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Israel had once withdrew its military presence from Gaza, though it maintained strict control over its airspace, maritime access and border crossings
Israel had always claimed Gaza as part of its territory. (AFP)
Israel is once again moving ground forces into Gaza. The military said that its troops have taken control of the outskirts of Gaza City and are consolidating positions in neighbourhoods like Zaitoon and Jabalia. The stated aim is to dismantle Hamas’ military infrastructure, not to reoccupy the territory permanently. Still, the advance has revived old debates, because Israel had once left Gaza behind, almost two decades ago.
The operation comes at a time when Israel finds itself fighting on two fronts: in Gaza against Hamas and in a shadow conflict with Iran, where missile and drone exchanges have raised fears of escalation. For now, that front is quiet, but Israeli officials say the Gaza campaign is entering a decisive phase.
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Gaza has been ruled by empire after empire. Until 1917 it belonged to the Ottoman Empire, which had dominated vast swathes of the Middle East for centuries. After World War I, the British took control, holding the city until the creation of Israel in 1948. When the State of Israel was declared, Gaza fell into Egyptian hands.
Israel had always claimed Gaza as part of its territory. In 1967, during the Six-Day War, Israeli forces defeated Egypt and captured the Strip. For nearly four decades, Israel maintained settlements and military bases there.
The Intifadas And The Cost Of Occupation
Palestinian resentment grew, exploding in 1987 with the First Intifada, a grassroots uprising against Israeli rule. Violent clashes, strikes and protests continued until the early 1990s. Despite unrest, Israel retained control of the 41-kilometre-long, densely populated territory.
By 2005, the burden of maintaining settlements in Gaza had become unsustainable. Nearly two million Palestinians lived in the Strip, compared with only about 9,000 Jewish settlers. Protecting those enclaves required enormous military resources and exposed soldiers and civilians alike to repeated attacks during the Second Intifada.
Then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced a “unilateral disengagement plan”. Israel evacuated all settlements and withdrew its military presence from Gaza, though it maintained strict control over its airspace, maritime access and border crossings.
Why Israel Pulled Out
Three reasons were cited at the time. First was security – it had become costly and dangerous to defend isolated settlements amid ongoing Palestinian attacks. Second was the peace process where Sharon argued withdrawal might reduce tensions and open space for negotiations. Third was demographics when the presence of a small Israeli community inside a territory of millions of Palestinians had become a political liability at home.
Many Israelis supported the move, hoping it would ease conflict. But events unfolded differently.
The Rise Of Hamas
In 2007, Hamas seized power in Gaza after defeating rival Palestinian factions. Israel responded with a sweeping blockade, restricting movement of goods and people. While Israel argued the blockade was necessary to prevent weapons smuggling, Palestinians described it as collective punishment. The blockade devastated Gaza’s economy and fuelled humanitarian crises.
From then on, clashes between Hamas and Israel grew frequent, erupting into wars in 2008, 2014, and most recently, the ongoing conflict.
Now, Israeli tanks and infantry are once again at Gaza’s gates. A military spokesperson says the operation’s objective is “to destroy Hamas’ ability to govern and wage war”. Tens of thousands of reserve soldiers have been called up.
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