The 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict, part of the ongoing Israeli–Palestinian conflict, began on 27 December 2008 (11:30 a.m. local time; 9:30 a.m. UTC)[37] when Israel launched a military campaign codenamed Operation Cast Lead (Hebrew: מבצע עופרת יצוקה), targeting the members and infrastructure of Hamas.[38][39][40] The conflict has been described as the Gaza Massacre (Arabic: مجزرة غزة) in parts of the Arab World.[41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50]
A six-month truce between Hamas and Israel expired on 19 December 2008.[51][52][53] Contending that Israel had not lifted the Gaza Strip blockade and following an Israeli raid into the Gaza Strip on November 4,[54] Hamas resumed its rocket and mortar attacks on Israel. After initially announcing, on December 19, that the truce was "over",[55] Hamas offered to extend the truce on December 23.[56][57][58][59] On 27 December 2008, Israel launched its military operation with the stated objective of defending itself from Hamas rocket fire.[60] Hamas demands the cessation of Israeli attacks and an end to the Israeli blockade.[61]
On the first day of the Israeli operation, the Israeli Air Force bombed roughly 100 targets in four minutes, including Hamas bases, training camps, headquarters and offices[62][63] in all of Gaza's main towns, including Gaza City, Beit Hanoun, Khan Younis, and Rafah.[64][65][66][67][68][69] Civilian infrastructure, including mosques, houses and schools, have also been attacked; Israel claims that they were fired upon from many of these buildings or they hid weapons and personnel and that it is not targeting civilians.[70][71][72][73][74][75][76] The Israeli Navy has shelled targets and strengthened its naval blockade of Gaza, resulting in one naval incident with a civilian boat.[77][78][79] Hamas has intensified its rocket and mortar attacks against Israel throughout the conflict, hitting such cities as Beersheba and Ashdod.[80][81][82][83][84]
On January 3, 2009, the Israeli Defence Forces ground invasion began, with mechanised infantry, armor, and artillery units, supported by helicopter gunships, entering Gaza.[85][86] Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak stated that this will be a "war to the bitter end,"[87] while Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwant declared Hamas would "fight until the last breath."[88]
International reactions to the conflict have included calls for an immediate ceasefire, and concern about the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the hindrances in delivering aid.[89][90][91][92]
On January 8, the UN Security Council approved Resolution 1860 calling for an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli troops, with 14 of 15 member states supporting the resolution and one abstaining (the United States).[93]
Israel announced a unilateral ceasefire with Hamas on January 18 which came in effect at 0000 UTC (2 a.m. local time). Palestinian militants fired about 20 rockets over the border after the Israeli ceasefire announcement. Israel retaliated with an airstrike. Israel has also killed a Palestinian farmer checking his farm because he was approaching the land which was occupied by Israeli troops.[94] Hamas offered its own one-week unilateral ceasefire.[95][96]
As of 18 January 2009, 13 Israelis have been killed during this conflict, including three civilians. On the Palestinian side, it's estimated that 1310 individuals have been killed, including 700 civilians, among them 410 children and 85 women (according to Hamas Health Ministry figures).[97][98]
The Gaza strip is one of the most densely populated places on earth. According to the CIA Factbook as of June 2007, it holds a population of 1,482,405 on an area of only 360 square kilometers (139 sq mi). Almost half of the population are children aged 14 or younger (44.7% as of June 2007).
Following its victory in the 2006 municipal legislative elections and the unsuccessful coup of Fatah and succeeding military conflict with Hamas in which Hamas assumed administrative control, Israel and Egypt sealed their border crossings with Gaza and imposed a blockade on the territory, prohibiting all exports and allowing only enough goods to avert a humanitarian or health crisis.[99] The tunneling system that developed, according to Egyptian sources, was mainly employed to import food, arms being mostly imported from the sea[100]. Hamas and other Palestinian paramilitias increased the number of Qassam rockets and mortars fired from the Gaza strip into Southern Israel. Israel conducted airstrikes on Gaza during 2007 and 2008, against Hamas and other targets.[101]
Hamas considers Israel an illegitimate state and Israel views Hamas as a terrorist group that must be dismantled.[102]
2008 lull
On June 19, 2008, an Egyptian-brokered pause in hostilities between Israel and Hamas, consisting of a six-month 'lull', translating the Arabic term Tahdia, went into effect 'for the Gaza area'.[52][103] According to The New York Times, neither side fully respected the terms of the cease-fire.[102].
