# December 2008 air strikes in the Gaza Strip

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Israeli started airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on December 27, 2008, at 11:30 local time, and announced a "unilateral ceasefire" on the evening of January 17, 2009, after three weeks of all-out military operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The battle between Israel and Hamas in Gaza is part of the conflict between the Arabs and Israel that lasted from December 27, 2008 to January 17, 2009. In Israel, it is known as Operation Cast Lead, and among Arabs, it is called the Gaza Massacre (Arabic: مجزرة غازة). Since the first day of the battle ended with the highest number of Palestinian dead and wounded, because this incident was unprecedented since 1948, this day became known as Black Saturday killing day among some Arabs.
The battle between Israel and Hamas in Gaza started shortly after the end of the six-month agreement that was signed between Israel and Hamas and 12 militant groups. According to that agreement, Hamas and Israel had committed to refrain from launching armed operations against each other's territory. During these six months, Israel accused Hamas of breaching the agreement for firing rockets towards its territory, and Hamas accused Israel of breaching the agreement for continuing the economic and fuel blockade of Gaza.

## Start of operation

Israel started these attacks on December 27, 2008, at 11:30 local time, and announced a "unilateral ceasefire" on the evening of January 17, 2009, after three weeks of all-out military operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Israel has refused to reopen the crossings of the Gaza Strip after announcing the ceasefire, and as a result, the reconstruction of the ruins of this area has not been carried out. Israel has cited the reason for this siege to prevent more weapons from entering the region. After the announcement of the ceasefire, sporadic clashes between the parties have been reported from time to time.

## Casualties

According to the Israeli army, the number of Israeli casualties up to the 19th day of the war included 3 civilians and 10 soldiers. There is a difference of opinion regarding the number of Palestinians killed, and due to Israel not allowing international journalists to enter Gaza, it is not possible to independently verify the number of casualties and injuries. According to the estimates of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights and the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the number of Palestinians killed varies between 1314 and 1434. The war in Gaza caused many damages to the industrial, economic and health infrastructure of the Gaza Strip.

## Violation of human rights

During the war, the United Nations Human Rights Council in a resolution accused Israel of "gross violations of human rights". The report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Committee, prepared by Richard Goldstone, accused Israel and Hamas of committing war crimes. Israel's war crimes included the use of white phosphorus to attack the buildings of the IDP Relief Agency, the targeting of al-Quds Hospital, and the attack on Al-Vafa Hospital.

## The groundwork for the Gaza war in 2022

The Air strikes in the Gaza Strip in December 2008 became the basis for subsequent conflicts. The 2022 Gaza–Israel clashes is a battle between Israel and the jihadist forces of the Gaza Strip led by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement. After the assassination of the prominent commander of the Al-Quds Brigades, Tayseer al-Jabari, by the Israeli army on August 5, 2022, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad launched successive and intense rocket attacks on Israeli cities and towns, which triggered the war.