Operation Cast Lead

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Operation Cast Lead
Gazamontage.png
date December 27, 2008 to January 18, 2009
place Gaza Strip
output untraddened, unilaterally declared ceasefire
Parties to the conflict

IsraelIsrael Israel
Supported by: United States and others
United StatesUnited States

Flag of Hamas.svg Hamas
Islamic Jihad People's Resistance Committee al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Logoprc.jpg

Noflag.PNG

PFLP svg.png

Commander

Ehud Barak (Defense Minister),
Gabi Aschkenasi ( IDF ),
Ido Nehuschtan ( IAF ),
Eli Marom ( ISC ),
Joaw Gallant ( SoCom ),
Yair Golan ( HFK )

Ismail Haniyeh ,
Mahmud az-Zahar ,
Said Siam ,
Ahmed al-Jabari

Troop strength
80+ warplanes and helicopters
losses

13

1417, including 926 civilians (Palestinian information)
1166, including 295 civilians (Israeli information)

Egypt: 1 border guard killed, 3 border guards and 2 civilians injured
There are different representations of the number of victims. An independent investigation has not yet taken place. In particular, the number of civilians killed or the definition of who should be considered civilians is controversial.
Map of the Gaza Strip

The operation Cast Lead ( Hebrew מבצע עופרת יצוקה Miwtza Oferet Jetzuka ), based on an Israeli Hanukkah children's song, was a military operation by the Israeli Armed Forces (IDF) against institutions and members of Hamas in the Gaza Strip . The operation began on December 27, 2008 with air strikes by the Israeli Air Force (IAF) and ended on January 18, 2009 with a unilateral ceasefire declaration by Israel.

Israel justified the military offensive by bombarding Israeli cities with several thousand Qassam and Katyusha rockets from the Gaza Strip for years . The media described the fighting as a war. Operation Cast Lead is the seventh armed conflict in the Gaza Strip and the heaviest air strike in the Middle East since the 1967 Six Day War .

prehistory

background

The Gaza Strip is an area about 40 kilometers long and between eight and 15 kilometers wide that borders Israel , Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea and, together with the West Bank, forms the Palestinian Territories . The majority of the residents are still listed as refugees by the United Nations . Most of them fled in 1947/48 during the Arab-Israeli Palestine War or are their descendants. Until 1967, the area was under Egyptian administration, without the refugees from Egypt receiving civil rights.

During the Six Day War , the Gaza Strip was occupied by Israel. In 2005, Israel implemented its unilateral disengagement plan ("Sharon Plan") and its further development, the so-called Convergence Plan developed by Ehud Olmert . The Israeli armed forces withdrew from the Gaza Strip, and the Israeli settlements established there were evacuated. The Gaza Strip was separated from Israeli territory by a barrier fence . From then on it was only possible to enter and leave the Gaza Strip via the Rafah border crossing into Egypt. Many Palestinians lost their jobs in Israel as a result. In the resulting power vacuum, the secular Fatah and the Islamist Hamas fought for political supremacy. In January 2006, Hamas won the parliamentary elections in the Palestinian territories and took over the leadership of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza and the West Bank. In the same year there was a sharp increase in rocket attacks on southern Israel. There was also the kidnapping of Gilad Shalit ( Hebrew גלעד שליט), an Israeli soldier with the rank of corporal, by members of Hamas. Israel sealed off the Gaza Strip with increasing frequency, imprisoned Hamas ministers and parliamentarians and bombed Palestinian infrastructure such as roads, bridges and the only power station. Over 250 Palestinians were killed in Israeli military and retaliatory operations in 2006.

After Hamas rejected calls by the US and the EU for a renunciation of force and for the recognition of Israel and previous agreements, the US and the EU stopped their payments to the Palestinian Authority. In the spring of 2007, Hamas agreed to a government of national unity formed through the mediation of the Arab League together with Fatah, but this failed after a few months.

The climax of the violent conflict between the hostile organizations was the struggle for Gaza , as a result of which Hamas gained sole control of the area. As a result, mosques were built on the one hand, the economy promoted, food and health care improved and local crime effectively combated. On the other hand, Hamas rigorously took action against political opponents and so-called "western excesses" such as Internet cafes, shops selling alcohol or Condoms sold or restaurants before. Press and civil rights were not guaranteed under Hamas. However, the administrative collapse predicted by Israel and Fatah did not materialize. Hamas set up secret arms factories, explosives traps , weapons depots, shelters, corridors and bunkers as well as smuggling tunnels to Egypt for the illegal exchange of goods and arms imports in the Gaza Strip . Since the withdrawal of the armed forces, Israeli cities have been regularly targeted by Palestinian rocket attacks.

Israel responded to the sole assumption of power by Hamas in 2007 by imposing a strict boycott and declaring the coastal strip to be enemy territory . This led to supply bottlenecks for the Palestinian population, impoverishing entire city districts. The economic system, which had worked so far despite all the circumstances, gradually began to collapse. In view of the apparent shortage of everyday consumer goods of all kinds, fossil fuels, but also raw materials for domestic production, Hamas decided to take part in the armistice negotiations.

Armistice, escalation and failure of a new agreement

Ranges of missiles from the Gaza Strip

With Egyptian mediation, a six-month armistice was agreed in the summer of 2008 , which came into force on June 19, 2008 at 6:00 a.m. The goals that the two conflicting parties cited as the motivation for the ceasefire were not achieved. The number of rocket shots fell significantly (Israeli sources said there were 20 rocket shots between June 19 and November 3, 2008, while 1571 rocket shots were reported for 2008 as a whole), but the Israelis' hope that the ceasefire would destroy theirs Completely ending southern communities was just as unsuccessful as Hamas' declared goal of opening the border crossings to the movement of people and goods. On November 4, 2008, the Israeli army invaded Gaza and killed a Hamas terrorist near Dair al-Balah ; five other fighters were killed in simultaneous air strikes. The Israeli armed forces justified the "most serious breach of the armistice" up to this point by averting the dangers that, according to their presentation, came from a planned further tunnel construction.

In the period that followed, the two conflicting parties repeatedly accused each other of being responsible for breaches of the ceasefire, but repeatedly declared their willingness to continue it until shortly before the end of the agreed period. On December 18, 2008, Hamas terminated the ceasefire, which was running out anyway, on the grounds that Israel had not adhered to the agreements. In particular, the cordon off of Gaza has been relaxed for little more than occasional humanitarian aid . Mary Robinson , the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights , on a visit to the Gaza Strip in November confirmed the "terrible living conditions" for civilians and complained about a "shocking violation of many human rights". Israel stated that it had continued the blockade after initial relief, as the fire with Qassam rockets had not ceased completely and Hamas had used the various tunnels to smuggle arms.

After the end of the ceasefire, Hamas began a massive rocket fire, first on neighboring cities such as Netivot and Ashkelon (there, among others, on a power station that supplies a large part of the electricity in the Gaza Strip), then also on the city of Beersheba, 40 km away . In the first three days and during the Jewish Hanukkah festival, over 300 rockets hit Israeli soil, most recently over 80 a day.

Israel's decision to intervene militarily

Number of dead on both sides

Ehud Barak was a general a. D. and Defense Minister at the center of the decision-making process for the attack on the Gaza Strip. Against the background of the escalating foreign policy situation, but also the upcoming parliamentary elections in February 2009, in which he himself ran for the office of Prime Minister , Barak provided with statements such as “There is a time for rest and a time for struggle, now is the Time to Fight ”and“ War Without Mercy Against Hamas ”caused a stir.

Operation Cast Lead was prepared by the Israeli armed forces over several months under the impression of the fragile ceasefire . Fighter pilots of the Israeli air force trained attack scenarios, the Israeli foreign intelligence service Mossad collected information in order to locate police stations, weapons and training camps of Hamas in Gaza. Defense Minister Barak designed the attack strategy in cooperation with Chief of Staff Gabi Aschkenasi . The Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak had given Hamas a final cooling off period of 48 hours before the threatened offensive. At the same time, he allowed international relief supplies to be delivered to the Gaza Strip. The left-wing Israeli civil rights movement BTselem calls the shelling of Israeli residential areas a war crime. This means that the Israeli government can count on very broad support for a military strike. But then Israel struck about 24 hours earlier. The premature air strike came as a complete surprise to Hamas, because it did not expect the Israeli offensive to begin on the Sabbath .