The June 19 agreement required Hamas to end rocket attacks upon Israel in exchange for an end of the blockade and for commerce in Gaza to be restored to the level preceding Israel's withdrawal in 2005 and Hamas's electoral victory.[102] Israeli policy tied the easing of the blockade to success in reducing rocket fire[104]. Israel re-opened supply lines gradually, permitting a 20% increase in goods trucked into Gaza in the pre-lull period.
Israel accused Hamas of continuing the smuggling of weapons into the Gaza strip via tunnels to Egypt, pointing out that the rocket attacks had not completely ceased, and complained that Hamas would not continue negotiating the release of Israeli hostage Gilad Shalit, held by Hamas in Gaza since 2006.[64] Hamas criticized Israel for maintaining the Blockade of the Gaza Strip.[105] On the 18th of December, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Palestinian Hamas, reported 185 Israeli violations in the lull period.[106]
Rocket fire decreased 98% in the four and a half months between June 18 and November 4 in comparison with the four and half months preceding the ceasefire.[107] The Israeli Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center notes that "Hamas was careful to maintain the ceasefire" until November 4, when the ceasefire was "seriously eroded." [108]. Hamas denied responsibility for the rockets that were fired and, 'even imprisoned some of those who were firing rockets'.[109] Nevertheless, Human Rights Watch complained to Hamas that some rocket firing militants were summarily released without an explanation.[110]
Conflict escalates
On November 4, 2008, Israeli military raided a Hamas-dug tunnel between Gaza and Israel on the Gazan side of the border. The IDF claimed it was intended for the capture of Israeli soldiers, while Hamas, and according to Robert Pastor one IDF source, maintained it was for defensive purposes.[111] As six members of Hamas were killed,[112][102] it considered this attack a "massive breach of the truce,"[54] and rocket attacks towards Israeli cities around Gaza increased sharply in November 2008, approaching the pre-truce levels.[113] According to a November 17 article in The Telegraph, "since violence flared on Nov 5, Israeli forces and militants, some of them from Hamas, have engaged in almost daily tit-for-tat exchanges."[114]
On December 13, 2008, Israel announced that it was in favor of extending the cease-fire, provided Hamas adhered to its conditions.[115] The conditions posed by a Hamas delegation in Cairo on December 14, were that the parties return to the original Hamas-Israel ceasefire arrangement. Hamas would undertake to stop all rocket attacks against Israel if the Israelis would agree to open up the border crossings, not to reduce commercial traffic thereafter, and not to launch attacks in Gaza. At an Israeli Cabinet meeting on December 21, Yuval Diskin, the head of Israel's internal security agency, confirmed the seriousness of Hamas’s interest in maintaining the truce.[citation needed]
On December 20 Hamas officially announced that they would not be extending the cease-fire, which had expired on December 19, citing Israeli border closures as the primary reason, and resumed its shelling of the western Negev.[116] Hamas blamed Israel for the end of the ceasefire, saying it had not respected its terms, including the lifting of the blockade, under which little more than humanitarian aid has been allowed into Gaza. Israel said it initially began easing the blockade, but resumed it when Hamas failed to fulfill the agreed conditions, including ending all rocket fire and halting weapons smuggling.[65]
On December 23, in an Egyptian newspaper interview Mahmoud al-Zahar, a senior Hamas leader, said that his group was willing to renew the hudna if Israel refrained from operating in Gaza, and lifted its blockade of the Gaza strip. He added that Hamas was undeterred by the possibility of an Israeli operation in Gaza: "We've been hearing talk of a possible Israeli invasion for the past three years. Israel is like a teenager that starts to smoke, and then stops when he chokes. If they want to enter – they're welcome to do so."[117] The same day the IDF killed three Palestinian militants, stating that the militants were planting explosives on the Gaza border.[118] Israel was also reluctant to open the border crossings, which had been closed since November.[119] On December 24 the Negev was hit by more than 60 mortar shells and Katyusha and Qassam rockets, and the IDF was given a green light to operate.[120] Hamas claimed to have fired a total of 87 rockets and mortar rounds that day at Israel, code-naming the firing "Operation Oil Stain".[121]
