces to fulfill their "religious and moral duty to stand up to this aggression and cowardly Zionist invasion." The majority of PA security forces are loyal to Fatah, which opposes Hamas.
  • Israel - David Siegel, spokesman for the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C. said that "Israel did everything it could in exhausting all diplomatic options and gave Mahmoud Abbas the opportunity to return the kidnapped Israeli... This operation can be terminated immediately, conditioned on the release of Gilad Shalit."[74] In describing Israel's assault on Gaza, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said, "I take personal responsibility for what is happening in Gaza. I want no one to sleep at night in Gaza. I want them to know what it feels like." [75]

International organizations

  • Amnesty International - The organization characterized the deliberate attacks by Israeli forces against civilian property and infrastructure in the Gaza Strip as "war crimes,"[77] and called for "an end to the wanton destruction and collective punishment being carried out by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip." A statement further observed that “destruction of three bridges and electricity networks [...] have left half the population of the Gaza Strip without electricity and have reportedly also adversely affected the supply of water.” [78] Amnesty International also stated "The hostage-taking of Corporal Gilad Shalit, and the killing of Eliyahu Asheri, the 18 year old settler, by Palestinian armed groups violate fundamental principles of international law. Corporal Gilad Shalit should be released immediately and unharmed".[77]
  • Arab League - Its spokesman Alaa Rushdy said that the operations were "part of aggressive Israeli policies directed against the Palestinian people, whether it be through destruction or the killing of civilians".[79]
  • United Nations - On July 6, 2006, The United Nations Human Rights Council passed a resolution deploring Israel's military operations in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as a violation of international law. Passed by a vote of 29 - 11, with 5 abstentions, the resolution, "urges all concerned parties to respect the rules of international humanitarian law, to refrain from violence against the civilian population and to treat under all circumstances all detained combatants and civilians in accordance with the Geneva Conventions." "Deep concern" was expressed over the "arbitrary arrest of Palestinian (Cabinet) ministers, members of the Palestinian Legislative Council and other officials as well as the arbitrary arrests of other civilians" and military attacks." [81] On July 13, 2006, The United States vetoed a U.N. resolution condemning this military operation. [82]

Other

  • Template:CHINA - Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu expressed concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis, calling on Israel to "cease the military actions immediately" and for Palestinian authorities to help release the hostage as soon as possible. [83]
  •  Russia - Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov called for the unconditional release of Shalit while urging Israel to show restraint. "Such restraint, together with the involvement of the international community, can lead to dialogue restarting and the two sides can go back to implementing the 'Road Map'".[84]
  •  Sweden - "Israel has committed an indefensible act," the Swedish TT news agency quoted Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson as saying. "It is disproportionate in terms of what the Palestinians have done," Persson said. "To go like that and remove part of a government and members of parliament is incompatible with international law." Persson cast doubt on the possibility of an exchange of prisoners. The situation "keeps getting worse and the dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians has now become virtually impossible. It is ominous," he said.[85][86]
  •  Switzerland - "A number of actions by the Israeli defense forces in their offensive against the Gaza Strip have violated the principle of proportionality and are to be seen as forms of collective punishment, which is forbidden," the Swiss Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "There is no doubt that [Israel] has not taken the precautions required of it in international law to protect the civilian population and infrastructure," Switzerland said.[87] Switzerland also called for the "rapid release" of the captive Israeli soldier.[88]
  • Syria - A Syrian official stated "These aggressive operations form a provocation and are unjustified. If their goal is to place responsibility for the kidnapping of the Israeli soldier on the political leadership of Hamas – then Israel is making a scandalous mistake that is crossing the boundaries of logic."[89]
  •  United States - White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said that "Israel has the right to defend itself and the lives of its citizens...in any actions the government of Israel may undertake, the United States urges that it ensures that innocent civilians are not harmed and also that it avoid the unnecessary destruction of property and infrastructure."[90] The United States vetoed a U.N. resolution condemning this military operation.[91]

Coordinated Internet Propaganda

Israel's Foreign Ministry ordered trainee diplomats to track websites and chatrooms so that networks of groups with hundreds of thousands of Jewish activists can post messages supporting Israel.[92] According to the Times Online, nearly 5,000 members of the World Union of Jewish Students have downloaded the so-called "megaphone software" from Israel (www.wujs.org.il) that enables them to post pro-Israeli viewpoints in response to software alerts of negative internet opinions or internet polls, especially on the subjects of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict and the 2006 Israel-Gaza conflict,[93] and noted "Israel’s Foreign Ministry must avoid direct involvement with the campaign but is in contact with international Jewish and evangelical Christian groups, distributing internet information packs."[94]