Operational objectives

Political goal setting

There are different statements about the objective of Operation Cast Lead. The Israeli military stated that the objectives of the operation were the destruction of Hamas' infrastructure, which included police stations, weapons depots, mosques, ministries and residential buildings, as well as the weakening or destruction of Hamas as an organization. Aluf Dan Harel , deputy chief of staff said: "When we are done with this, there will not be a single Hamas house in Gaza." The Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak, on the other hand, was more cautious: "The situation there should be changed." The Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni was quoted as saying: "We want to weaken Hamas."

The Israeli government announced on January 10, 2009 that it would further intensify Operation Cast Lead.

Tactical and strategic direction

The Israeli armed forces were under the command of the Southern Command , one of four main commands , commanded by Major General ( Aluf ) Yoav Galant .

The operation was divided into three phases: First, in phase one ( air war ), the Hamas infrastructure was to be weakened by air and artillery attacks to the point that phase two could begin , targeted tank advances to split the Gaza Strip into two halves and encircling Hamas strongholds. In addition, over 20,000 soldiers and hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles (including the elite Golani Brigade ) were waiting on the border with the Gaza Strip. Phase three , the complete occupation of the Gaza Strip, could only be realized with a house- to- house war with many losses and began after the Israeli troops had occupied their optimal staging area. This last phase of the war represented a highly risky mission for the Israeli troops, as it became clear as early as the 2006 Lebanon War that conventional armed forces would find it difficult to prevail against an irregular opponent who is waging a guerrilla war in an asymmetrical conflict in an urban environment . Although not insignificant losses were expected in Israeli military circles, the last section of Operation Cast Lead was successfully carried out with significantly lower losses than expected.

International dimension of the conflict

Due to the open support of Hamas by Iran , which does not recognize Israel's right to exist, the conflict is variously viewed as a proxy war . There are parallels with Israel's conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon , which is also supported by Iran. Political observers also see the conflict as a possible preliminary stage to a direct exchange of blows between Israel and Iran. On several occasions, members of the Israeli government had publicly discussed an air strike to eliminate the Iranian nuclear program . The head of the Israeli foreign intelligence service MOSSAD, Amos Jadlin , warned of a possible two- front war by the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah on the border with Israel.

The conflict led to an open division between Arab states and organizations. For example, Egypt's policy of keeping the Rafah crossing to the Gaza Strip closed during the conflict has been sharply criticized by the Arab media. The leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah , called from Lebanon for the overthrow of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak . Egypt's mediating role, supported by the EU and the United Nations, contrasted with Syria and Iran's efforts to politically isolate Israel.

Course of the operation

December 27, 2008

The air strikes began on December 27, 2008 at 11:30 am local time (9:30 am UTC) by the IAF. According to the Israeli military, around 60 fighter jets and helicopters , which dropped over 100 tons of bombs , took part in the military action. The attacks were directed primarily against weapons and training camps as well as missile-building workshops. A military training facility was also hit where officers were celebrating a graduation ceremony. According to Palestinians, the attacks left 230 dead and more than 700 injured.

These air strikes were described by the surprised Hamas as the "Black Saturday massacre". Hundreds of Palestinians broke through the border fence with Egypt. As a result, over 300 Egyptian border security forces shot at the refugees in order to force them back into the Gaza Strip. Immediately after the offensive began, Hamas fired more than 60 projectiles into Israel. This included a Grad rocket for the first time , which has an improved range. She hit a residential area in Netiwot , a place that was not previously in the line of fire, and killed a 58-year-old family man.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert got the Israeli people in the mood for longer struggles and called for patience, determination and perseverance.

December 28, 2008

On December 28th, the Israeli Air Force continued its attacks. In doing so, she - also according to her own statements - destroyed 40 smugglers' tunnels that connected the Gaza Strip with Egypt. The attacks on Sunday morning were mainly directed against the broadcasting center of al-Aqsa TV . The studio building was destroyed. The transmission operation was however maintained via a mobile transmission unit.

The Israeli army continued to gather ground forces along the border with the Gaza Strip. 6,500 reservists were called up to be available in the event of a possible ground attack. Rockets and mortar shells were also fired on Israel from the Gaza Strip on December 28. For the first time, two Katyushas rockets were fired at the Israeli port city of Ashdod , which is more than 30 kilometers away . Katyushas rockets have so far only been fired by Hezbollah into northern Israel and have presumably been smuggled through Egypt. Hamas leader Khalid Maschal called for an intifada and threatened suicide bombings.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit announced that Hamas was preventing the transfer of injured Palestinians to Egypt. An Egyptian border police officer was killed by Hamas fighters and another was seriously injured.

December 29, 2008

Ziad Abu-Tir , senior member and high-ranking commander of the Islamic Holy War, the military wing of Islamic Jihad , and three other members of the group may have been killed in the bombing of the Islamic University in Gaza City on December 29 . The Luftwaffe justified the attacks of December 28th and 29th with a bomb workshop in the university. According to foreign news agencies, up to 51 civilian victims were killed in the attack.

16 international activists from various political organizations attempted to reach the Gaza Strip by ship, but were prevented from doing so by the Israeli Navy. The ship then headed for the Lebanese port of Tire.

An IDF spokesman confirmed that, apart from the establishment of a sea blockade on Gaza, the Israeli Navy was playing an active role in Operation Cast Lead. A video captured by the Navy and shown on news sites shows Israeli warships using guided missiles to attack the Gaza Strip coastline. According to Haaretz , the targets hit are Ismail Haniyya's office, several Hamas command and control centers, and a Hamas patrol boat. The Israeli navy continued to attack a number of Hamas outposts and rocket launchers on December 31.

December 30, 2008

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said in a televised address that he would stick to his decision not to open the border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip despite the massive Israeli air strikes. If the border is opened, he fears that Israel might try to "separate" the Gaza Strip from the West Bank . Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai said Israel was ready for "long weeks of struggle". Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert also rejected a 48-hour ceasefire in the Palestinian territory, apparently proposed by France. In addition, from this day on, the Israeli government, contrary to a decision by the Israeli Supreme Court , denied foreign journalists access to the crisis area. Reporters Without Borders and the Association of Foreign Press in Israel protested against this curtailment of press freedom .

December 31, 2008

A rocket fired from Gaza hit a kindergarten in the southern city of Beersheba , December 31, 2008

Israel rejected a ceasefire because the conditions for it were not in place. More air strikes were carried out on Gaza. The United Nations stated that at least 1/4 of the previous fatalities were civilians.

January 1, 2009

The Israeli air force killed Nizar Rayan , the first high-ranking member of Hamas, along with two of his four wives and some of his 12 children, to which Hamas responded with threats against Israel. Israel also announced that it would act relentlessly against Hamas and was about to launch a ground offensive. The Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni again rejected a ceasefire demanded by France.

The Air Force bombed a mosque in the Jabaliya refugee camp , which is said to have served as a weapons depot and shelter for Hamas extremists. On January 2, 2009 at midnight, Israel imposed a two-day exit and entry ban on the West Bank.

To date, the Israeli Air Force has flown 700 sorties; According to the Palestinian Health Authority, 422 people died on their side. 700 rockets fired from the Gaza Strip hit Israeli soil, killing four people.

January 2, 2009

Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwan had named Friday the day of anger and called for mass protests in Jerusalem and in the West Bank against the Israeli attacks.

As of January 2, 2009, total Palestinian casualties amounted to 450 deaths, of which one in four were women or children. Israeli casualties were four civilians dead.

January 3, 2009

The high-ranking Hamas commander Abu Zakaria al-Jamal and the Hamas commander in Gaza, Jamal Mamduch , were killed in air strikes .

According to media reports, the Israeli army used artillery for the first time in the ongoing conflict and began using ground troops of the Israeli army .

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) attacked a mosque in Jabaliya , killing at least 16 of the Palestinians gathered there.

A small Israeli military column entered the Gaza Strip with the help of attack helicopters .

January 4, 2009

According to the Israeli media, the ground offensive in Gaza City led to fierce fighting with numerous dead on the part of the Palestinians and several injured on the part of Israel. In addition, the Gaza Strip was divided into two parts. Furthermore, Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian protester in the West Bank. According to eyewitnesses, many families have fled the areas attacked by Israel, while Israel threatened to expand the attacks if necessary.

January 5, 2009

21 members of the al-Samouni family were killed and 19 injured in an Israeli attack on Wa'el al-Samouni's home. The incident was also included in the Goldstone Report (page 159) . In the course of the ground offensive, Israel captured a number of Hamas fighters. Mosques, houses and smugglers' tunnels were bombed. The EU continued to unsuccessfully call for a ceasefire, while Hamas called for the worldwide murder of Israelis and announced that it would ensure “a tomorrow without Zionists”. Furthermore came on the suspicion that Israel grenades on phosphorus-based uses in Gaza. This was reported by the British Times . The use of smoke grenades was confirmed by an army spokesman.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorated to such an extent that, in addition to medicines and food, even body bags in the affected area became scarce.

January 6, 2009

That morning , five people were killed in two attacks near UNRWA schools in Shati, near Gaza, and in Khan Younis, where Palestinian refugees are housed.

Later that day, two tank shells (according to other sources, there were five explosions) by the Israeli army struck just outside Al Fahoura in Jabaliya in the northern Gaza Strip. The school served at least 350 Palestinians as a refuge from the hostilities, and there were also numerous people in front of the school. According to the UN, 30 people were killed and 55 injured. Other figures name up to 48 fatalities and at least 55 injured, while others speak of significantly fewer victims. According to the Israeli military, Hamas militiamen fired mortar shells from the school premises or its immediate vicinity, which is why the army returned fire: It was "not the first time that Palestinian militants had shot out of a UN school." In October 2007 Hamas had fired rockets at Israel from the school courtyard, which was filmed by a drone. The UN General Secretary then condemned Hamas for having used the school as a missile site. According to Palestinian eyewitnesses, the militia officers were not in the school, but in the area.

By friendly fire by the Israeli army in the northern Gaza Strip came to have three soldiers of an Israeli elite unit killed, 24 others were injured (one fatal and three seriously). A tank mistakenly fired at a building where the unit was staying.

In general, the fighting between Hamas and the Israeli army is increasingly shifting from rural areas to more densely built-up areas. Israeli ground forces advanced to the outskirts of the cities. In Gaza and north of it, the water supply for around 800,000 people collapsed, reports the Gaza waterworks.

January 7, 2009

The Israeli army suspended its attacks in the Gaza Strip for three hours at 12 noon Central European Time. It also announced that from now on it would let its weapons rest for three hours a day in order to enable the population to get to food and other essential goods unscathed. The Israeli government approved the delivery of 460,000 liters of fuel and 80 trucks with relief supplies to the Gaza Strip. The transfer of the injured is also to be made possible via “humanitarian corridors”.

January 8, 2009

For the first time in the course of the conflict, Israel was hit with rockets from the south of Lebanon . An old people's home was hit in the northern Israeli city of Naharija . The Israeli government said that the incident could only have occurred with the toleration of Hezbollah , which controls the south of the country despite the UNIFIL security force stationed there . Hezbollah, however, denied being responsible for the incident or knowing the perpetrators. Lebanon's Prime Minister Fuad Siniora condemned the shelling of Israel from Lebanon as "unacceptable".

The UN suspended aid deliveries to Israel after a UNRWA aid convoy was allegedly shot at by the Israeli army in the morning. One driver was killed and another seriously injured. Meanwhile, Israel accused Hamas of having confiscated relief supplies for their own supplies or for resale. Israeli army spokeswoman Avital Leibovitch also denied the allegation: “The Israeli army investigated the matter and found that the soldiers did not fire on the convoy. Therefore we reject the allegations that it has something to do with the army. "

After helpers arrived in the Gaza Strip the day before, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) declared that the medical care of the residents was inadequate and that the Israeli army had violated the international law obligation to treat the wounded over a period of several days. The Israeli army complained about rockets being fired on Israeli territory during the agreed cease-fire period, including the cities of Ashkelon and Sderot, as well as repeated violations of civilians' human rights by Hamas.

Both parties continued the fighting unchanged.

January 9, 2009

The Israeli offensive continued despite the UN resolution, which was rejected by Israel and Hamas alike.

The irregulars fired a volley of at least thirty Qassam rockets from the Gaza Strip. Hamas claimed to have hit the Israeli military airfield Tel Nof , which is about 17 miles from Tel Aviv.

Hamas announced that it believes that Palestinian President Abbas' term of office has expired. Hamas does not expect Abbas to resign during the war, but it no longer sees his presidency as legitimate. Abbas himself invokes a law that stipulates that presidential and parliamentary elections should take place at the same time. Accordingly, he still has a remaining term of one year.

Shortly after the daily three-hour ceasefire began at 1:00 p.m. local time, Hamas fired three rockets at Ashdod. While supplies were being delivered to the Gaza Strip via the border crossing at Kerem Shalom , militants fired several mortar shells at the terminal.

Around 11 p.m. local time, an Israeli drone destroyed a vehicle belonging to a Norwegian aid organization in the al-Shati refugee camp in the north of the strip. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the incident as a "clear violation of international law".

January 10, 2009

No Qassam rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip during the night, three shells hit Ashkelon in the morning and another six hit open terrain.

The Israeli Air Force claims to have attacked 40 targets in Gaza, including rocket launchers, weapons depots, smugglers' tunnels, an anti-aircraft missile launch pad and rioters. According to Israeli information, 15 Palestinian fighters were killed, and the Palestinian side confirmed four dead. Hospital doctors said that eight people were killed by Israeli tank bombardment in Jabaliya who, according to local doctors, were civilian victims.

Palestinian President Abbas called on both Israel and Hamas to agree to an Egypt-brokered ceasefire and pointed out to Israel that it would be responsible for a "waterfall of blood" if it did not accept the Egyptian proposal.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza continued to deteriorate. According to reports from residents of the Gaza Strip, drinking water and food supplies were becoming scarce.

January 11, 2009

Israel continued its air strikes and, according to the military, attacked over 60 targets in the Gaza Strip, including a mosque that Hamas had used as a weapons depot and training camp. The house of Hamas military leader Ahmed al-Jabari in the north of the Gaza Strip and smugglers' tunnels on the border with Egypt were also bombed. According to Israeli information, an underground rocket launch pad was destroyed. Der Spiegel reported that Hamas leaders had been in hiding for weeks for fear of air strikes and targeted killings and were constantly changing their whereabouts.

Israel and Hamas continued their military activities despite UN resolution 1860 calling for an immediate ceasefire. The Israeli Defense Ministry announced that it would step up Operation Cast Lead . If necessary, a complete occupation of the Gaza Strip and the overthrow of the Hamas government should also be sought.

According to the television station al-Jazeera , 850 Palestinians have been killed (of which, according to Israeli information, around 300 were Hamas fighters) and around 3500 injured.

Two Egyptian civilians and two border police officers were injured by shrapnel from an Israeli air strike.

January 12, 2009

Heavy fighting broke out again in Gaza. The Israeli military avoided expanding the fighting into the cities, which Israel referred to as the third phase . The fighting took place mainly in the area north and east of Gaza City. According to the Israeli army, Israel used reservists for the first time. Air raids shot at Hamas activists, weapons depots, rocket launchers and a smuggler's tunnel on the border with Egypt. The military said that ground troops had fought with militant Palestinians who were hiding in a mosque. Then rockets and mortar shells were found there.

Israeli cities were also again hit with rockets from the Gaza Strip. Residential houses were hit, but without injuring themselves.

The agreed fire break, during which 165 trucks with relief supplies were allowed to pass through to Gaza, was complied with by Israel. The Israeli army again accused Hamas of firing rockets during the break. According to UN officials, the war has so far resulted in 905 deaths on the Palestinian side, including 400 Hamas fighters according to Israel (Hamas itself does not provide any information on the fighters killed) and 4,000 injured. So far, 13 people have died on the Israeli side, three of them from rocket fire.

Ismail Haniya, a leading Hamas representative in the Gaza Strip, announced in a televised address on Monday Hamas' readiness for a ceasefire. Due to the fragmented leadership of Hamas, however, it is disputed what binding force this statement Haniya has. The Hamas leadership in exile in Damascus called for the fighting to continue.

January 13, 2009

The Israeli army completely enclosed Gaza City. According to eyewitness reports, tanks and troops had penetrated into the suburbs. Gaza City was also attacked by the Navy. Palestinian fighters returned fire with grenade launchers and shot at soldiers and tanks. According to the army, other targets include again smugglers' tunnels on the Egyptian border, a hotel in the northern Gaza Strip, in which militant Palestinians are said to have been, and several rocket launchers.

There was another three-hour ceasefire in the morning, during which 165 trucks with relief supplies drove into the Gaza Strip. According to the Israeli army, Hamas fired rockets again during the ceasefire. As on January 8, rockets fired from Lebanon struck northern Israel.

Despite the aid, the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has not eased, the UN said. A three-hour ceasefire is not enough, since 80% of the population of the Gaza Strip is dependent on aid supplies. Tens of thousands have lost or left their homes as a result of the fighting, 28,100 of which the UN ( OCHA ) has so far been able to place in 36 emergency shelters.

Meanwhile, the EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel was the first high-ranking EU politician to accuse Israel of disregarding international law, since it is Israel's duty to protect and feed the population and to preserve their lives.