On December 25, 2008, Israeli Prime Minister, after Israel had "wrapped up preparations for a broad offensive", Ehud Olmert delivered a 'Last Minute' Warning in an interview with the Arabic language satellite channel al-Arabiya. "I am telling them now, it may be the last minute, I'm telling them stop it. We are stronger," he said.[122]
On December 26, 2008, Israel reopened five crossings between Israel and Gaza for humanitarian supplies. At the same time, militants[who?] fired about a dozen rockets and mortar shells from Gaza at Israel on Friday.[123] Fuel was allowed in for Gaza's main power plant and about 100 trucks loaded with grain, humanitarian aid and other goods were expected during the day.[124] Rocket attacks continued — about a dozen rockets and mortar bombs were fired from Gaza into Israel, one accidentally striking a northern Gaza house and killing two Palestinian sisters, aged five and thirteen, while wounding a third.[125] According to Israeli defense officials, the subsequent Israeli offensive took Hamas by surprise, thereby increasing their casualties.[126]
Campaign
Israeli offensive
Air strikes
Israel launched its military operation, Operation Cast Lead, at 11:30 a.m., December 27, when more than 50 fighter jets and attack helicopters entered Gazan airspace, killing 225-292 Palestinians and wounding more than 1,000.[127][128][129][130] The IAF dropped more than 100 bombs on 50 targets,[131] which included Hamas paramilitary bases, training camps, and underground Kassam launchers. It also hit Hamas headquarters, government offices and police stations.
About 140 members of Hamas security forces were killed, including police chief Tawfiq Jabber, the head of Hamas’ security and protection unit[132] and the police commander for central Gaza,[133] along with at least 15 civilians. Children were reported among the casualties.[132][134] Attacks on police in Gaza were justified by Israel on the grounds that they are "combatants"; however, human rights groups say that police, even if affiliated with Hamas, are not combatants and do not represent legitimate targets unless they are actively engaged in hostilities.[135]
Some Palestinians call this day Massacre of the Black Saturday[136] because of the magnitude of casualties inflicted. The Israeli attack is considered to be the bloodiest one-day death toll in 60 years of conflict with the Palestinians.[137]
Following the first day of air raids, the Israeli Air Force continued to inflict massive damage in the coming week to the Palestinian infrastructure. Among their targets were ministerial buildings, Hamas training camps, offices of the Popular Resistance Committees, of homes of Hamas commanders ( roof knocking ). The IDF sources noted: "Destruction of hundreds of Hamas leaders' homes as one of the keys to the offensive's success. The homes serve as weapons warehouses and headquarters, and shelling them has seriously hindered Hamas capabilities."[138] A number of high-ranking Hamas commanders were killed in the attacks, including: Nizar Rayan, Abu Zakaria al-Jamal, Jamal Mamduch and others. Many of the killed Hamas leaders had died along with their families in their own homes. By January 3, 2009, the death toll among Palestinians was at 400, 25% of them civilians.[139]
Airstrikes continued throughout the ground invasion that followed. The Independent reported that as of January 15, Israeli forces had carried out 2,360 airstrikes in the Gaza Strip.[140]
Ground invasion
IDF infantry and armor units amassed near the Gaza border on December 28, engaging in an active blockade of the strip.[141] On December 29, Hamas fired massive rocket barrages into Israeli territory, killing an Israeli soldier and three civilians. On the evening of January 3, Israel launched its ground operation with troops entering Gaza for the first time since the operation began.[142][143] The intention of the ground invasion, termed the 'second stage' of Operation Cast Lead, according to the Israeli Defense Forces website, is to secure areas within the Gaza strip from which rockets have been launched even after the previous Israeli operations.
Israeli ground troops entered Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza in the early hours.[144] Israeli forces reportedly bisected Gaza and surrounded Gaza City, but restricted their movements to areas that were not heavily urbanised.[145] One Israeli soldier was killed in the offensive and another seriously wounded. The Israeli military said forty sites had been targeted, including targets for weapons depots and rocket launch sites.
On January 3, the IDF attacked the Ibrahim al-Maqadna mosque in Beit Lahiya after the evening prayer. Witnesses said over 200 Palestinians were inside at the time.[146][147] Thirteen people, including six "believed to be under the age of 18,", were killed, and thirty wounded.[147][148] Israel has accused Hamas of using this mosque,[149] and others, to hide weapons and ammunition.[147][150] Another three Hamas commanders were killed on January 4: Hussam Hamdan, Muhammad Hilou and Mohammed Shalpokh.
As Israeli tanks and troops seized control of large parts of the Gaza Strip, tens of thousands of Gazans fled their homes amidst artillery and gunfire, and flooded into the heart of Gaza city.[151] Gun battles broke out between Israel and Hamas on the streets of Gaza as Israel surrounded the city.[152][153] On January 6, at least 125 Palestinians were killed. 1 Israeli soldier was killed in an exchange of fire with Hamas militants, with an additional 4 Israeli soldiers killed and 24 wounded when an Israeli tank mistakenly fired on their position. The crew had believed that the position was occupied by enemy fighters. [154] 42 of the Palestinians were civilians killed when an Israeli mortar struck a UN school which housed refuges.
Despite the ground operation by the IDF rocket attacks by Hamas continued against southern Israel.
Attack on Gaza City
On the morning of January 11, the IDF started the third stage of the operation with an attack on the suburbs of Gaza City. Israeli forces pushed into the south of the city and reached a key junction to its north. During their advance Hamas and Islamic Jihad ambushed Israeli troops at several locations and heavy fighting ensued.[155] Additionally, the IAF reported that Hamas operatives had tried to shoot down an IAF fixed wing aircraft with anti-aircraft missiles for the first time since operations in Gaza began. Heavy machine gun fire against helicopters had also been unsuccessful.[156]
On January 12, the IDF reported that it started deploying reserve forces in Gaza. [157]
On January 13, Israeli tanks continued their advance toward the headquarters of Hamas' preventative security building from the al-Karramah neighborhood in the northwest and the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood in the northeast.[158] Before dawn, during the night, troops advanced 300 yards into Tel al-Hawa, a neighborhood which has several high-rise buildings. As troops entered the narrow streets heavy street fighting with militants ensued leaving 3 Israeli soldiers wounded and 30 Hamas militants dead or wounded, according to the IDF. By morning IDF soldiers were still advancing slowly towards the city center and several buildings were in flames in Tel al-Hawa, where most of the fighting took place.[159]
On January 15, Israeli artillery started a bombardment of the city while fighting was still going on in the streets. Three high-rise buildings were shelled. The Israeli military reported to have killed dozens of militants, since breaching the city limits four days earlier, while they suffered 20-25 soldiers wounded. Among buildings shelled were the al-Quds hospital, Gaza's second-largest, in the Tal El Hawa district; the Al-Shuruq Tower's 13th floor, housing journalists: and the headquarters of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Because of this, the United Nations stoped humanitarian aid in and outside the Gaza Strip.[160]
Humanitarian ceasefires
After Israel faced mounting international pressure for a ceasefire in the wake of the UNRWA school attack,[161][162] it announced the three-hour "humanitarian truce" on January 7, and opened a humanitarian corridor to allow aid supplies to reach Gazans. The Israeli army promised to refrain from attacks between 1 and 4 pm (UTC+2).[163] Hamas responded that they would respect (this initial) ceasefire,[164] 80 aid trucks entered the strip, and Israel delivered industrial fuel for Gaza's power plant. Israel has repeated this ceasefire either daily or every other day. Fighting at large resumed immediately following the end of the truce.[163][165][166] Aid officials and the UN welcomed the truce, praising it, but said it was not enough.[161]
Despite the cessation of hostilities, a UN aid convoy was fired upon, and two aid workers were killed. The UN initially placed blame on Israeli tank fire,[167] though on January 10, an Israeli investigation stated that the IDF was blameless, and the UN's sources admitted "that they were not sure in which direction the truck was headed when it was hit, and could also not say with certainty that tank shells were responsible."[168] The UN said the delivery had been coordinated with Israel, and Chris Gunness, a UN spokesman, said that aid shipments were being suspended until the safety of UN staff could be guaranteed.[169][170] As of January 8, four UNRWA aid workers had been killed over the course of the offensive.[167] On January 9, the UN said its aid workers will resume movement in the Gaza strip, having received assurances from Israel that they are not being targeted.[171] A report in the Israeli media alleged that Hamas fired mortar shells on January 10, as supplies were crossing the Kerem Shalom border crossing.[172]
