5 times peace talks between Israel and Palestinians broke down
Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza (2005)
In August 2005, Israel carried out former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to disengage from the Gaza Strip and North Samaria. According to Israeli Missions Around the World, Israel evicted over 9,000 Israeli citizens living in 25 settlements by September 2005.
In 2007, Hamas gained control of the Gaza Strip, and the terror group frequently launched rockets and mortar shells into Israel.
On Oct. 7, Hamas, recognized as a terror group by the U.S. government, killed at least 1,200 people, a majority of them civilians, and abducted over 240 others during a surprise attack against civilian communities in southern Israel.
Israel launched an offensive in Gaza in response to the onslaught to eradicate Hamas and free the hostages. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry says that over 37,000 people have died since the war began. But those figures don't differentiate between combatants and civilians.
Samantha Kamman is a reporter for The Christian Post. She can be reached at: samantha.kamman@christianpost.com. Follow her on Twitter: @Samantha_Kamman