Israel Ground Invasion

Israel invaded the Gaza Strip with ground forces on January 3, 2009, after days of air strikes in an attempt to stop rockets fired by Hamas. The fighting within the Gaza Strip continued for weeks.

On January 19, 2009, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced that the Israelis planned to withdraw completely from Gaza by the time of American president-elect Barack Obama's inauguration. An unnamed senior official said that the Israelis wish to allow Obama to concentrate on rebuilding Gaza and establishing a more permanent peace.International Herald Tribune: Israel hopes to complete Gaza troop withdrawal by Tuesday (January 19, 2009) According to the Israeli military, all Israeli troops had been withdrawn before dawn on the morning of January 21, 2009.FOXNews.com: Israel Withdraws All Troops From Gaza Strip (January 21, 2009)

As fighting continued in Gaza on January 15, 2009, reports said a U.N. aid compound was on fire after being hit by Israeli artillery fire. A warehouse containing supplies like food and fuel continued to burn for several hours after the shelling. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak apologized to U.N. officials, calling the shelling "a grave mistake."CNN: Israel: Shelling of U.N. complex 'a grave mistake' (January 15, 2009)

On January 7, 2009, Israel announced it would halt military operations for three hours each day so that food and fuel could reach people in need in the Gaza Strip. Hamas said it would stop launching missiles during these times. At the same time, options for a cease fire were discussed.Fox News: Clashes Resume After 3-Hour Cease-Fire... (January 7, 2009)

On January 9, 2009, diplomats reported that a cease-fire resolution proposed by the U.N. Security Council had been agreed upon by both Western and Arab nations.CNN: Agreement made on Gaza cease-fire resolution, diplomats say (January 8, 2009) Both Israel and Hamas dismissed the resolution and fighting continued.The New York Times: Israel and Hamas Rebuff U.N. Cease-Fire Call (January 9, 2009) Red Cross relief workers have been denied access to civilians in Gaza as the number of casualties increase in the region.The Guardian: Israel accused of... (January 9, 2009)

The Israeli Security Council announced that they would vote on January 17, 2009, on a ceasefire resolution proposed by the Egyptian government. Acceptance of the truce would start a gradual fading of the Israeli offensive in Gaza with a gauging of the Hamas reaction.FOXNews.com: Israeli Cabinet to Vote Saturday on Proposal to Halt Gaza Attacks (January 16, 2009) Following the meeting of Security Council members, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced that a unilateral cease fire would begin the following day at 2:00 p.m. local time. This marked an implied rejection of the Egyptian cease fire and allows Israel to dictate the terms of its troops' removal from Gaza.BBC News: Israel declares ceasefire in Gaza (January 17, 2009)Al Jazeera: Olmert announces Gaza ceasefire (January 17, 2009)

The day after the invasion began, Hamas officials stated that the Israelis were "getting very close to the trap we have prepared for them" and that they were prepared to "fight till our last breath."Bloomberg: Hamas membres1087&sid=a45YY_1sJ5Uw&refer=home Israel Starts Ground Offensive in Gaza in Bid to Halt Rockets (January 4, 2008) Hamas members clashed with Israeli military on January 6, 2009 in Gaza City.

Negotiations for a cease fire continued on January 7, 2009. The president of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, developed a peace plan, but both sides rejected the plan. French President Nicolas Sarkozy was also involved in developing a plan for a cease fire. U.N. officials and representatives for the European Union continued to work for an ending of the conflict.Fox News: Clashes Resume After 3-Hour Cease-Fire... (January 7, 2009)

On January 3, 2009, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon reportedly met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Ban called for an immediate end to the ground operation, amid fears that the violence would continue to increase and place civilian lives on both sides of the conflict into further danger.CNN: Israeli ground troops enter Gaza (January 3, 2008)

Ban Ki-moon condemned both the air strikes on Gaza and the firing of rockets by Hamas.Fox News: Clashes Resume After 3-Hour Cease-Fire... (January 7, 2009)

A delegation from the European Union met with Israeli leaders on January 5, 2009, and also met with Palestinian leaders to discuss the situation. CNN: EU pushes for peace in Israel-Hamas conflict (January 5, 2009)

George W. Bush said on January 5, 2009, that Israel has a right to protect itself and that the invasion was justified. Bush said Hamas was responsible for the situation in Gaza.The West Australian: Israel has right to protect itself: Bush (January 6, 2009)

Barack Obama's chief national security spokesperson Brooke Anderson reported that the President-Elect "is closely monitoring global events, including the situation in Gaza."Bloomberg: Israel Starts Ground Offensive in Gaza in Bid to Halt Rockets (January 4, 2008)

During a late-night television address on January 17, 2009, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced that Israel would cease fire as of the following morning at 2:00 a.m. local time. Under the terms of the unilateral cease fire, an Israeli official reported, Israeli troops would remain in Gaza and would not hesitate to retaliate if Hamas fired upon them. Earlier in the day, Hamas officials reported that they would ignore an Israeli cease fire that did not meet their terms and would continue to fight against Israeli presence in Gaza.BBC News: Israel declares ceasefire in Gaza (January 17, 2009)Al Jazeera: Olmert announces Gaza ceasefire (January 17, 2009)