After allegations were raised that Israel was illegally using phosphorus ammunition, the ICRC said that Israel's use of phosphorus shells did not violate international law, as they were only used to generate smoke or as light sources: “We have no evidence that it was used for is used for another purpose. "

January 14, 2009

Israel also flew heavy air strikes on Gaza City and the border area with Egypt on the 19th day, a total of 60 individual targets were attacked. According to the Tagesschau, Israeli troops are only 1.5 kilometers from the city center and are advancing towards the center in urban warfare. In the south, action was taken against tunnels. The Hamas fired off 15 rockets and four mortar shells into Israeli territory, without causing any major damage. According to the Tagesschau, these declining numbers indicate the increasing weakening of Hamas.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon set out for the region to force a diplomatic solution, while at the same time appealing again to the warring parties to follow UN Resolution 1860 and let their weapons rest.

This was rejected by the Israeli side. Israel sees the only conditions for an end to the fighting in the end of rocket attacks, arms smuggling and Hamas' control of the Gaza Strip. Hamas also rejected the terms of the Egyptian peace negotiations as unacceptable. Moussa Abu Marzuq said in an interview with Al Jazeera that these “will only be accepted under the conditions set by Hamas. An Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, an absolute ceasefire and the opening of the border crossings afterwards. "

The Egyptian peace plan is initially divided into three stages: a temporary armistice; unlimited ceasefire; Opening of the borders with Egypt and Israel. Subsequently, according to Egyptian ideas, there should be a reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah and thus the Palestinian people. The last point in particular is seen as difficult to achieve, since the positions of the Hamas leadership in Damascus and the Hamas leadership in the Gaza Strip diverge. Both are represented by negotiators in Cairo.

Another three Katyusha rockets were fired into Israel from southern Lebanon. Two more missiles fell to the ground in Lebanon. Israel responded with two volleys of artillery fire.

Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden called on Muslims around the world to wage holy war against Israel.

January 15, 2009

Israeli troops advanced deeper into Gaza City, according to eyewitnesses. Heavy fighting broke out with militant Palestinians. Despite the four-hour ceasefire announced in the morning, the fighting continued, according to eyewitness reports. Gaza City experienced the most violent attacks since the beginning of the war. The interior minister and head of the security forces of Hamas, Said Siam , was killed.

During the day 15 rockets from the Gaza Strip were fired at Israel at least, which in Beersheba eight people were injured.

The UN headquarters in Gaza City (UNRWA) came under fire from the Israeli military after 700 Palestinians fled the building the night before. Three UN employees were injured. Most of the food supplies and medicines are said to have been destroyed. UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon strongly condemned the action and called for a full investigation. Israel's Defense Minister Barak spoke of a "serious mistake" and pledged to be more careful in the future not to fire at any UN institutions and schools. Various aid organizations temporarily stopped their work. El Kuds Hospital was also shot at. The building was badly damaged in a fire.

Mohammed Nassal, a representative of the Hamas leadership in exile, announced that Hamas would not respond to Israel's call for an unlimited ceasefire.

January 16, 2009

After the heavy fighting the day before, the Israeli army is said to have withdrawn from central Gaza. According to Palestinian information, 15% of the buildings there were destroyed or damaged.

Palestinians fired 22 rockets into Israeli territory. Several people were injured as a result.

In Israel, television viewers witnessed a tragedy when the Palestinian doctor and peace activist trained and working there, Az al-Din Abu al-Aish, called an Israeli journalist friend in the middle of his live broadcast and told him that his house had just been shot at and three of his daughters and a niece were killed. An Israeli tank had fired grenades into the building, which at the time was home to 18 members of al-Aish's family. Due to the high level of public awareness of the incident, an injured fourth daughter was immediately taken by an Israeli ambulance to Shiba Hospital in Tel Aviv for treatment.

January 17, 2009

In parallel with the consideration of a unilateral ceasefire in Israel, Israel's armed forces continued their attacks on the Gaza Strip that day with artillery shelling and aerial bombing. A United Nations school was once again hit in the town of Beit Lahija , where 1,600 people had found refuge. Six people were killed in the attack. A spokesman for the UN said that the Israeli armed forces knew the school's coordinates “very precisely” and demanded that an investigation be carried out into whether targeting a school was a war crime . According to telephone reports, most of the Hamas fighters have gone into hiding and offer the Israeli army no significant resistance. Palestinian eyewitnesses spoke of "the worst day of the war".

In the late evening hours the Israeli security cabinet voted for a unilateral ceasefire in the Gaza war. Prime Minister Olmert said Israel had achieved its goals. Despite the ceasefire negotiations, various Hamas spokesmen such as Osama Hamdan and Fausi Barhum announced that even a unilateral Israeli ceasefire would not end the rocket attacks. It is not politics that decide, "but the battle," said Hamdan in Cairo. Hamas officials in Lebanon announced that they would not stop fighting until Israel withdrew its soldiers. Shortly after the announcement of the armistice, at least eight rockets from the Gaza Strip hit the Israeli city of Beersheba.

Ahmad Dschannati , one of the highest ranking ayatollahs in Iran, has meanwhile called for the killing of Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni .

January 18, 2009

Jabalia (near Gaza) after the IDF withdrew

A Hamas spokesman in Cairo announced an immediate ceasefire on behalf of Hamas and its allies and gave Israel seven days to withdraw all troops from the Gaza Strip and open the borders to supply the population.

After Hamas declared a ceasefire, Israel began withdrawing ground troops from the Gaza Strip. It was never Israel's goal to occupy the Gaza Strip, said Prime Minister Olmert. According to government reports, the troop withdrawal took place on January 20th, the day US President Barack Obama was inaugurated .

Further development

After an Israeli soldier was killed the day before, Israel attacked the Gaza Strip again on January 28, 2009. The aim was to destroy a tunnel between Palestine and Egypt, through which weapons were presumably smuggled from Egypt to Palestine. Palestinian rockets then hit the Negev desert.

Despite the ceasefire, rockets and grenades were again fired from the Gaza Strip at southern Israel. Hamas rejected responsibility for the attacks, while smaller groups professed them. A bullet struck near a kindergarten on February 1, 2009. Two people were injured in the attacks. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced a “harsh and not proportionately proportionate” response from the Israeli military. As a result, the Israeli air force again launched attacks on targets in the Gaza Strip, v. a. in the Rafah area . Among the targets were a police station and several tunnels near the Egyptian border.

Forewarnings

According to reports from the Israeli government and the UN , there were numerous warnings of attacks in the form of telephone calls or leaflets dropped from the air. The Israeli military calls this " knocking on the roof ". Before a target was bombed, the building in question received a phone call in Arabic so that the building could be evacuated. The procedure, which was also used before the killing of Nizar Rayan , is classified by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights as psychological warfare , as it would not only serve to avoid civilian casualties, but also to deliberately create uncertainty.

In addition, Israel issued leaflets to warn bystanders in areas where military operations were intended. It read that the Israeli army would not act against the residents of Gaza, but only “against Hamas and the terrorists”. Citizens were asked to follow Israeli instructions to stay safe. The UN reported that in some cases, the attacks came just five minutes after the call to escape.

Due to the high population density in the Gaza Strip and the short distances between the apartments, this caused not inconsiderable panics and uncertainty among the residents. Amnesty International and the United Nations found that there were no “safe” places for civilians in the densely populated areas of Gaza.

Result

Immediately after the end of the war, Hamas began to reopen the smugglers' tunnels to Egypt and to dig new tunnels. According to Spiegel reports , the acceptance of Hamas in the Gaza Strip population sank. According to a survey conducted by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and the Jerusalem Media Communication Center (JMCC) from January 29 to 31, 2009, 35.2% of those questioned in the Gaza Strip found that Hamas had decided the conflict in their favor. Only 21.4% agreed that Hamas should take responsibility for rebuilding the Gaza Strip. 28% of the residents of the Gaza Strip would have voted for Hamas at the time of the poll, 33.6% would have voted for Fatah. Surveys in the Palestinian West Bank showed a different picture. There was a strong increase in sympathy for Hamas with simultaneous losses for Fatah. Support for Hamas in the West Bank rose from 12.8% in November 2008 to 26.5% in January 2009.

