For the last 7 years, the people of Gaza have been living under an illegal Israeli siege with devastating restrictions on the movement of people and the flow of food, fuel, and all other critical materials. Since 2008, Israel has initiated 3 large-scale military assaults on Gaza using F-16 jet fighters, Apache helicopters, and in '08-'09, white phosphorous. Hamas has responded with inferior weaponry, launching rockets at Israel.
Over 2,592 Palestinians and 61 Israelis have died (as of July 28, 2014) in these vastly disproportionate assaults, with thousands more injured and disabled. The overwhelming majority of casualties have been Palestinian civilians, particularly women and children.
Palestinians have endured statelessness, occupation, dispossession and a lack of basic rights, while Israel has steadily taken more and more of their land and denied their freedom.
Learn more about this unfolding history, and how it impacts events today:
Alternative information sources
Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU) Up-to-date news and analysis as well as detailed historical backgrounders and Fact Sheet index
972 Magazine Independent news and commentary from Israel and Palestine
Ha'aretz Israeli news
Ma'an News Agency Independent Palestinian news wire service
Electronic Intifada Independent online news publication and educational resource focusing on Palestine
Mondoweiss Middle East news and analysis primarily from progressie Jewish perspective
Human Rights Groups and Data
B'Tselem The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)
Gisha Legal Center for Freedom of Movement
Primers
Animated 6-minute Israel-Palestine 101 video Jewish Voice for Peace
Primer Middle East Research and Information Project