See also

References

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  49. ^ "Israel warns: free soldier or PM dies". The Australian. 2006-07-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  50. ^ "Air strike on Palestinian PM's HQ". BBC News. 2006-07-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  51. ^ "Family of nine killed as they slept". Guardian. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  52. ^ "Qassam rocket hits school in center of Ashkelon". Haaretz. 2006-07-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  53. ^ "Large IDF force prepared to capture deep swath of northern Gaza". Haaretz. 2006-07-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  54. ^ "Large Three people lightly wounded in weekend Qassam barrage". Haaretz. 2006-07-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  55. ^ "Qassam lands in Kibbutz Saad in western Negev". Ynet. 2006-07-7. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  56. ^ "Qassam fire increases on first day of IDF operation". Haaretz. 2006-07-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  57. ^ "Would-be bomber caught in West Bank". Jpost. 2006-07-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  58. ^ "Terror attack in heart of Israel thwarted". Ynetnews. 2006-07-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  59. ^ "Gaza:2 Killed, 12 Hurt in IAF Strike". Ynetnews.com. 2006-07-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  60. ^ "Israeli forces in fierce clash with Gaza gunmen". Reuters Alertnet. {{cite news}}: Text "date2006-07-06" ignored (help)
  61. ^ "Power Outage Takes Toll on Gaza Businesses". IslamOnline.net. 2006-07-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  62. ^ "Report:Environmental impact of Israeli Assault on Gaza". International Middle East Media Center. 2006-07-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  63. ^ "The IDF Distributes Announcements in the Southern Gaza Strip". Israel Defense Forces. 2006-06-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  64. ^ "Gazans fear worse to come as power, water dwindle". The Daily Star. 2006-06-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  65. ^ "Israel steps up Gaza air strikes". Financial Times. 2006-06-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  66. ^ "Power Outage Takes Toll on Gaza Businesses". IslamOnline.net. 2006-07-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  67. ^ "Olmert puts more pressure on Palestinians". Associated Press. 2006-07-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  68. ^ "Israel faces 11 p.m. deadline on soldier". Associated Press. 2006-07-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  69. ^ "Palestinians Stream in Through Egypt". Associated Press. 2006-07-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  70. ^ "UN rights expert calls for independent war crimes inquiry in Gaza". JURIST. 2006-07-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  71. ^ "UN rights expert calls for independent war crimes inquiry in Gaza". UN News Centre. 2006-07-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  72. ^ "Israel partially re-opens Gaza commercial crossing". People's Daily. 2006-07-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  73. ^ "Show of force as troops raid Gaza". Sydney Morning Herald. 2006-06-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  74. ^ Rosenberg, David (2006-06-28). "Israeli Army Enters Gaza to Find Kidnapped Soldier". Bloomberg.com. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  75. ^ "Israel will end attacks if kidnappened soldier is released". IrishExaminer.com. 2006-07-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  76. ^ "Israeli attacks mass punishment, crime against humanity -- Abbas". KUNA. 2006-06-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  77. ^ a b "Israel/Occupied Territories: Deliberate attacks a war crime". Amnesty International. 2006-06-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  78. ^ "Israel Invades Gaza Strip". Arab News. 2006-06-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  79. ^ "US and EU at odds over Israel". The Daily Telegraph. 2006-06-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  80. ^ "EU: Crisis must be solved by diplomacy". Jerusalem Post. 2006-06-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  81. ^ "UN Rights Council: Israeli Military Operations Breach International Law". easybourse.com. 2006-07-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  82. ^ "US vetoes UN resolution urging end to Israeli attacks in Gaza". AFP. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  83. ^ "China voiced strong calls for Israel". People's Daily Online. 2006-07-05.
  84. ^ "Russia calls for hostage's release". Ynetnews. 2006-07-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  85. ^ "Israel Rejects Deadline, to Try Ministers". IslamOnline.net. 2006-07-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  86. ^ "Persson:Israel bryter mot folkrätten". Svenska Dagbladet. 2006-07-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  87. ^ "Some World Response:Switzerland, Amnesty, Physicians Condemn Israeli War Crimes". International Middle East Media Center. 2006-07-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  88. ^ "Switzerland: Israel violating law in Gaza". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. 2006-07-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  89. ^ "Syria: Israel made big mistake". Ynetnews. 2006-06-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  90. ^ "White House: Israel has right to defend itself". Reuters. 2006-06-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  91. ^ "US vetoes UN resolution urging end to Israeli attacks in Gaza". AFP. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  92. ^ "Israel backed by army of cyber-soldiers". Times Online. 2006-07-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  93. ^ "[[World Union of Jewish Students]]". Wikipedia. 2006-07-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  94. ^ "Israel backed by army of cyber-soldiers". Times Online. 2006-07-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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