According to the Palestinian human rights organization PCHR, the number of people killed is 1,417, including 926 civilians (including 313 children and young people under the age of 18 and 116 women). According to Israeli sources, 1,166 Palestinians were killed, 295 of them civilians (of whom 89 were victims under the age of 16). Among other things, the classification of Hamas security forces such as police officers is controversial in counting. Israel argues that these are members of a terrorist organization. PCHR, on the other hand, takes the position that Hamas is split into a civilian and armed wing and that it is therefore illegal to classify police officers as armed fighters. The Israeli representation that Hamas activists fought in civilian clothes and that the number of civilian victims had been manipulated was proven when an ARD cameraman was able to secretly take pictures of Hamas fighters in civilian clothes with Kalashnikovs hidden underneath . On the Israeli side, three civilians and 10 soldiers died, four of them from fire from their own ranks, and 84 Israelis were injured. According to a PCHR report, Hamas-controlled security forces and unidentified gunmen committed dozens of human rights violations during Operation Cast Lead . 32 Palestinians are said to have been killed. According to the Palestinian statistics agency PCBS, at least 22,000 houses have been damaged or destroyed in the Gaza Strip, representing 14 percent of all houses in the Gaza Strip. The damage is estimated at $ 2 billion.

The United Nations demanded "several hundred million dollars in emergency aid" for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. The UN emergency aid coordinator said that up to two billion dollars would be needed for reconstruction in the medium term. EU Development Commissioner Michel announced that he would provide humanitarian aid at short notice.

According to the head of the WHO Gaza office, Tony Laurance, 16 health facilities were damaged by Israel during the conflict. A field hospital built by Israel at the Erez border crossing is almost not used by the Palestinians. Tony Laurance doubts that the Palestinian leadership will allow the Palestinians to visit the clinic.

According to the Israeli authorities, around 1900 impacts were recorded in Israel during the operation, and buildings there are said to have been hit around 1500 times.

Reactions

Israelis

According to a survey by Tel Aviv University from January 4-6, 2009, over 90% of Israeli Jews supported the attacks on Gaza, while 85% of Israeli Arabs (20% of the population) disagreed. The popularity and poll ratings of the politicians involved (especially Ehud Barak) and the governing parties have also increased since the attacks began. Parts of the Israeli peace movement expressed criticism of the operation. B. Uri Avnery , who wrote that it was an election war. (The Knesset elections took place on February 10, 2009 ). On the other hand, Amos Oz held Hamas solely responsible and declared the air strikes necessary, but refused to march in and called for an early armistice negotiations.

Palestinians

After the Israeli air strikes, Hamas leader Khalid Maschal has called on all Palestinians for a third intifada against Israel. Hamas will continue its resistance through suicide campaigns. In relation to a possible ground offensive by Israel, Hamas threatened that the Israelis would find bombs in Gaza “in the form of women and children”. In the course of the conflict, senior Hamas member Mahmud al-Zahar declared the killing of Israeli children to be legitimate in a video message in view of the Israeli acts. Earlier, the moderate Palestinian politician Hanan Ashrawi spoke of a “ massacre ” in an interview with the Arab broadcaster Al-Jazeera .

On January 3, a Palestinian news agency published a poll from the Gaza Strip, according to which 60% of residents believed it was wrong that Hamas had not extended the ceasefire with Israel. A majority of the Palestinian population had already spoken out in favor of an extension of the ceasefire with Israel in the run-up to the conflict. In the course of the conflict, the people of the Gaza Strip criticized Hamas's actions. She is only interested in maintaining power, is hiding and storing weapons in apartment buildings that are then bombed by the Israeli army. It is the poor who suffer.

United Nations

  • In an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council at the request of Libya , the latter called for an "immediate cessation of all violence" from both parties to the conflict.
  • UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the Israeli air strikes as well as the Hamas rocket strikes.
  • Navanethem Pillay , UN Commissioner for Human Rights , also condemned the Hamas rocket attacks on Israel, but also spoke of the disproportionate use of force by the Israeli armed forces. She called on the country's political leadership to adhere to the principles of international humanitarian law and to observe the ban on shelling civilians.
  • With Resolution 1860 , the United Nations Security Council called on the warring parties on January 8, 2009 to an immediate ceasefire, which should lead to the complete withdrawal of the Israeli armed forces from the autonomous area.
  • On January 12, 2009 the UN Human Rights Council condemned Israel's actions against the vote of Canada and the abstention of the European states. The neutrality of this body is, however, controversial; see UN Human Rights Council Criticism .
  • In September 2009, a UN special report commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council, led by former South African judge Richard Goldstone , was published alleging both Israel and Palestinians of war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity during the operation ( Goldstone report ). The Israeli army is accused of using certain weapons and ammunition in violation of international law, attacking non-military targets and accepting the deaths of Palestinian civilians. The radical Islamic Hamas, on the other hand, is charged with targeting its own population through rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and the abuse of residential areas, hospitals and mosques as retreats and battle bases. In the resolution of the UN Human Rights Council in October 2009 based on this report, no further mention was made of Hamas's rocket fire on the Israeli civilian population. However, in an April 1, 2011 article in the Washington Post , Goldstone questioned his report in part, particularly the passages that attributed Israel's share of responsibility for the escalation of the conflict and the statement that the majority of Palestinian fatalities were civilians. He explained that his report would have been different if he had known then what he knew today. The three co-authors of the Goldstone Report, Hina Jilani, Christine Chinkin and Desmond Travers, sharply distanced themselves from Goldstone's reassessment of the incidents. They judge that nothing has changed in the results of the report and suspected that Goldstone's reassessment was the result of political pressure.

European Union

  • At the end of December, Benita Ferrero-Waldner , EU foreign commissioner, called on the conflicting parties to end the violence.
  • The spokesman for the Czech EU Presidency, Jiří Potužník , legitimized the advance of Israeli troops as an "act of defense". However, Potuznik apologized shortly afterwards for the term "defense" and declared: "Even the indisputable right of a state to defend itself does not allow actions that largely affect civilians."
  • On January 4, 2009, the EU provided the Palestinians with € 3 million in emergency aid for food, shelter and medical care.

Arab League

The Secretary General of the Arab League, Amr Musa , criticized Israel as well as Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after an emergency meeting on December 31. The Israeli government started the operation for campaign reasons. He criticized Hamas for unilaterally terminating the ceasefire. The Palestinians have the right to resist, but it must be responsible. He accused Mahmoud Abbas of inaction. The Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal expressed at the conference, the "terrible massacre would not have happened if the Palestinian people had been united behind a guide." A special session of the Arab League convened on January 16 at the initiative of Qatar , over half of the member states, including Egypt , Jordan and Saudi Arabia, stayed away . The participating nations condemned the Israeli operation as a "crime". During the conference, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad called on the Arab states to sever all direct and indirect relations with Israel. Qatar and Mauritania complied with this request.

Maghreb Union

Because of the support of Israel by European states during the war, the member states of the Arab Maghreb Union reviewed their membership in the newly established Mediterranean Union .

Individual states

  • In a telephone conversation with the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel saw the blame for the escalation of the Middle East conflict solely with Hamas. She affirmed Israel's right to defense while calling for a return to the political process. This assignment of blame was in turn criticized by experts from the SPD and FDP.
  • The then President of the United States , George W. Bush , described the attacks by Hamas as an act of terror and called on Hamas to launch a ceasefire.
  • French President Nicolas Sarkozy accused Israel of disproportionate use of force and called for an immediate end to the bombing. He also condemned the attacks by radical Palestinians on Israel.
  • Pope Benedict XVI condemned all forms of violence and called on the conflicting parties to a ceasefire, which is essential for the restoration of acceptable living conditions.
  • The Jordanian government called on Israel to end military operations and allegedly collectively punish Palestinian civilians.
  • The Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan criticized the Israeli air strikes as a "crime against humanity". He demanded that Israel should be excluded from the United Nations as long as it disregards the UN resolutions after the end of the fighting.
  • Bolivian President Evo Morales criticized the United Nations Security Council for its allegedly reluctant response to the crisis. He demanded that the then Israeli President Shimon Peres should be stripped of the Nobel Peace Prize.
  • Syria withdrew from the indirect peace negotiations with Israel. Turkey mediated between the two parties.

Demonstrations

Demonstration against the Israeli military operation
( Melbourne / Australia / January 4, 2009)
Demonstration for Israel
( Berlin / Germany / January 11, 2009)

In Israel, the USA, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, as well as in numerous Arab and other countries, there were demonstrations in response to the Israeli air strikes, some with more than 10,000 participants. In Great Britain universities were occupied in protest against the Gaza war.

At a demonstration in Duisburg called by an organization of the Millî Görüş , the police stormed an apartment and, to the applause of the crowd, removed two Israeli flags from the windows, which led to a protest by the Central Council of Jews in Germany . The police justified their actions by saying that there could have been children hidden behind the flags in the apartment who could have been at risk from possible stones or other objects being thrown. Three days after the incident, the police apologized for their actions.

