2014 Gaza conflict

2014 Gaza conflict
Muhammad Sabah, B'Tselem's field researcher in the northern Gaza Strip · CC BY 4.0 · source
Name	2014 Gaza conflict
Date	8 July – 26 August 2014
Place	Gaza Strip, Southern Israel, Mediterranean Sea
Combatant1	State of IsraelIsrael Defense Forces
Combatant2	HamasIslamic Jihad Movement in PalestinePalestinian factions
Commander1	Benjamin NetanyahuBenny GantzMoshe Ya'alon
Commander2	Ismail HaniyehKhaled MashalMohammad Deif
Strength1	Israel Defense Forces forces, air, ground, naval units
Strength2	Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades and allied militias, rocket batteries, tunnels
Casualties1	Israeli military and civilian casualties, including Israel Defense Forces fatalities
Casualties2	Palestinian fatalities and injuries in Gaza, including combatants and civilians

2014 Gaza conflict was a seven-week armed confrontation between State of Israel and Palestinian armed groups in the Gaza Strip from 8 July to 26 August 2014. The hostilities followed escalating incidents linked to the 2014 kidnapping and murder of Mohammed Abu Khdeir and the collapse of indirect negotiations mediated by Egypt and the United States. The conflict featured large-scale Israel Defense Forces operations, extensive rocket fire from Hamas and allies, and international diplomatic efforts culminating in an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire.

Background

The conflict unfolded against a backdrop of recurring confrontations after the 2008–2009 Gaza War and the 2012 Gaza conflict, and amid tensions from the 2013–2014 Egyptian coup d'état and regional shifts following the Syrian Civil War. Political dynamics involved leaders such as Benjamin Netanyahu, Ismail Haniyeh, and Khaled Mashal, while mediation attempts involved Egyptian intelligence, Qatar, U.S. diplomacy, and the United Nations. Preceding incidents included increased rocket launches tied to West Bank unrest and the highly publicized 2014 kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers and 2014 kidnapping and murder of Mohammed Abu Khdeir, which influenced security postures of Israel Defense Forces and Palestinian factions.

Timeline of hostilities

Hostilities began on 8 July 2014 with intensified Israeli air strikes following rocket barrages from Gaza attributed to Hamas and Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine. Major phases included an initial aerial campaign, a ground invasion into southern and central Gaza launched on 17 July, and intense urban combat with repeated temporary ceasefires brokered by Egypt and monitored by United Nations envoys. Key incidents included strikes near Rafah and Khan Yunis, tunnel incursions attributed to Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, and maritime interdictions involving the Israel Navy. Repeated rounds of rocket salvos reached Tel Aviv and communities near the Mediterranean Sea, prompting civil defense responses by Home Front Command. The cessation on 26 August followed Egyptian-brokered negotiations involving delegations from Hamas, Fatah, Israel Defense Forces representatives, and international mediators.

Military operations and tactics

Israeli operations combined precision air strikes by Israeli Air Force aircraft, artillery bombardment, infantry advances, and engineering efforts to locate and destroy cross-border tunnels used by Palestinian factions. Palestinian tactics included massed rocket launches from mobile launchers, use of unguided projectiles by Hamas and Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, improvised explosive devices in tunnel complexes, and anti-tank rocket engagements. Urban warfare featured attempts to shield assets within built-up areas of Gaza City and refugee camps such as Jabalia Camp, complicating targeting for Israel Defense Forces units. Technological aspects included deployment of the Iron Dome air defense system to intercept short-range rockets, intelligence cooperation with allies like the United States for targeting, and the use of surveillance drones in contested zones.

Casualties and humanitarian impact

The conflict produced high numbers of fatalities, injuries, and widespread infrastructure damage in the Gaza Strip, affecting residential neighborhoods, hospitals such as those in Gaza City, and utilities managed by organizations including UNRWA. Civilian displacement reached tens of thousands seeking shelter in schools and facilities operated by UNRWA and local NGOs. Israeli civilian communities, including those in the southern towns and areas near Ashkelon and Sderot, suffered casualties and property damage. Humanitarian corridors and aid deliveries were negotiated with assistance from Egyptian Red Crescent, ICRC, and international donors, while reconstruction needs highlighted pre-existing blockade-related constraints involving Israel and Egypt.

International response and diplomacy

International reactions involved statements and actions by actors including the United Nations Security Council, European Union, United States Department of State, Arab League, and governments such as Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. Calls for ceasefires and investigations came from Ban Ki-moon at the United Nations and from diplomats including John Kerry of the United States Department of State. Humanitarian appeals were coordinated by UNRWA and OCHA. Several rounds of talks facilitated by Egypt and mediated by envoys from Norway and the United States sought durable arrangements addressing border crossings such as Rafah Border Crossing, security guarantees, and reconstruction financing.

Legal issues and investigations

Questions concerning compliance with international humanitarian law prompted investigations by bodies including the United Nations Human Rights Council and national inquiries by states and organizations. Allegations of indiscriminate attacks, use of human shields, and targeting of protected objects were examined by fact-finding missions and NGOs, including reports by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. Israeli legal reviews involved the Israel Defense Forces' internal mechanisms and the State Attorney of Israel, while Palestinian and international advocates pushed for examinations by the International Criminal Court. Debates focused on proportionality, distinction, and the legal status of combatants versus civilians in asymmetric urban conflicts.

Category:Conflicts in 2014 Category:History of the Gaza Strip Category:Israeli–Palestinian conflict