Israel war against Hamas: Your questions answered

As Israel prepares to blockade Gaza in retaliation for Hamas’s attack, Australians have some key questions. See the answers.

Israel and the Palestinians have been at loggerheads since 1948 when a United Nations resolution created the state of Israel, but did not create a Palestinian State.

It led to the first war over the occupied territories known as the Nakba (catastrophe).

The war was won by Israel and more than 700,000 Palestinians were displaced from their homes.

Here we answer your key questions.

WHO IS HAMAS?

Hamas stands for the Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya (Islamic Resistance Movement) and is the governing power controlling the Gaza Strip, a tiny territory of about 365sq km blockaded by Israel with a population stuck inside of about 2.1 million people including 1.7 million Palestinian refugees.

Hamas was founded shortly after the start of the first Intifada, an uprising against Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories.

It has been in control in the Gaza Strip since 2007 after winning the Palestinian legislative elections and ousting rival Fatah forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO).

Unlike the PLO, Hamas does not recognise Israel’s statehood and only accepts a Palestinian state on 1967 borders.

Although it is the ruling government in Gaza, Hamas has been proscribed as a terrorist organisation by some countries including Australia and the US.

WHO STARTED THE WAR: HAMAS OR ISRAEL?

The latest outbreak of hostility was launched by Hamas in surprise early morning attacks on Israel.

Hamas launched thousands of rockets into Israel, kidnapped Israeli citizens and took them into Gaza and killed 260 people at an Israeli music festival.

There are claims Iran helped Hamas.

WHY DID HAMAS ATTACK ISRAEL?

Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad said the objective behind the attacks is to highlight and stop the crimes Hamas claims Israel is committing against Palestinians every day.

Mr Hamad said they are “fed up” with killings, attacks on Palestinian homes, the building of more settlements on Palestinian land and the storming of the Al Aqsa Mosque – Islam’s most sacred religious site – preventing prayers.

He said Israel is continuing to impose the siege, embargo and sanctions on the people trapped inside Gaza and the Israeli Government is escalating action against his people.

Palestinian journalists are also saying it is the result of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new ultra right-wing government which has pledged to prioritise settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.

A missile explodes in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike. Picture: AFP

WHY IS THE GAZA STRIP IMPORTANT?

Gaza is a strip of land on the Mediterranean north of The Sinai.

It was under Ottoman rule until WWI when it fell to the British forces and became part of the British Mandate of Palestine.

Following the 1948 war, Egypt administered the newly-formed Gaza Strip but it was captured by Israel in the Six-Day War in 1967.

Israelis also lived in Gaza until 2005 when Israel pulled out and the new Palestinian Authority took over administering the area.

Gaza is separated from Israel by a massive concrete wall which was begun in 2002 with Israel claiming it was necessary for security after a series of attacks.

The wall prevents people and goods from freely entering or leaving the territory, leading to Gaza often being called an “open-air prison”.

HOW WAS ISRAEL CREATED?

The United Nations adopted  Resolution 181, known as the Partition Plan, which divided the former British Mandate of Palestine into Arab and Jewish states.

In May 1948, the State of Israel was officially created sparking the first Arab-Israeli War known as the Nakba.

The war ended in 1949 with Israel’s victory, but 750,000 Palestinians were displaced, and the territory was divided into three parts: the State of Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Smoke rise above buildings during an Israeli air strike, in Gaza City. Picture: AFP

WHICH COUNTRY CONTROLS GAZA?

Gaza is controlled by Hamas, the Palestinian organisation, which won government of the area in the last elections.

However, the land, sea and air borders are blocked by Israel and Egypt.

The blockade effectively controls who and what goes in or out of the strip prompting criticisms that is actually under military control of Israel.

WHAT IS THE DEATH TOLL IN ISRAEL AND PALESTINE?

As of Wednesday, the death toll in Israel surged above 1000 with more expected.

Israel said they killed 1500 terrorists in their counter-offensive within Israel, while in Gaza the Palestinian health ministry said 830 had been killed and 4000 wounded.

DOES AUSTRALIA SUPPORT ISRAEL OR PALESTINE?

Australia has issued a clear warning that Hamas is a declared terrorist organisation and providing support to it is a crime.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil issued the urgent warning on Hamas after some protesters offered support for the militant organisation.

“Hamas is listed as a terrorist organisation in Australia and anyone providing support to Hamas could be committing a crime,” she said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he accepted that Palestinian families were also suffering.

“We are a tolerant multicultural nation. I understand that people have deep views about issues relating to the Middle East conflict,’’ he said.

“But here in Australia, we have to deal with political discourse in a respectful way.

“We certainly acknowledge, I acknowledge, Palestinian suffering has occurred over a long period of time.

“Nothing justifies what we saw on the weekend. Nothing justifies the slaughter of innocent civilians trying to enjoy a music festival.”

CAN AUSTRALIANS TRAVEL TO PALESTINE?

Australians have been urged to “reconsider your need to travel” to Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories as conflict intensifies.

A number of major international airlines, such as American Airlines and Emirates, have already cancelled flights to Tel Aviv in the wake of the conflict.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade were monitoring the commercial availability of flights out of Israel.

“I understand the airport is still open and there are still commercial options available,” she told reporters in Adelaide.

Originally published as Israel war against Hamas: Your questions answered