A Timeline Of Hamas Ceasefire Violations

Israel's Operation Protective Edge is being carried out in Gaza in self-defense against the attacks of  Hamas. In clear violation of international law, Hamas -- as well as the other terrorist organizations in Gaza -- have fired thousands of rockets indiscriminately at Israeli civilians. In addition, Hamas has dug terror tunnels from Gaza into Israeli territory in order to carry out terror attacks against Israelis.

During this time, while Israel has respected numerous ceasefires for the benefit of the residents of Gaza, Hamas has violated all the ceasefires. Hamas even violated a humanitarian ceasefire that they themselves initiated.

In addition, Hamas also violated the July 15 ceasefire that was initiated by Egypt and supported by most of the international community, including the Arab League -- and accepted by Israel. If Hamas had respected this ceasefire, Israel's ground operation would not have begun and much loss of life on both sides would have been avoided.

Here is a timeline of Hamas ceasefire violations:

• July 15: Israel accepted the ceasefire initiated by Egypt and stopped all fire at 09:00. However, terrorists fired more than 50 rockets at Israeli communities. Only after six hours of continuous rocket attacks did the IDF respond.
  
  
• July 17: Israel agreed to a five-hour humanitarian ceasefire. The terrorist organizations rejected it and fired rockets, including at the city of Be'er-Sheva.
  
  
• July 20: Israel approved a two-hour medical/humanitarian window in the area of Shejaiya, following an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) request. Forty minutes after the ceasefire began, Hamas violated it. Nevertheless, Israel implemented the ceasefire, even extending it for two more hours.
  
  
• July 26-27: Israel respected an UN-requested humanitarian ceasefire from 08:00-20:00 on Saturday, 26 July. Israel announced its readiness to prolong the ceasefire until midnight, but a few minutes after 20:00, Hamas renewed firing rockets at Israeli civilians.
  
  On the same day, July 26, Hamas announced a 24-hour humanitarian ceasefire, at 14:00. Hamas violated its own ceasefire a short time later.
  
  Despite Hamas’ continuous fire, Israel decided to extend the humanitarian ceasefire a second time, from midnight Saturday to midnight Sunday.
  
  
• July 28: Israel accepted Hamas' request for a ceasefire in honor of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. The IDF was instructed to cease military attacks, but Hamas continued to launch rockets at Israel.
  
  
• July 30: Israel announced a temporary humanitarian ceasefire between 15:00-19:00. A few minutes after the ceasefire began Hamas fired rockets at the southern cities of Ashdod and Ashkelon, as well as other Israeli communities.

Hat tip: The Israel Project
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