1948. Creation of the State of Israel

Israel came into being on May 14, 1948, as a result of the United Nations' partition plan, which divided British Mandate Palestine into two states, one Jewish and the other Arab. The next day, the neighboring Arab countries declared war on Israel, which ended in an Israeli victory on March 10, 1949.

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1949-1967. Gaza occupied by Egypt

Following the 1949 Armistice Agreements, Gaza was placed under Egyptian military occupation. At the time, it was home to 279,000 people, including 197,000 displaced persons managed by the UN. Jews were not allowed to settle there; Arabs were stateless.

1956. Suez Crisis

After Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal, Israel invaded the Gaza Strip and Sinai with French and British support. Under pressure from the USSR and the USA, Israel retreated behind the 1949 armistice line. The UN deployed peacekeepers along the Egyptian border.

1967. Six-Day War

On June 5, Israel attacked Egypt. Jordan and Syria joined the conflict, but to no avail. This lightning war ended on June 10 with a crushing Israeli victory.

1979. Egypt–Israel peace treaty

Israel returns Sinai to Egypt (1982), but retains control of Gaza.

1987. First Intifada and creation of Hamas

Starting in Gaza on December 9, 1987, the first Intifada set the Palestinian territories ablaze. The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, was created. Its charter (1988) advocates for the destruction of Israel.

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1993 - 1995. Oslo Accords

In 1993, the Oslo I Accord ratified the mutual recognition of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel. In 1994, after twenty-seven years in exile, PLO leader Yasser Arafat returned to Gaza. The new Palestinian National Authority established its headquarters in Gaza City. In 1995, the Oslo II agreement provided for the management of the Palestinian territories according to three administrative statuses. Nevertheless, Israeli colonization continued to expand. In 2000, the Palestinian Authority administered only 40% of the West Bank and two-thirds of Gaza.

2000. Second Intifada

On September 28, Israeli right-wing leader Ariel Sharon's visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound triggered a new Palestinian uprising. Israel bombed Gaza and destroyed the international airport. A wave of suicide bombings hit Israel. Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, founder and spiritual leader of Hamas, is killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza on March 22, 2004.

2005. Unilateral Israeli disengagement from Gaza

The twenty-one Israeli settlements in Gaza were dismantled. Israel nevertheless retained control of its land, air and sea borders.

2006. Hamas wins Palestinian elections

After postponing a clear success in the 2005 municipal elections, Hamas won the January 25 legislative elections. Ismail Haniyeh headed the list and became Prime Minister of the Palestinian National 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 squad, and to weaken Hamas's arsenal. He was released in 2011, in exchange for the release of 1,027 Palestinians detained in Israel, including Yahya Sinwar, the current head of Hamas in Gaza since 2017.

2007. Palestinian Civil War

Fatah refused to participate in a national unity government with Hamas. This marked the start of an internecine war that culminated, on June 14, with Hamas taking complete control of Gaza. Fatah was driven out of the enclave, and the president, Mahmoud Abbas, lost all power there.

2007. Israeli-Egyptian blockade

With Hamas in power, the Gaza Strip was declared a "hostile entity" by Israel, which set up a blockade. Land crossings into Israel were closed or severely restricted. Access to the sea was restricted. Egypt also closed its border with Gaza, and erected a wall. These hardships left the population destitute, but did not weaken Hamas.

Late 2008. Operation Cast Lead

Israel launched an air and ground offensive to destroy Hamas facilities 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.

2012. Operation Pillar of Defense

On November 14, the Israeli army launched an offensive in Gaza. It began with the elimination of Ahmed Jabari, a leader of the military wing of Hamas, and ended a week later with massive air strikes.

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