What was Gaza 2014 about?
American Decline: Situating the Middle East
When the Middle East's biggest problems were about conflict between
formal governments, the United States had a lot more influence. But
today, the Middle East is defined by a shifting, impossibly complicated
web of ethno-religious tension, weak and failed states, and ascendant
terrorist organizations. The collapse of central governments and rise of
powerful non-state actors breed problems that foreign powers, even the
world's only superpower, simply cannot address.
The United States can't arrest the region's transformation. The best
America can hope to do is manage its consequences
Gaza
Understanding the Gaza Crisis:1. The Gaza Strip used to be part of Egypt, and is separate from
the West Bank2. Gaza is among the most densely populated places in the world3. Israel used to have troops and settlers inside Gaza4. Hamas is part of an international Islamist movement and
doesn't recognize Israel5. Hamas was democratically elected by Palestinians6. Hamas isn't the only militant group in the Gaza strip, they've all
shot rockets into Israel7. Israel blockades Gaza, which creates a humanitarian crisis8. Israel and Hamas have fought multiple wars over Gaza9. Hamas also gets rockets from Iran10. Tunnels into Gaza are important — and controversial11. Egypt controls the only above-ground crossing into Gaza that
isn't Israeli
Shalit on Hamas poster in
Nablus, 7 May 2007;
Reads: "Our champion
captives. May we have a new
Gilad each year, and
down :"They (Palestinian
prisoners) are not alone".
December 2011; As part of the
agreement Israel agreed to
release 1,027 prisoners for one
captured Israeli soldier – the
highest price Israel has ever
paid for a single soldier. Gilad
Shalit was also the first
captured Israeli soldier to be
released alive in 26 years.
Hamas founder
Sheikh Ahmed Ismail Hassan Yassin
(1937 – 2004)
ياسين حسن إسماعيل أحمد الشيخ
Yassin, a quadriplegic who was nearly
blind. He was killed when an Israeli
helicopter gunship fired a missile at
him as he was being wheeled from
early morning prayers.
Abdel Aziz Ali Abdul Hafith al-Rantisi
(23 October 1947 – 17 April 2004),
الرنتيسي الحفيظ عبد علي العزيز عبد
was the co-founder of the Palestinian
movement.
Rantisi was Hamas's political leader
and spokesman in the Gaza Strip
following the Israeli killing of Hamas
spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin
in March 2004. On 17 April 2004, the
Israeli Air Force killed al-Rantisi by
firing missiles at his car.
Khaled Mashal
مشعل خالد
born 28 May 1956.
Leader of the Palestinian organisation
Hamas since the Israeli assassination of Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi in 2004.
Salah Mustafa Muhammad Shehade
شحادة 2002–1953 - صالح .
The Israeli Defense Forces targeted the house in which
Shahade was hiding using a one ton bomb dropped by a F-
16 plane in a neighborhood of Gaza City. Fifteen people
were killed.
Yahya Abd-al-Latif Ayyash
1996– 1966 عياش
nickname the Engineer المهندس (al-Muhandis).
He was assassinated by Shin Bet on 5 January 1996.
Mohammed Deif ضيف محمد
Deif learned how to assemble improvised
explosive devices from Yahya Ayyash. Deif
became the commander of the Izz ad-Din al-
Qassam Brigades after Israel killed Salah
Shehade in July 2002.
Israel suspects him of being a bombmaker,
and holds him personally responsible for the
deaths of dozens of civilians in suicide
bombings since 1996.
He has survived four Israeli strikes, which
caused him serious handicaps.
Source Total killed Civilians killed Combatants killed Unidentified killed Percent civilians Last updated
Gaza Health Ministry 2,143 ≈1,500 No figures give — 70% 26 August
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights 2,168 1,662 506 - 76.6% 27 August
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights 2,142 1,646 496 — 76.9% 25 August
United Nations OCHA 2,104 1,462 265 377 69.5% 27 August
Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center
≈2,000 316 23778 unknown,≈1,369 not checked yet
54% 26 August
Israel Defense Forces
2,143[dubious – discuss][
citation needed] No figures given ≈1,000 No figures given 50%–60%[42] 26 August
Palestinians killed in Gaza, various sources: