Hostilities between Islamist militants and Israel entered a sixth day on Monday as diplomatic efforts were set to intensify to try to stop rocket fire from the Gaza Strip and Israeli air strikes on Gaza.
Israeli aircraft bombed Hamas government buildings in Gaza on Saturday, including the prime minister\’s office, after Israel\’s cabinet authorized the mobilization of up to 75,000 reservists in preparation for a possible ground invasion.
Israeli ministers were on Friday asked to endorse the call-up of up to 75,000 reservists after Palestinian militants nearly hit Jerusalem with a rocket for the first time in decades and fired at Tel Aviv for a second day.
Palestinian militants reportedly fired 21 rockets from Gaza into Israel during a unilateral ceasefire called by Israel to facilitate a visit to Gaza by Egypt’s prime minister.
Israel and Hamas have been in regular conflict since the rise to prominence of the Palestinian Islamist group, created in 1987 at the start of the first Intifada uprising against Israeli occupation. Here is a timeline of some of the key moments.
Egyptian intelligence officials have been leading efforts to mediate between Israel and Hamas in the last few days, in order to calm the escalation on the Israel-Gaza border.
Israel and terrorist groups in Gaza reportedly agreed to a ceasefire.
The news that the two Israeli soldiers abducted by Hezbollah in July 2006 were returned to Israel deceased prompted an outpouring of sympathy by U.S. Jews and a pledge to continue fighting for Gilad Shalit\’s release
Israeli officials said Egypt has agreed to hold off on opening its border with Gaza — a key Hamas demand — until there is progress in talks on Shalit\’s return. The IDF is expected to be ready for a last-resort invasion of Gaza, if the cease-fire fails.
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