In Pictures

Gallery|Israel-Palestine conflict

The Gaza Strip: Under siege, at war with Israel

Palestinians in the besieged enclave have had to endure decades of violence and oppression — and now it’s even worse.

History Illustrated The Gaza Strip: Under siege, at war

By Danylo Hawaleshka

History Illustrated is a weekly series of insightful perspectives that puts news events and current affairs into historical context using graphics generated with artificial intelligence.

History Illustrated The Gaza Strip: Under siege, at war — In the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel occupied the Gaza Strip and has ever since maintained a tight grip on it and the more than two million Palestinians who live there. By any measure, it has been awful.

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History Illustrated The Gaza Strip: Under siege, at war — In 1987, Palestinians in Gaza and across the other occupied territories staged the first Intifada. To suppress the uprising, Israeli forces routinely beat protesters.

History Illustrated The Gaza Strip: Under siege, at war — In 2000, the second Intifada began with largely peaceful protests, but was met with what was widely condemned as excessive force by the Israeli military.

History Illustrated The Gaza Strip: Under siege, at war — Israel carried out its 'disengagement' plan in 2005, ordering Jewish settlers to leave Gaza while withdrawing the army to improve security, it said. However, strict Israeli control over Palestinians’ lives was still maintained.

History Illustrated The Gaza Strip: Under siege, at war — When Hamas took over Gaza in 2007, Israel imposed a blockade (still in place), and in late 2008, launched its first major assault on the enclave, Operation Cast Lead, which according to Israel was aimed at ending rocket attacks by Hamas. At least 920 Palestinian civilians were killed. Amnesty International called much of the destruction 'wanton'.

History Illustrated The Gaza Strip: Under siege, at war — In 2012, Israel launched another offensive, called Operation Pillar of Defence, which included air attacks and a ground operation. Over eight days, 87 civilians were killed, including 35 children and 14 women.

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History Illustrated The Gaza Strip: Under siege, at war — Two years later, Israel launched Operation Protective Edge, which lasted 50 days and killed 1,462 Palestinian civilians and almost 500 children. Half a million people were displaced.

History Illustrated The Gaza Strip: Under siege, at war — Several grievances led to another Israel-Gaza conflict in May 2021, which lasted 11 days and killed at least 260 Palestinians, including 39 women and 67 children. Less than 15 months later, Israeli warplanes attacked for three days, killing at least 49 Palestinians, including 17 children.

History Illustrated The Gaza Strip: Under siege, at war — And now there’s yet another war, worse than anything seen so far, in which Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has demonised Palestinians, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to turn the enclave into a 'deserted island'.