Militants in the Gaza Strip fired more than 200 rockets into Israel yesterday, prompting retaliatory air strikes from Israel on the Palestinian territory. Hamas ally Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for some of the rocket fire.
Timeline:
Israelis and Arabs have been fighting over Gaza on and off, for decades. It's part of the wider Arab Israeli conflict.
Creation of Israel: After World War II and the Holocaust, more Jewish people wanted their own country. They were given a large part of Palestine, which they considered their traditional home but the Arabs who already lived there felt that was unfair and didn't accept the new country.
1948 war: In 1948, the two sides went to war. When it ended, Gaza was controlled by Egypt and another area, the West Bank, by Jordan. They contained thousands of Palestinians who fled what was now the new Jewish home, Israel.
1967 war: But then, in 1967, after another war, Israel occupied these Palestinian areas and Israeli troops stayed there for years.
Hamas: Israel finally left Gaza in 2005 but soon after, a group called Hamas won elections and took control there. Much of the world calls Hamas a terrorist organisation. It refuses to recognise Israel as a country and wants Palestinians to be able to return to their old home - and will use violence to achieve its aims.
Blockade: Since then, Israel has held Gaza under a blockade, which means it controls its borders and limits who can get in and out. Life for the many of the 1.5 million Palestinians who live in the Gaza Strip is difficult.
Peace Process: Many people want Gaza and the West Bank to be turned into a new country - Palestine. Israel won't agree to this unless it feels safe. The other sticking points are what will happen to Israelis who've settled in the West Bank, who will run Jerusalem and what will happen to the Palestinian refugees.
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