Palestinian military activity
Rocket attacks into Israel
Hamas increased its rocket attacks on southern Israeli cities and communities during the conflict. The strike range of these rockets has increased from 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) to 40 kilometres (25 mi) since early 2008. These attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure.[80][81][82][83][173] Hamas also began to deploy improved Qassam and Grad rockets with a range of 40 kilometers.[174]. Rockets reached major Israeli cities Ashkelon, Beersheba and Gedera for the first time, putting one-eighth of Israel's population in rocket range[175] and raising concerns about the safety of the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, Israel's largest population center.[176][177] As of January 13, Hamas had launched approximately 565 rockets and 200 mortars at Israel since the beginning of the conflict, according to Israeli security sources.[178] Qassam strikes included a direct hit on an apartment building in the center of Ashkelon[179], while Grad rockets struck the Makif Alef high school in Beersheba,[180] and a home in Ashkelon on January 12.[181]
Engagement with Israeli forces
Hamas representatives claimed they were fighting with the aid of armored vehicles and weapons confiscated from the Palestinian National Authority, given by Israel, the United States and other countries.[182] A Hamas fighter reported that the group has prepared a tunnel network in Gaza city that would allow Hamas to engage the IDF in urban warfare.[183] Other tactics include suicide bombers, wearing civilian clothes and attempts to capture IDF soldiers.[183] Ron Ben-Yishai, an Israeli military correspondent embedded with invading ground forces, stated that entire blocks of houses were booby-trapped and wired in preparation for urban confrontation with the IDF.[183] Hamas has sent messages to Israeli citizens' mobile phones, warning "rockets on all cities, shelters will not protect you."[184] BBC News quoted Hamas run media sources saying that Hamas captured two IDF soldiers during the ground offensive,[185] though the Israeli army has declared this to be an attempt at spreading demoralising disinformation.[186]
Internecine fighting
Israeli internal security chief, Yuval Diskin has alleged that Hamas had executed 70 Fatah supporters accused of collaborating with Israel,[187] but the Haaretz said that it was "impossible to verify the numbers or identities of dead". The New York Times cites reports of Hamas executing suspected "collaborateurs".[188] An unnamed Fatah official in Ramallah alleged that Hamas had placed members of Fatah under house arrest.[189] According to the Los Angeles Times, Hamas is arresting those it suspects of membership in Fatah, and subjecting them to beatings and leg-shootings.[190] According to the Jerusalem Post, an unnamed Fatah official alleged that in the first week of the conflict, 75 Fatah activists had been shot in the legs by Hamas, while others had their hands broken.[191]
Attacks on Israel from outside Gaza
In addition to the rockets fired from Gaza, Israel also experienced other attacks from outside of Gaza. To date, no parties have claimed responsibility for these attacks.
From Lebanon
On January 8, 2009, three Katyusha type rockets were fired at the northern Israeli city of Nahariyya from Lebanon, injuring two Israeli civilians in a Retirement home. IDF returned fire at the launch sites. No party has claimed responsibility for this attack.[192] Hezbollah promised to undertake an investigation[193][194][195][196][197]. The attack was condemned by the Lebanese government,[198] which arrested seven individuals suspected of involvement.
On January 14, 2009, at least three Katyusha rockets were fired at Israeli towns from within Lebanon, sending civilians in the Golan and Galilee regions into shelters, and prompting IDF artillery response aimed at the rocket launchers.[199] No casualties were reported and no responsibility for the attack was claimed.[200]
From Syria
On January 11, Israeli soldiers performing engineering work in the Golan Heights came under fire from unidentified gunmen from the Syrian-controlled parts of the Golan.[201] There were no casualties in this incident.
From Jordan
On January 13, an Israeli army patrol on the Jordanian border was fired upon by unknown gunmen from the Jordanian side of the border.[202] There were no casualties in this incident.
