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| Operation Protective Edge (2014) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Operation Protective Edge |
| Date | 8 July – 26 August 2014 |
| Location | Gaza Strip, southern Israel |
| Result | Ceasefire; extensive damage in Gaza; casualties on both sides |
Operation Protective Edge (2014) was a 2014 armed conflict between the Israel Defense Forces and Hamas in the Gaza Strip that lasted from July to August 2014. The operation followed escalating exchanges involving Hamas military wing, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Israeli forces, and included air strikes, artillery, and a ground invasion with urban combat. The campaign provoked international diplomatic activity involving actors such as the United States Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, and the Arab League.
The campaign emerged after a period of heightened tensions following the disappearance and killing of Israeli teenagers in the West Bank and the subsequent killing of a Palestinian teenager in East Jerusalem, which inflamed relations between Likud-led authorities and Palestinian political organizations. Exchanges of rocket fire from Gaza into southern Israeli communities like Sderot and Israeli strikes on Gaza followed the breakdown of previous understandings between Israel and the de facto Gaza administration led by Hamas political leadership and its armed faction, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. The context included the prior 2012 conflict often called Operation Pillar of Defense and the pervasive ramifications of the 2007 Fatah–Hamas conflict on intra-Palestinian politics and governance of the Gaza Strip.
From early July 2014, exchanges accelerated into full-scale operations. Initial Israeli aerial strikes targeted infrastructure linked to Hamas military wing and figures associated with its leadership in Gaza City and Khan Yunis. On 17 July Israeli forces initiated a ground incursion into eastern and southern Gaza, expanding to tunnel-hunting operations near the Gaza–Israel barrier and into densely populated urban neighborhoods. Fighting included notable episodes such as strikes around the al-Shifa Hospital complex and clashes near the Rafah border crossing. A series of temporary ceasefires and negotiations brokered by mediators including Egypt and the Qatar diplomatic apparatus intermittently paused hostilities. The operation concluded with an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire on 26 August 2014 after more than six weeks of combat.
Israeli operations were conducted by the Israel Defense Forces, including elements of the Israel Air Force, Israeli Navy, and Israel Ground Forces brigades such as Golani Brigade and Givati Brigade, employing air strikes, artillery fire, and infantry maneuvers. Hamas and allied groups, including Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-linked operatives and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, used rocket arsenals such as Qassam rocket variants and longer-range Fajr-5 and Iranian-origin arms, firing into urban targets like Tel Aviv and Beersheba. Tactics included Israeli efforts to locate and destroy an extensive tunnel network—attack tunnels—used for cross-border infiltration, and Hamas use of urban defensive positions, tunnel shafts, and anti-tank weapons. The conflict featured contested use of munitions and weapon systems that raised questions addressed by experts from institutions such as Human Rights Watch and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The operation had significant humanitarian consequences across the Gaza Strip’s population centers, notably in Shuja'iyya, Beit Hanoun, and Khuza'a. Damage assessments by international agencies and local authorities recorded widespread damage to residential buildings, medical facilities, and utilities. Casualty figures included several thousand Palestinians killed and wounded, with debates over combatant versus civilian status involving organizations like Palestinian Centre for Human Rights and the Gaza Health Ministry. On the Israeli side, soldiers and civilians were killed or injured by rocket fire and ground engagements, with impacts reported in communities such as Ashkelon and Sderot. The humanitarian situation prompted responses from the UNRWA, the World Health Organization, and numerous non-governmental organizations operating in the region.
Global responses ranged from firm support for Israel’s security claims by states including the United States and Germany to strong condemnation and calls for restraint from states and bodies such as the Arab League, the European Union, and the United Nations General Assembly. Regional diplomacy saw Egypt and Qatar lead mediation efforts that produced temporary ceasefires and facilitated negotiations on long-term arrangements including prisoner exchanges. High-level statements and diplomatic activity involved officials from the White House, the U.S. State Department, the Russian Federation Foreign Ministry, and delegations from Turkey and Jordan. International protests, advocacy campaigns by organizations like Amnesty International, and United Nations sessions reflected polarized perceptions of proportionality and humanitarian law.
Numerous bodies initiated or called for investigations into possible violations of international humanitarian law and allegations of war crimes by both sides. The United Nations Human Rights Council established an independent commission to examine civilian casualties and conduct in Gaza, while organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch published detailed reports alleging unlawful attacks and use of prohibited munitions. Israeli authorities conducted internal probes and military investigations via the Israel Defense Forces and the Military Advocate General (Israel). Debates engaged legal scholars from institutions like International Criminal Court-related forums, and calls for referrals to the ICC met opposition from states including United States and allies.
Post-ceasefire reconstruction required clearance of unexploded ordnance, demolition rubble removal, and rebuilding of housing, infrastructure, and public facilities in localities such as Jabalia and Nuseirat. Reconstruction initiatives involved international pledges from donor conferences including actors from the European Union External Action Service, United Nations Development Programme, and bilateral aid from states like United States and Saudi Arabia. Constraints included restrictions on the flow of construction materials through crossings managed by Israel and Egypt, and the political division between Hamas in Gaza and the Palestinian National Authority headquartered in Ramallah. Long-term outcomes affected security arrangements, prisoner negotiations, and recurring cycles of violence that later influenced subsequent episodes in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
Category:2014 in Israel Category:2014 in the State of Palestine