Israel/Gaza conflict

This item appears on page 16 of the January 2019 issue.

A covert Israeli military operation within the borders of Gaza on Nov. 11 resulted in the deaths of seven Hamas militants, including a commander. One Israeli soldier was also killed. Fighting between the two groups broke out when the car carrying the Israelis was stopped by Hamas security. Israel has not revealed why its soldiers were in Gaza, but officials say that the commander killed was not a target.

In response to the incursion, Hamas fired more than 450 rockets into Israel, killing one person and injuring 28. Israel then targeted Hamas locations in Gaza with at least 160 air strikes, killing eight people. A cease-fire agreement brokered by Egypt on Nov. 13 was holding at press time.