CIVIC: Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict

Latest news:  Palestine

Field Blog: CIVIC from the Field: Gaza

The Conflict

The decades old Israeli-Palestinian conflict erupted again in December 2008 when Israel launched an offensive against the Gaza Strip. Operation Cast Lead, which Israel cited as an effort to deter rocket attacks launched from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel, lasted from December 27, 2008 to January 22, 2009, resulting in massive damage and heavy civilian casualties. Estimates of Gazan civilian deaths and injuries vary depending on the source. According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, 926 civilians were killed. Israeli Defense Forces countered that 295 Gazans and 3 Israeli civilians were killed. Both the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) and Hamas have been criticized of their conduct during the war. The UN fact finding commission led by Richard Goldstone concluded that the Palestinian armed groups and the IDF were both guilty of war crimes, Palestinian armed groups for their repeated rocket and mortar attacks into Israel, and IDF for its excessive use of force. 

Thousands of buildings in Gaza were destroyed and many were severely damaged including hospitals, government buildings, and private homes. In the aftermath of the offensive, 50,000 Gazans were left homeless and 400,000 lacked access to water. Palestinian officials estimated the damage at $1.9 billion. Following the January 18, 2009 cease-fire, donor pledges have been made to Gaza by several countries, both inside and outside of the Middle East. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Palestinian Authority signed agreements creating assistance packages in the form of cash grants, paid employment to Palestinian farmers for property damaged during the offensive, and funded direct rehabilitation of the damaged infrastructure. Hamas also distributed cash to Gazan families suffering losses.

The ongoing Israeli blockade of Gaza has left a dire humanitarian crisis. Reconstruction is greatly impaired by Israeli restrictions on materials and aid delivery. Relief agencies are also struggling to get food and medical supplies into Gaza with crossings on the Israeli and Egyptian borders closed. Unemployment rates are high, medical care is inadequate, access to clean water is limited and reconstruction efforts are nearly non-existent. Continuing tension between both parties results in regular combat incidents causing further casualties and destruction.

CIVIC's Work

During the fighting in late 2008, CIVIC called on Hamas and Israel to “ensure their militaries clearly distinguish between civilians and military targets” and urged that Gazans be allowed access to humanitarian relief. After the ceasefire, CIVIC called on Israel to make amends to the civilians harmed in its offensive, contribute financially to the reconstruction in Gaza, and lift the blockade.

In 2009, CIVIC submitted a brief to the U.N. fact-finding commission’s investigations of war crimes. CIVIC documented cases of civilian harm that Israel admitted were mistakes and sought amends for the survivors. CIVIC continues to monitor the situation in Israel and Gaza, and actively seeks opportunities to press for appropriate amends to civilians harmed.

Casualty Statistics

During Operation Cast Lead:
- 3 Israeli civilian deaths (IDF)
- 295 civilians killed (IDF)