During violent protests in the West Bank, Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian protester after stones were thrown at them.

Demonstrations in support of Israeli military operations also took place in various European cities. In Paris the organizers 12,000, gathered in by specifying London 7000 and the Canadian Toronto to lend more than 4,000 protesters to their anger towards Hamas and its solidarity with Israel expression. There were also numerous smaller demonstrations in the United States . In Germany, several thousand people demonstrated for Israel at rallies in Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich, among others.

Anti-Semitic remarks

At some demonstrations in Germany, according to the Secretary General of the Central Council of Jews , Stephan Kramer , occasional anti-Semitic slogans were spread, there were also statements that were borrowed from the arsenal of Christian anti-Judaism , and in some cases the actions of the Israeli army were included in the Near the Holocaust . During the largest neo-Nazi march in Europe on the occasion of the anniversary of the air raids on Dresden , the NPD tried to project its historical image based on the reversal of guilt into the present with the slogan “Yesterday Dresden, Today Gaza”. There were also anti-Semitic statements in other countries of the European Union. In London, during anti-Israel demonstrations, posters with slogans such as "Kill all Juice" could be seen. The deliberately wrong spelling serves to protect against criminal prosecution. There have been more than 30 anti-Semitic incidents in France. So were synagogues in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis and in Schiltigheim in Strasbourg pelted with incendiary devices.

Slogans like "Hamas, Hamas - Jews into the gas" could be heard during demonstrations in the Netherlands.

Calls for a boycott against Israel

The globalization critic Naomi Klein declared in a guest commentary in the British newspaper The Guardian in January 2009 her support for the boycott campaign against Israel, comparable to that against the South African apartheid regime .

In the German newspapers Die Zeit and the tageszeitung (taz) , Klein's statements were based on the association with the Nazi slogan “Defend yourself! Don't buy from Jews! ”As evidence of anti-Jewish undertones in the criticism of the Israeli government by critics of globalization.

The Duisburg mayoral candidate of the party Die Linke , Hermann Dierkes, declared at an event of his party that anyone could contribute to increasing the pressure for a different policy by boycotting Israeli goods. After violent public criticism, but also from within the party, Dierkes resigned from all party offices a few days later.

On February 1, dockers from the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union refused to unload an Israeli ship in the port of Durban . The South African trade union confederation COSATU supports the campaign for an international boycott and sanctions against Israel. Subsequently, on February 4, 2009, trade unionists from the Maritime Union of Australia declared their support for the boycott and condemned Israeli actions in Gaza.

