Highlights of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in 6 months

JERUSALEM, April 7 (Xinhua) -- On Oct. 7, 2023, Israel launched a major offensive in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the Hamas attack in southern Israel. Since then, the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict has brought Gaza to the brink of famine while causing extensive damage to infrastructure, with more than half of all buildings affected.

The number of Palestinian casualties in the Gaza Strip has risen to 33,137, Gaza health authorities said in a press statement on Saturday.

Here are some of the key events of the conflict:

7. October 2023: Hamas gunmen launch a surprise attack on southern Israel. Heavy Israeli airstrikes hit densely populated areas in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declares martial law, pledges to release hostages and "liquidate" Hamas.
8. October 2023: Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declares a "total siege" on Gaza, cutting off food, water, medicine, electricity and gas supplies to its 2.4 million residents.
9. October 2023: Israel launches a ground offensive in northern Gaza.
10. November 2023: Egypt reopens the Rafah crossing, which connects Gaza to Arab land, allowing limited access to approximately 7,000 foreign passport holders and those in need of urgent medical care. However, most Gazans are unable to leave due to the Israeli blockade and Egyptian reluctance to issue exit permits through the Rafah crossing.
11. November 2023: Israeli forces raid al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical facility in Gaza, and accuse them of collaborating with Hamas. Medical staff report civilian casualties, including premature babies, due to lack of basic resources. Subsequently, Israeli forces target other hospitals in northern Gaza, crippling medical operations.
12. November 2023: A Qatar-brokered ceasefire agreement enters into force, leading to the release of approximately 100 hostages, including women, children and foreigners, in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinian prisoners.
13. December 2023: The ceasefire is lifted and fighting resumes.
14. December 2023: Israel announces the extension of its ground assault on southern Gaza, previously considered a "safe zone", further escalating the humanitarian crisis.
15. December 2023: Israel launches a ground offensive in central Gaza, killing dozens of people.
16. January 2024: The International Court of Justice in The Hague hears South Africa's case against Israel, acknowledges a possible violation of the Genocide Convention and orders preventive measures without ordering a ceasefire.
17. March 2024: Israel launches a new attack on al-Shifa Hospital, causing hundreds of casualties and extensive damage. Israel claims that all casualties are militants, but medical personnel report civilian deaths.
18. March 2024: The UN Security Council approves a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire for the first time, after the United States, which had previously vetoed such resolutions, abstains. The decision sparked tensions between the two close allies.

"This resolution must be implemented," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, "failure to do so would be unforgivable."

1. April 2024: An Israeli air strike in the Gaza Strip kills seven workers for the international food charity World Central Kitchen, sparking global condemnation and calls for the lifting of restrictions on humanitarian aid. Israel claims the airstrikes were the result of "misidentification".

Xinhua/gnews.com-RoZ