After dropping leaflets overnight which warned Gaza residents to stay off the streets, Israel began an artillery barrage of the city on January 3, 2009.Irish Times: Israeli Artillery Units Shell Gaza Frontier (January 3, 2009) This tactic followed a week of air strikes, which Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had called the "first of several stages" of military action.BBC News: Israel vows lasting Gaza campaign (December 30, 2008) Foreigners had been permitted to evacuate Gaza on January 2, 2009, the seventh day of Israel's air strike campaign on the Palestinian territory.Times Online: Israel Gaza Blitz Kills 290, As Ground Troops Mobilize (December 28, 2008)The New York Times: Israel Lets Some Foreigners Leave Gaza (January 2, 2009)

On January 10, 2009, Israel dropped leaflets and made telephone calls into the Gaza Strip warning citizens that it will escalate the military action. They asked citizens to stay away from Hamas targets.BBC: Israel warns Gaza of escalation (January 10, 2009) The same day, Hezbollah warned Israel that they should not respond to a rocket fire from southern Lebanon by attacking them.Reuters: Hezbollah warns Israel against sparking conflict (January 10, 2009)

"Two days ago the IDF distributed leaflets in Rafah in which the residents were warned to evacuate their homes for their own safety. As they heeded the IDF instructions, the harming of residents in combat was avoided.

"Over the coming period, the IDF will continue to target tunnels, weapon caches and terrorist operatives with growing intensity. For your safety and that of your family stay away from terrorist elements or places where weapons are stored or places where terrorist elements operate."—leaflets dropped into Gaza by the Israel Defense Forces on January 10, 2009CNN: Hamas rocket team leader killed, Israel says (January 10, 2009)

• December 27: Air strike offensive beginsABC News: Gaza: What Comes Next, Truce or Ground Invasion? (January 1, 2009)
• January 1: Air strike kills Hamas leader Nizar RayanABC News: Gaza: What Comes Next, Truce or Ground Invasion? (January 1, 2009)
• January 2: Foreigners evacuated from the Gaza StripTimes Online: Israel Gaza Blitz Kills 290, As Ground Troops Mobilise (December 28, 2008)
• January 2: Hamas leader Abu Zakaria al-Jamal killed by airstrikesIrish Times: Israeli Artillery Units Shell Gaza Frontier (January 3, 2009)
• January 3: Israel drops leaflets warning residents off the streetsIrish Times: Israeli Artillery Units Shell Gaza Frontier (January 3, 2009)
• January 3: Cannons begin firing on Gaza from the Israeli side of the borderIrish Times: Israeli Artillery Units Shell Gaza Frontier (January 3, 2009)
• January 3: Ground forces enter GazaReuters: Small Israeli ground force enters Gaza: witness (January 3, 2008)
• January 7: 3 hour ceasefire brokered by Egypt and France takes placeFox News: As Israel Offensive Pushes Ahead, Hopes for Proposed Gaza Cease-Fire Fade (January &, 2009)
• January 7: Shelling begins immediately afterwardFox News: As Israel Offensive Pushes Ahead, Hopes for Proposed Gaza Cease-Fire Fade (January &, 2009)
• January 9: The United Nations Security Council calls for a ceasefireNew York Times: As Talks Falter, Israel Warns of More Extensive Attacks in Gaza (January 10, 2009)
• January 10: Both Israel and Hamas reject the resolutionNew York Times: As Talks Falter, Israel Warns of More Extensive Attacks in Gaza (January 10, 2009)
• January 10: Israel drops leaflets warning Gaza citizens of impending intensificationNew York Times: As Talks Falter, Israel Warns of More Extensive Attacks in Gaza (January 10, 2009)
• January 10: Long-range rockets hit city of Ashdod in IsraelNew York Times: As Talks Falter, Israel Warns of More Extensive Attacks in Gaza (January 10, 2009)
• January 10: Hezbollah warns Israel not to include them in the attacksNew York Times: As Talks Falter, Israel Warns of More Extensive Attacks in Gaza (January 10, 2009)
• January 10: News reports say death toll in Gaza now over 850 since December 27, 2009Xinhua News: Medical official: Ongoing Israeli strikes kill 31 Palestinians in Gaza (January 11, 2009)
• January 11: Israel sent in reserve ground forces; move signaled new phase in attackAssociated Press: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ml_israel_palestinians Israeli troops meet Hamas resistance...] (January 11, 2009)
• January 17: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announces a unilateral cease fire to begin the following morning
• January 19: Olmert announces plans to completely withdraw by January 20, 2009International Herald Tribune: Israel hopes to complete Gaza troop withdrawal by Tuesday (January 19, 2009)
• January 21: All Israeli troops were withdrawnFOXNews.com: Israel Withdraws All Troops From Gaza Strip (January 21, 2009)

On February 10, 2009, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced a probe into attacks that struck U.N. facilities during the Israeli-Hamas conflict. Ban said that a U.N. board of inquiry would investigate deaths and damages which were involved with U.N. interests in Gaza.International Herald Tribune: Ban sets probe in attacks on UN's Gaza facilities