Web links

Commons : Operation Cast Lead  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. USA is directly involved in Israel's military actions . Zeit Online , August 4, 2014
  2. a b c Hamas: We're using PA arms to battle IDF . The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on February 24, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  3. a b Operation 'Cast Lead' Begins; One Israeli and 205 Arabs are Dead , Arutz Sheva, December 27, 2008
  4. a b Focus : Withdrawal of troops from Gaza Strip until Obama's inauguration on January 19, 2009.
  5. a b c They called it "Utopia" tagesanzeiger.ch April 15, 2011
  6. סוכנויות הידיעות: קצין מצרי נהרג מירי אנשי חמאס סמוך למעבר רפיח (he) , Israel 10 . January 1, 2009. Retrieved January 14, 2009. 
  7. ^ A b Two Egyptian Children, Police Injured in Israeli Air Strike Near Gaza Border (English) . January 11, 2009. Archived from the original on January 14, 2009. Retrieved January 14, 2009. 
  8. ^ Israel on Gaza's edge ( en ) BBC News . Retrieved January 14, 2009.
  9. Chaim Nachman Bialik : For Hanukah ( Memento of February 4, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) mp3.co.il ( English translation ( Memento of the original of December 30, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this note. ) @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.neshamah.net
  10. a b c Summary of Rocket Fire and Mortar Shelling in 2008 ( Memento from January 20, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF) Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center ( Memento from January 20, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF) 2009. p. 5-7.
  11. a b c d e f g h i j k l m n days of war, days of anger . In: Der Spiegel . No. 2 , 2009, p. 92-97 ( online ).
  12. Netivot home collapses as Hamas intensifies rocket fire from Gaza . ( Memento of November 30, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) haaretz.com, January 3, 2009; Retrieved January 5, 2009
  13. Dirty Just War . In: FAZ , December 30, 2008
  14. a b Heavy fighting in Gaza City . Focus, January 4, 2009
  15. ^ Gaza Refugee Camp Profiles. In: UNRWA. December 31, 2006, accessed February 19, 2009 .
  16. Steffen Vogel: Depleted and exhausted. In: Friday. October 27, 2006, accessed November 18, 2012 .
  17. Israel wants to bring arrested Hamas ministers to justice. In: Spiegel Online. June 29, 2006, accessed March 8, 2009 .
  18. ^ Ranty Islam: The humanitarian situation in Gaza is worsening. In: Deutsche Welle. July 12, 2006, accessed March 8, 2009 .
  19. MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION. In: European Parliament. November 13, 2006, accessed March 8, 2009 .
  20. New air strikes. In: time online. July 7, 2006, accessed March 8, 2009 .
  21. Kristin Helberg: Terror organization or negotiating partner? In: Deutschlandfunk. January 17, 2009. Retrieved January 17, 2009 .
  22. tagesspiegel.de
  23. tsarchive.wordpress.com (tagesschau.de archive)
  24. ^ Statistics of Kassam rocket and mortar fire from the Gaza Strip. In: Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. January 1, 2009, accessed January 31, 2009 .
  25. Overview of rocket launches according to a report by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, November 30, 2008
  26. iht.com
  27. a b news.bbc.co.uk
  28. guardian.co.uk
  29. news.bbc.co.uk
  30. nytimes.com
  31. Situation is highly explosive - Article on n-tv from December 26, 2008.
  32. The "humanity" of Hamas. - Dan Ashbel, Israeli ambassador in Vienna, in the Standard of January 9, 2009.
  33. Thorsten Schmitz: The laughing third is called Lieberman ( Memento from February 12, 2009 in the Internet Archive ), accessed on February 15, 2009
  34. mdr ( Memento of December 30, 2008 in the Internet Archive ), Junge welt
  35. a b Inge Günther: Operation Cast Lead ( Memento from February 6, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) . In: Frankfurter Rundschau online from December 28, 2008
  36. Israel bombs Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip . In: SPIEGEL online from December 27, 2008
  37. Ulrich W. Sahm: "Cast lead" on Gaza . In: haGalil of December 27, 2008
  38. a b c d e spiegel.de (January 11, 2009) : Israel threatens war until the end of January , January 11, 2009, accessed on January 11, 2009
  39. a b Analysis: Israel at the crossroads . Augsburger Allgemeine (January 11, 2009)
  40. The street smells of death . In: Der Spiegel . No. 3 , 2009, p. 82-87 ( online ).
  41. ^ Hosni Mubarak - Pharaoh in a Clamp ( Memento from May 18, 2015 in the Internet Archive )
  42. orf.at
  43. news.bbc.co.uk
  44. sonntagszeitung.ch
  45. Tagesschau (January 5, 2008): Israel establishes a restricted zone around the Gaza Strip ( Memento from January 2, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
  46. a b Palestinians break through border . In: FOCUS Online from December 28, 2008
  47. ^ A b Israeli air strikes kill 230 in Gaza . In: Daily News of December 27, 2008
  48. Violence in Gaza causes consternation worldwide . In: SPIEGEl Online from December 27, 2008
  49. ^ Israel shoots at smugglers' tunnels on the Gaza border . In: Hamburger Abendblatt from December 28, 2008
  50. tagesschau.de, Second day of the offensive in the Gaza Strip - Israel continues air strikes, December 28, 2008 ( Memento of December 31, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
  51. a b c tagesschau.de, Reactions to Israeli air strikes - Hamas chief calls for the third Intifada , Dec. 27, 2008 ( Memento from December 31, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
  52. alertnet.org
  53. ^ Egyptian guard killed by Hamas on Gaza border: TV . Reuters , January 13, 2009
  54. a b Senior Jihad man, 14 others who strikes in IDF . Ynetnews , December 29, 2008
  55. Merkel defends Israel's Gaza offensive . Spiegel Online , December 29, 2008
  56. Gaza braces for all-out was . Al Jazeera, December 29, 2008, ( Webcite ( Memento of December 29, 2008 on WebCite ))
  57. ^ Pro-Palestinian activists say Israel Navy fired on protest boat off Gaza shore . Haaretz / Reuters , December 30, 2008
  58. ^ Gaza relief boat damaged in encounter with Israeli vessel . CNN.com, December 30, 2008
  59. Operation Cast Lead Continues: IAF and IN Forces Strike Hamas ( Memento from January 31, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) on the website of the Israel Defense Forces from December 29, 2008
  60. ^ IAF and IN Strike Additional Hamas Targets, Operation Continues ( Memento from January 22, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) on the website of the Israel Defense Forces of January 1, 2009
  61. a b c Israel is preparing for weeks of fighting . In: Hamburger Abendblatt from December 28, 2008
  62. tagesschau.de, Escalation in the Gaza Strip - Egypt Between All Chairs , Dec. 30, 2008 ( Memento from January 2, 2009 in the Internet Archive ), ( WebCite ( Memento from December 30, 2008 on WebCite ))
  63. spiegel.de
  64. a b Ulrike Putz: Blocking of the Gaza Strip. Second hand front reports . In: SPIEGEL Online from December 30, 2008
  65. focus.de
  66. ^ Israel decides to continue attacks on Gaza . Reuters . December 31, 2008. Archived from the original on January 11, 2009. Retrieved January 11, 2009.
  67. Israel continues air strikes on Gaza Strip . Reuters . December 31, 2008. Archived from the original on January 11, 2009. Retrieved January 11, 2009.
  68. Senior Hamas leader dies in air strike . The mirror . January 2, 2009. Retrieved January 11, 2009.
  69. Palestinians report death of Hamas leader . The world . January 1, 2009. Retrieved January 11, 2009.
  70. Israel announces relentless fight against Hamas . Reuters . January 1, 2009. Archived from the original on January 11, 2009. Retrieved January 11, 2009.
  71. No ceasefire in sight - Israel kills Hamas leader Rian . Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung . January 1, 2009. Retrieved January 11, 2009.
  72. a b spiegel.de
  73. spiegel.de: Hamas swears revenge on Israel for killed leader , January 2, 2009
  74. Israel establishes a restricted zone around the Gaza Strip ( memento of January 2, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) tagesschau.de
  75. Amir Buchbut:חיה"א חיסל מפקד בגדודי עז א-דין אל-קסאם בעזה (hey) . In: nrgמעריב. Retrieved January 3, 2009. 
  76. Army advances into Gaza Strip Israel's ground offensive begins ( Memento from January 7, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
  77. Israel's troops march into Gaza ( memento from September 7, 2012 in the web archive archive.today )
  78. a b tagesschau.de
  79. n-tv.de
  80. ^ Israel reinforces troops, ground offensive possible . In: China Daily of December 28, 2008
  81. Israel Confirms Ground Invasion Has Started on MSNBC January 3, 2009
  82. ^ Israeli ground troops invade Gaza to halt rockets . By Associated Press January 4, 2009
  83. de.reuters.com
  84. spiegel.de
  85. ^ A b Richard Goldstone : Human Rights in Palestine and Other Occupied Arab Territories - Report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict. (PDF; 3.5 MB) In: Goldstone Commission. United Nations General Assembly , September 15, 2009, p. 161 , accessed November 17, 2009 .
  86. a b spiegel.de
  87. a b de.reuters.com
  88. ^ The Times: Israel rains fire on Gaza with phosphorus shells
  89. Tages-Anzeiger : Israel uses controversial phosphorus bombs January 5, 2009
  90. Der Standard : At least 40 dead 7 January 2009
  91. a b Der Standard : Israeli tanks reach Khan Younis January 6, 2009
  92. a b c AP / Focus: Another attack on the UN school - 'Nobody is safe in the Gaza Strip'. January 6, 2009, 7:43 pm
  93. a b ORF online: Fighting in Gaza continues.  ( Page no longer available , search in web archivesInfo: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.orf.at   January 6, 2009 (accessed on January 6, 2009, as of 9:40 p.m. CET).
  94. a b n-tv.de
  95. hln.be: Israël schort bombardementen drie uur op January 7, 2009 (Flemish)
  96. spiegel.de
  97. stern.de: Rockets from Lebanon - Israel accuses militant Palestinians , January 8, 2009
  98. a b sueddeutsche.de ( Memento from March 8, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
  99. spiegel.de: Red Cross makes serious allegations to Israel , January 8, 2008
  100. a b c IBRAHIM BARZAK and CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA: Israel tells Gazans to brace for war escalation. Associated Press, archived from the original on Jan. 12, 2009 ; accessed on July 31, 2018 (English).
  101. hairetz.com
  102. ^ Yossi Melman: Hamas claims it hit IAF base 27 km from Tel Aviv . Haaretz . January 10, 2009. Retrieved January 10, 2009.
  103. Hamas: Abbas no longer president ( en ) January 9, 2009. Retrieved January 10, 2009.
  104. Mortar shells fired at Kerem Shalom . Jerusalem Post . January 9, 2009. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  105. Norwegian People's Aid car hit by missile, Foreign Ministry calls incident "clear violation of international law" . Ma'an News Agency . January 10, 2009. Archived from the original on January 11, 2009. Retrieved January 11, 2009.
  106. ^ NPA car hit by missile in Gaza . Norwegian People's Aid. January 10, 2009. Archived from the original on January 23, 2009. Retrieved January 11, 2009.
  107. Yanir Yagna: Gaza rockets strike Ashkelon, injuring two Israelis . Haaretz . January 10, 2009. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  108. a b No end in sight - ZEIT ONLINE, dpa of January 10, 2009
  109. sueddeutsche.de ( Memento from February 26, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
  110. a b Thorsten Schmitz: Battles in Gaza are getting harder. Süddeutsche Zeitung, January 13, 2009 (accessed January 13, 2009)
