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The Situation In The Gaza Strip Explained
How Hamas took control and how we ended up here
The world was recently rocked by stories coming out of Israel and Gaza. A surprise attack against Israel evoked a powerful response in the Gaza Strip. Hundreds are dead, and thousands more are wounded. The situation is extremely volatile and there are civilians on the front lines on both sides of the conflict. These events came as a surprise to many, but they did not occur in a vacuum. The situation in the Gaza Strip is yet another chapter in a long running conflict that has been going on for decades.
In order to understand what is happening in Gaza today, you have to understand what has happened in Gaza previously. When did Israel begin occupying the Gaza Strip? When did Hamas come into the picture? Why is violence still on going? This overview will answer those questions with the goal of helping people understand the background to the events unfolding right now.
Israeli Occupation (1967–2005)
In June 1967, Israel began a long occupation of the Gaza Strip. The enclave was seized after a brief war between Israel and her neighbors. After the war was won, Israel took control of the Golan Heights from Syria and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem from Jordan. Israel also took control of the Gaza…
