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Ian Joseph

Gaza – Rinse and Repeat

Rinse and Repeat –  used to indicate the continual repetition of an action or sequence of events, typically in a way regarded as tiresomely predictable.

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  • 2005 – Israel withdraws from Gaza.
  • 2006 – Operation Summer Rains follows the kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shavit. Israeli casualties: five soldiers and six civilians killed, 38 soldiers and 44 civilians wounded. Palestinian casualties: 277 militants, 117 civilians, 6 policemen and 2 presidential guards killed. Approximately 1,000 wounded.
  • 2006 – Operation Autumn Clouds follows numerous rocket and mortar attacks on Southern Israel. Israeli casualties: one soldier killed and three civilians wounded. Palestinian casualties: 82 killed, at least half were civilians and more than 260 wounded.
  • 2008 – Operation Hot Winter follows six Grad missiles fired at Ashkelon. Israeli casualties: 2 soldiers and one civilian killed, eight wounded. Palestinian casualties: 60 militants and 52 civilians killed, 350 wounded.
  • 2008/9 First Gaza War, Operation Cast Lead. Israeli casualties: 13 soldiers and three civilians killed. 336 soldiers and 182 civilians wounded. Palestinian casualties: approximately 1,400 killed, about 25% militants. About 5,300 wounded.
  • 2008-2012 multiple skirmishe and attacks from both sides.
  • 2012 Operation Returning Echo. After Israel assassinated a senior Palestinian militant, Popular Resistance militants mounted a series of cross border attacks, killing eight Israelis and fired hundreds of rockets, mortars and missiles at Israeli cities. Israeli casualties: 23 civilians wounded. Palestinian casualties: 18 militants and 5 civilians killed. 74 wounded, mostly civilians.
  • 2012 Operation Pillar of Defense. Israeli casualties: 2 soldiers and 4 civilians killed. Palestinian casualties: 55 combatants and 106 civilians killed. 29 combatants and 971 civilians wounded.
  • 2014 Second Gaza War Operation Protective Edge. Israel casualties: 67 soldiers and 6 civilians killed. Palestinian casualties: 2,310 killed (70% civilians, 10,629 wounded (65% civilians).
  • 2021 Third Gaza War Unity Intifada. Israeli casualties: One soldier and 14 civilians killed. 3 soldiers and 114 civilians wounded. Palestinian casualties: 80-200 militants and 256 civilians killed. 2,000 wounded.
  • 2022 Opration Beaking Dawn. Israel casualties: 2 IDF soldiers wounded, 21 civilians treated for anxiety, 39 for injuries sustained while rushing to shelters. Palestinian casualties: 49 killed including 17 children. 50 civilians wounded.
  • 2023 Hamas October 7 attack on Israel. Israeli casualties: 1,180 killed including 761 civilians and 36 children. 251 hostages taken. Palestinian casualties: 1,609 militants killed.
  • 2023-2025 Fourth Gaza War Swords of Iron. Israeli casualties: 407 killed. About 10,000 wounded or mentally affected. Palestinian casualties: 47,000 killed of which about 17,000 are militants. More than 60,000 wounded.
  • January 17, 2025, after 469 days of fighting, 8 months after the original Biden cease fire proposal, a cease fire has been negotiated along the lines of the Biden proposal. From May 2024 till January 2025, more than 200 Israeli soldiers and thousands of Gazans have died. All those deaths could have been prevented if the proposal was adopted then.

But… here we go again, after the current lengthy war did not achieve Netanyahu’s original objectives of releasing the hostages and eliminating Hamas by force, he has no choice but to negotiate a settlement essentially leaving Hamas exactly where it was on October 6, 2023 and in position to impose another war with Israel at some time in the future.

This hopeless cycle of violence will continue ad infinitum until the underlying cause, the Israel -Palestinian war is peacefully settled.

About the Author
Born and educated in South Africa, a graduate of Jewish day school and Habonm Dror, Ian Joseph served in the IDF as an officer in combat units, and currently resides in North Carolina and Cyprus. Ian holds an MBA from Shulich School of Business in Toronto, is certified as a Master Instructor by the American Sailing Association and is currently retired from IBM. Among other pursuits Ian edits a weekly newsletter of Israeli news items, teaches sailing around the world and certifies sailing instructors.
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