  111. ^ Yaakov Lappin: Rocket barrage on western Negev continues. ( Memento of January 21, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Jerusalem Post, January 12, 2009 (accessed January 13, 2009)
  112. a b c AP / Reuters / dpa / AFP / mati / gba: Gaza City is surrounded. ( Memento from January 15, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Süddeutsche Zeitung, January 13, 2009 (accessed on January 13, 2009)
  113. ^ Heavy fighting, massive air strikes - FAZ from January 13, 2009
  114. a b ff / dpa / AFP / Reuters: Israel's army and Hamas are fighting bitterly for Gaza. Spiegel online, January 13, 2009 (accessed January 13, 2009)
  115. a b Deaths again in fighting ( memento from January 21, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) - SZ from January 14, 2009
  116. a b ffr / dpa / AP / AFP: EU Commissioner accuses Israel of violating international law. Spiegel online, January 13, 2009 (accessed January 13, 2009)
  117. ICRC: Israel's use of white phosphorus not illegal - Associated Press (AP) of January 14, 2009
  118. theguardian.com: The Israeli attacks on Gaza January 19, 2009
  119. a b c Days of Terror (tagesschau.de archive)
  120. sueddeutsche.de ( Memento from January 16, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
  121. Rockets from Lebanon hit Israel again . German wave . January 14, 2009. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
  122. zeit.de
  123. a b Hamas interior minister killed in air strike ( memento from April 8, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Süddeutsche Zeitung from January 16, 2009. Retrieved on November 2, 2009
  124. a b c bombs despite peace efforts , on Zeit.de. Retrieved November 10, 2009
  125. de.reuters.com
  126. welt.de
  127. ^ Key Hamas leader killed in Gaza ( English ) British Broadcasting Corporation . January 15, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2009.
  128. welt.de
  129. ↑ Topics of the day: "The struggle for a ceasefire agreement continues" / video report ( Memento from January 30, 2012 in the web archive archive.today ) (video no longer available)
  130. Ha'aretz: Israeli-trained Gaza doctor loses three daughters and niece to IDF tank shell (English)
  131. ^ The Independent: Doctor shows Israelis horror of war
  132. un.org
  133. Tagesschau: "The worst day of the war" January 17, 2009 ( online article No. 1.805)
  134. a b Israel announces unilateral ceasefire Spiegel Online, January 17, 2009
  135. sueddeutsche.de ( Memento from September 11, 2012 in the web archive archive.today )
  136. de.reuters.com
  137. welt.de
  138. zeit.de
  139. a b Tagesschau (February 1, 2009): Israel flies air strikes again ( Memento from February 3, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
  140. spiegel.de
  141. ^ Israeli airstrikes kill dozens of Gaza civilians ( January 1, 2009 memento in the Internet Archive ) Yahoo News, December 29, 2008
  142. ^ Protection of Civilians Weekly Report - 291 , UNO Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs . 2008-31-12. Archived from the original on January 1, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2009. 
  143. ^ IDF targets senior Hamas figures , Haaretz . January 4, 2009. Retrieved January 9, 2009. 
  144. Bush: US Calls for Monitored Cease-fire Pact , ABC News. January 2, 2009. Retrieved January 4, 2009. 
  145. ^ Howard Schweber: Israel and Hamas: Two to Tango , The Huffington Post . January 4, 2009. Retrieved January 10, 2009. 
  146. Miguel Marquez, Simon McGregor-Wood: Bush: US Calls for Monitored Cease-fire Pact , ABC News . January 2, 2009. Retrieved January 8, 2009. 
  147. ^ IDF targets senior Hamas figures , Ha'aretz , January 4, 2009
  148. The call that tells you: run, you're about to lose your home and possessions , The Guardian. June 28, 2006. Retrieved January 10, 2009. 
  149. fr.jpost.com ( Memento from January 21, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
  150. Gaza Humanitarian Situation Report - January 2, 2009 as of 14:30 , UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs . January 2, 2009. Archived from the original on January 3, 2009. 
  151. ^ Amnesty International: there are no safe places in Gaza Palestine News Network January 1, 2009
  152. ^ Situation Report From The Humanitarian Coordinator - January 7, 2009, 1700 hours . January 7, 2009. Archived from the original on January 7, 2009. 
  153. Situation Report From The Humanitarian Coordinator, January 7, 2009 ( Memento from January 7, 2009 on WebCite ) (PDF; 133 kB), United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. "There is no safe space in the Gaza Strip - no safe haven, no bomb shelters, and the borders are closed making this one of the rare conflicts where civilians have no place to flee."
  154. spiegel.de
  155. jmcc.org ( Memento of March 6, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF)
  156. Richard Schneider: Our text is powerless against the images , FAZ August 3, 2014. Accessed August 5, 2014.
  157. Gaza Remains Imprisoned , Young World, January 23, 2009
  158. PCHR Special Report, February 2009 - Inter-Palestinian Human Rights Violations in the Gaza Strip (PDF) Palestinian Center for Human Rights, pdf.
  159. Israel accelerates troop withdrawal. In: Spiegel Online. January 20, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2009 .
  160. focus.de: Several hundred million dollars in emergency aid required January 20, 2009
  161. EU plans quick aid for Gaza , spiegel.de, January 20, 2009
  162. ^ Hospitals Attacked as Gaza's health and humanitarian crisis worsens , Jackie Tumwine, global health law blog, January 17, 2009, accessed November 17, 2012.
  163. Gazan's stay away from Israeli clinic . ( Memento of January 21, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) In: Jerusalem Post , January 20, 2009; Retrieved January 21, 2009
  164. ^ E. Hausen: War damage: 1,900 buildings and vehicles hit in Israel . ( Memento of January 11, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Israelnetz, January 21, 2009.
  165. hairetz.com
  166. ^ "Molten lead": an election campaign, Telepolis January 4, 2009
  167. faz-community.faz.net ( Memento from January 17, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
  168. hairetz.com
  169. ^ War in the Gaza Strip , sueddeutsche.de , accessed on September 18, 2011
  170. zeit.de
  171. ^ Israeli air strikes on Gaza: 140 people killed . In: nachrichten.at of December 27, 2008
  172. de.rian.ru
  173. foxnews.com ( Memento from June 25, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
  174. UN human rights commissioners criticize Israel's Gaza operation Der Standard, December 29, 2008
  175. ^ Human Rights Council condemns Israel . ( Memento from August 12, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Süddeutsche Zeitung , January 12, 2009; Retrieved January 13, 2009
  176. de.reuters.com
  177. Florian Markl, Alex Feuerherdt: “The largest anti-Zionist organization in the world. How the United Nations demonize and delegitimize the Jewish state. ”In: Samuel Salzborn (Ed.): Anti-Semitism since 9/11. Events, debates, controversies. Nomos, Baden-Baden 2019, p. 142 f. in Google Book Search
  178. ^ UN Gaza report co-authors round on Goldstone . Guardian, April 14, 2011
  179. a b The bloodiest day since the Six Day War . Time online , December 27, 2008
  180. diepresse.com
  181. de.reuters.com
  182. https://www.morgenpost.de/politik/article103640244/Saudi-Arabien-gibt-Palaestinensern-Kriegs-Mitschuld.html
  183. a b Qatar, Mauritania cut Israel ties (English) , Al Jazeera. January 17, 2009. 
  184. MU Countries Mull Quitting Mediterranean Union over Europe's support of Israeli Crimes Against Palestinians in Gaza. In: The Tripoli Post. January 23, 2009, accessed January 23, 2009 .
  185. Merkel blames Hamas for the escalation . In: Die Welt , December 29, 2008
  186. Merkel's accusation provokes criticism . Spiegel Online , December 30, 2008
  187. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/president-bush-remarks-on-israel-s-operation-cast-lead-january-2009
  188. a b Tagesschau (ARD) : Arab world outraged by bloody attacks December 27, 2008
  189. Vatican sends warning words to the Gaza conflict parties ( Memento from September 15, 2012 in the web archive archive.today ) January 8, 2009
  190. focus.de
  191. Florian Rötzer: Qatar and Mauritania terminate relations with Israel. In: Telepolis . January 17, 2009. Retrieved January 17, 2009 .
  192. ^ Bolivia cuts Israel ties over Gaza. In: Al Jazeera. January 15, 2009, accessed January 15, 2009 .
  193. derstandard.at
  194. ^ Israeli Peace Bloc: Massive demonstration against the war + continuing protest. January 3, 2009 (accessed January 12, 2009)
  195. gxs / AP : USA: protest against Gaza offensive. Focus , December 31, 2008 (accessed January 12, 2009)
  196. ^ Je / sda: demo in Basel against Israeli military strikes. Basler Zeitung , December 31, 2008, updated January 2, 2009 (accessed January 12, 2009)
  197. sam / sda: With "bleeding" dolls against attacks in Gaza: 600 demonstrate in Zurich. Tages-Anzeiger , December 31, 2008, updated January 1, 2009 (accessed January 12, 2009)
  198. ^ APA : Vienna: Demo against attacks in the Gaza Strip. Die Presse , December 30, 2008 (accessed January 12, 2009)
  199. ^ Ddp / AFP / AP: Palestinians protest peacefully in Düsseldorf. Der Westen - WAZ online portal, January 3, 2009 (accessed January 12, 2009)
  200. uq / AFP / AP / dpa / Reuters: Israeli attacks: Angry protests in the Arab world. Focus, December 29, 2008 (accessed January 12, 2009)
  201. ast / AP: Protests: tens of thousands for jihad against Israel. Focus, January 2, 2009 (accessed January 12, 2009)
  202. At least 16 universities were filled . young world, January 28, 2009; Collaborators under pressure . young world, January 26, 2009
  203. Police storm the apartment and hang the Israeli flag . Spiegel Online , January 13, 2009. Tens of thousands demonstrate against the war in Gaza . Spiegel Online , January 17, 2009. Outrage over the police operation . focus, January 12, 2009; Salam, Qassam in: Jungle World, January 15, 2009
  204. Palestinians shot dead during protests in the West Bank . Reuters . January 4, 2009. Archived from the original on January 11, 2009. Retrieved January 11, 2009.
  205. ynetnews.com
  206. ynetnews.com
  207. canada.com ( Memento of February 4, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
  208. israelnationalnews.com
  209. Thousands demonstrate in Germany for Israel, Deutsche Welle from January 11, 2009 ( Memento from January 20, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
  210. ^ Statement by the Secretary General of the Central Council of Jews, Stephan Kramer , quoted in the Central Council of Jews. Outrage over police operations Focus Online, January 12, 2009
  211. Martin Kloke : "Is the Left an anti-Semitic party?" In: Samuel Salzborn (Ed.): Antisemitism since 9/11. Events, debates, controversies. Nomos, Baden-Baden 2019, p. 350
  212. Salam, Qassam! Jungle World , January 15, 2009
  213. March back to brown times . Time online , February 14, 2009
  214. Open anti-Semitism threatens Europe . Welt online , January 27, 2009
  215. Enough. It's time for a boycott The Guardian Jan. 10, 2009;
  216. Deluded Time , January 15, 2009
  217. ^ Anti-Semitism from the left , taz , January 23, 2009
  218. ^ The third force taz , February 4, 2009
  219. ^ Call for a boycott of Israel, Süddeutsche, February 26, 2009
  220. Duisburg. Left: Dierkes throws in the towel ( Memento of February 28, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) RP Online , February 27, 2009
  221. Workers plan to isolate Israel ( February 10, 2009 memento in the Internet Archive ) IOL News, February 4, 2009