1948. Creation of the State of Israel
Resulting from the United Nations partition plan dividing Palestine under British mandate into two states, Jewish and Arab, Israel was born on May 14, 1948. The next day, neighboring Arab countries declared war on it, which ended in victory. Israeli on March 10, 1949.
1956. Suez War
After Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal, Israel invaded the Gaza Strip and Sinai with support Franco-British. Under pressure from the USSR and the United States, Israel retreats behind the 1949 armistice line. The UN deploys peacekeepers along the Egyptian border.
1967. Six-Day War
On June 5, Israel attacks Egypt. Jordan and Syria enter the conflict, in vain. This blitzkrieg ended on June 10 with Israel’s crushing victory.
1979. Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty
Israel returned Sinai to Egypt (1982), but retained control of Gaza.
1987. First Intifada and creation of Hamas
Part of Gaza, December 9, 1987, the first Intifada sets the Palestinian territories ablaze. The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), an outgrowth of the Muslim Brotherhood, is created. Its charter (1988) advocates the destruction of Israel.
1993 – 1995. Oslo Accords
In 1993, the Oslo I peace agreement ratified the mutual recognition of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel. In 1994, after twenty-seven years of exile, Yasser Arafat, leader of the PLO, returned to Gaza. Gaza City becomes the seat of the new Palestinian national authority. In 1995, the Oslo II agreement provided for management of the Palestinian territories according to three administrative statutes. Nevertheless, Israeli colonization is expanding. In 2000, the Palestinian Authority administered only 40% of the West Bank and two-thirds of Gaza.
2000. Second Intifada
On September 28, the visit to the Mosque Esplanade by Ariel Sharon, leader of the Israeli right, sparked a new Palestinian uprising. Israel bombs Gaza and destroys the international airport. A wave of suicide attacks hits Israel. Sheikh Ahmed Yassine, founder and spiritual leader of Hamas, was killed on March 22, 2004, in an Israeli strike in Gaza.
2005. Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from Gaza
Dismantling of the twenty-one colonies established in Gaza. Israel, however, retains control of land, air and sea borders.
2006. Hamas electoral victory
After having reported a clear success in the municipal elections in 2005, Hamas won the legislative elections on January 25. At the top of the list, Ismaïl Haniyeh becomes prime minister of the Palestinian Authority.
2006. Operation “Summer Rains”
Between June 28 and November 26, Israel launched a military operation in Gaza to free Corporal Gilad Shalit, kidnapped by a Palestinian commando, and to weaken Hamas’s arsenal. He will be released in 2011, in exchange for the release of 1,027 Palestinians detained in Israel, including Yahya Sinouar, leader of Hamas in Gaza since 2017.
2007. Palestinian Civil War
Fatah refuses to participate in a national unity government with Hamas. It was the start of a fratricidal war which resulted, on June 14, in total control of Gaza by Hamas. Fatah is driven out of the enclave and the president, Mahmoud Abbas, no longer exercises any power there.
2007. Israeli-Egyptian blockade
Hamas in power, the Gaza Strip declared “hostile entity” by Israel, which sets up a blockade. Land crossing points into Israel are closed or subject to severe restrictions. Access to the sea is reduced. Egypt also closes its border with Gaza and erects a wall. These deprivations leave the population bloodless, but do not weaken Hamas.
End of 2008. Operation “Cast lead”
Israel launches an air and land offensive to destroy Hamas installations and tunnels under the border with Egypt.
2011: Iron Dome
Deployment of the Israeli air defense system to intercept rockets launched from southern Lebanon and Gaza.
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