Incidents
Incidents in the 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict include the following:
- Dignity: On December 29, 2008, the Israeli navy confronted Dignity, a Free Gaza Movement sailboat carrying medical aid, and prevented it from reaching the Gaza Strip.[78] The boat's passengers alleged that their boat was "rammed" and shot at by Israeli vessels, while Israel, though confirming that there was "physical contact" with boat, denied the allegation.[203]
- 2009 Ibrahim al-Maqadna Mosque strike: On January 3, 2009, the IDF attacked the Ibrahim al-Maqadna mosque holding 200 worshipers, killing 12 people, including 6 children.[204] Israel has previously accused Hamas militants of hiding in mosques.[147]
- al-Fakhura school incident: On January 6, 2009, Israel struck a UNRWA run school holding 400 Palestinians, killing 40 civilians. A preliminary IDF investigation concluded that the school was hit by a stray tank mortar while shelling a team that had been launching Qassam rockets from a yard adjacent to the school.[205] The UN had previously stated that no militants were inside the school.[206]
- Zeitoun incident: Gazans, speaking to the UN and other news sources, claimed that on January 5, Israeli troops ordered nearly 100 Palestinians of the Samouni family[207] into a building it was 24 hours later allegedly to shell, killing 30 people and wounding many more.[208] The IDF said no Israeli troops were present at the time of the event.[209]
- UN Headquarters: On January 15, the IDF shelling of the UN headquarters in Gaza, allegedly with white phosphorus, destroyed hundreds of tons food and fuel,[210] drawing condemnation from European countries.[211] UNRWA dismissed the Israeli claim that Hamas fired from the site and Israel called its attack a "grave error".[212]
- On January 16, Dr. Ezzeldeen Abu al-Aish, an Israeli-trained doctor of Gaza, and regular figure on Israel’s Channel 10 where he reported on the medical crisis, broke down when contacted for his nightly report by informing viewers that he had just lost three daughters and a niece to a IDF tank shell that hit his home, prompting numerous calls of concern to the station from people who know him. Two surviving daughters were transported for treatment of their wounds to Tel Ha-Shomer Hospital in Tel Aviv.[213][214]
- Israeli tank fire hit a school run by UNRWA, sheltering 1,600 people, in the northern town of Beit Lahiya on January 17. Two children were killed, and 14 people were wounded. It was the fourth time an UNRWA school had been hit by Israeli fire in 22 days of fighting. [215][216]
Ceasefire
On 17 January, Israeli officials announced a unilateral ceasefire, without an agreement with Hamas. In a press conference, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert declared a unilateral ceasefire effective that night at 2400 GMT.[217] The unilateral ceasefire was first suggested by Livni and consists of two phases worked out by Ehud Barak: "First a cease-fire is declared. If Hamas stops firing rockets then Israel pulls its forces out of the Gaza Strip. If rocket fire resumes then the IDF goes back in, this time with the international backing gained by having tried a truce."[218][219] Olmert declared the military objectives met,[218] and explained, "Hamas in Gaza was built by Iran as a foundation for power, and is backed through funding, through training and through the provision of advanced weapons. Iran, which strives for regional hegemony, tried to replicate the methods used by Hizbullah in Lebanon in the Gaza Strip as well. Iran and Hamas mistook the restraint Israel exercised as weakness. They were mistaken. They were surprised." [220]
Hamas initially "vowed to fight on",[221] and responded that any continued Israeli presence in Gaza would be regarded as an act of war. Farzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman, said before the ceasefire began, "The occupier must halt his fire immediately and withdraw from our land and lift his blockade and open all crossings and we will not accept any one Zionist soldier on our land, regardless of the price that it costs."[222] Palestinian militants resumed rocket fire at Israeli communities the following Sunday morning, four of the supposed six fired landed in or near the town of Sderot.[223][224] The Israeli military returned fire and carried out an air strike against the rocket launching squad in the northern Gaza Strip.[225][226] Some sources place the degradation of Hamas' strength in its military core around 10-15%[227]
On Sunday afternoon, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other paramilitias stated they will stop launching rockets into Israel for one week, demanding the withdrawal of Israeli military within this period.[228][229][230]
Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008%E2%80%932009_Israel%E2%80%93Gaza_conflict
