Gaza-Israel conflict: Why are civilians on the front lines?

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Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip are involved in some of the most intense violence for months. Militants are firing volleys of rockets into Israel and Gaza is being hit by waves of air strikes. Here is a look at what is going on.

①　Why is there always fighting between Israel and Gaza?The Gaza Strip, sandwiched between Israel and Egypt, has been a recurring flashpoint in the Israel-Palestinian conflict for years.

Israel occupied Gaza in the 1967 Middle East war and only pulled its troops and settlers out in 2005. Israel considered this the end of the occupation, but it still exercises control over most of Gaza's borders, waters and airspace. Egypt controls Gaza's southern border.

Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.The trouble with Gaza - in 80 seconds

Israel has imposed tight restrictions on the movement of goods and people in and out of the Gaza Strip, measures it says are vital for its own security.

However, Palestinians in Gaza feel confined and are suffering socio-economic hardship. The dominant Islamist Palestinian movement Hamas and other militant

groups say the restrictions are intolerable.

Hamas's charter is committed to Israel's destruction but in recent years it has said it will consider a long-term truce with Israel. It cites Israel's continued occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem as reasons for its attacks on the Jewish state before and after 2005.

It says it is also acting in self-defence against Israeli air strikes, incursions and other military assaults.

Who are Hamas? History of Mid-East peace talks

②　What caused the latest escalation?Rocket fire and air strikes increased after the abduction and killing of three Israeli teenagers in June, which Israel blamed on Hamas and which led to a crackdown on the group in the West Bank. Hamas denied being behind the killings. Tensions rose further after the suspected revenge killing of a Palestinian teenager in Jerusalem on 2 July, after which six suspects were arrested.

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On 7 July, Hamas claimed responsibility for firing rockets for the first time in 20 months, after a series of Israeli air strikes in which several members of its armed wing were killed.

The next day, Israel launched Operation Protective Edge, which it said was aimed at stopping rocket attacks and destroying Hamas' capabilities.

Since then, there have been hundreds of air strikes and hundreds of rockets have been fired.

Analysts point to the fact that Hamas has become increasingly isolated in Gaza after losing the support of its former staunch ally Syria and to a lesser extent Iran, and seeing the Egyptian authorities crack down on smuggling tunnels following the overthrow of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. Attacking Israel, they say, may be a way for Hamas to try to boost its popularity and obtain concessions in any eventual ceasefire.

①A vicious cycle of violence ②Gaza-Israel conflict: 'It's not worth living'

③　There have been two ceasefires, so why are they still fighting?

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Israel refrained from attacks for six hours in compliance with Egypt's truce plan, while Hamas continued firing rocketsEfforts to broker a ceasefire have been difficult so far - one was upheld by Israel but did not have Hamas' agreement, while the other was only ever meant to be brief to give respite to civilians in Gaza.

The first ceasefire came eight days into Israel's offensive - Israel accepted an Egyptian truce plan, but Hamas did not give a definitive response. Its armed wing rejected the Egyptian plan as "a surrender", while the Cairo-based deputy head of its political bureau, Moussa Abu Marzouk, said the movement was considering the proposal. The group's spokesman in Gaza, Sami Abu Zuhri, however said Hamas had not received an official draft and rejected the proposal as "not acceptable".

Fifty rockets were launched at Israel during the six hours the Israeli military halted air strikes before returning fire.

The following day, Israel and Hamas agreed to a UN call for a humanitarian ceasefire. There were no air strikes or rocket attacks for five hours, although Hamas fired some mortar shells, as did Israel two hours later. Minutes after the truce expired, Hamas resumed rocket attacks and Israel renewed air strikes. Meanwhile, Egypt is continuing to try to broker a fresh truce.

Why Israeli ground operation would be riskyJeremy Bowen: No appetite for ceasefireCan Egypt deliver a Gaza-Israel truce?

④　What are the two sides' goals?Israel's main declared aim is to stop rocket fire from Gaza once and for all. It said it was prepared to launch a ground offensive if necessary.

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Hamas did not give any clear objectives early on, but its armed wing has said it will only accept a ceasefire if:

Israel stops "all aggression" in the West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza

Commits to the 2012 ceasefire

Stops trying to undermine the recently formed Palestinian unity government

Frees prisoners released in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2011 but who have recently been re-arrested

Hamas chief in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh has also said a truce should bring and an end to the blockade of Gaza.

What can Israel and Hamas gain from latest conflict?

How come civilians are bearing the brunt?Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.

Are Israeli air strike warnings effective? The BBC examines footage from both sidesGaza is a small territory with a large population and Palestinian officials say many of the casualties were caused by air strikes in residential areas. President Mahmoud Abbas has accused Israel of committing "genocide" while human rights groups have warned Israel that air strikes in densely populated areas or direct attacks on civilian homes could violate international law.

Israel has said the homes it has bombed belonged to senior militants and served as command centres where rocket attacks were co-ordinated. It says militants deliberately fire rockets from civilian areas and store rockets in places like homes, school and hospitals.

Israel-Gaza attacks8 JulyIsraeli offensive began

227 people killed in Gaza 77% were civilians - UN1,300+ rockets fired at Israel1 civilian killed in Israel,5 seriously injured

Sources: Palestinian Health Ministry, OCHA, IDFGetty ImagesIsrael also points out that the hundreds of unguided rockets that have been fired at its territory directly threaten its civilians.

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Long-range rockets have been launched towards Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, as well as further north. Human rights groups have said the firing of indiscriminate rockets endangers civilians and constitutes a war crime.

What weapons are being used in the Israel-Gaza conflict?

⑤　The two sides have fought wars before. How did they end?

Gaza's civilian infrastructure was damaged extensively during Israel's ground offensive in 2009Israel launched a ground offensive in December 2008 dubbed Operation Cast Lead in response to rocket fire. It ended when Israel declared a unilateral ceasefire 22 days later, saying its goals were "more than fully achieved".

An estimated 1,300 Palestinians had been killed, many of them civilians. Thirteen Israelis also died, including four soldiers in a "friendly fire" incident. Gaza's civilian infrastructure was damaged extensively.

Four years later, Israel launched Operation Pillar of Defence, again with the stated goal of stopping rocket fire and crippling Hamas's capability to launch attacks. Eight days into the operation, Egypt brokered a ceasefire agreement that included a promise from both sides to stop attacks. At least 167 Palestinians and six Israelis were killed.

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