The Israel and Gaza conflict is a complex and long-standing issue that has its roots in the historical claims and grievances of both sides. Here is a brief summary of some of the major events and developments in the past 75 years:

• 1947: The UN proposes a partition plan that would divide Palestine into two states, one Jewish and one Arab, with Jerusalem under international control. The plan is accepted by the Jewish leadership, but rejected by the Arab side. Violence erupts between the two communities.
• 1948: Israel declares its independence as the British mandate over Palestine ends. The first Arab-Israeli war breaks out, with Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria invading Israel. The war ends with armistice agreements in 1949, leaving Israel in control of most of the territory allocated to it by the UN, as well as some areas designated for the Arab state. Egypt occupies the Gaza Strip, and Jordan annexes the West Bank and East Jerusalem. About 700,000 Palestinians become refugees in what they call the nakba (catastrophe).
• 1967: The Six-Day War erupts after Israel launches a preemptive attack on Egypt, Syria, and Jordan, fearing an imminent invasion. Israel captures the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights. The UN Security Council passes Resolution 242, calling for Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories and for the recognition of the right of all states in the region to live in peace.
• 1973: The Yom Kippur War breaks out when Egypt and Syria launch a surprise attack on Israel on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. The war ends with a ceasefire and the subsequent disengagement agreements, which see Israel return some of the captured territory to Egypt and Syria.
• 1978: The Camp David Accords are signed by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, mediated by US President Jimmy Carter. The accords establish the framework for a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, and for a comprehensive settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the principle of land for peace.
• 1987: The first intifada (uprising) begins in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, as Palestinians protest against the Israeli occupation and demand self-determination. The intifada lasts until 1993, and is marked by civil disobedience, strikes, boycotts, and clashes with Israeli forces. More than 1,000 Palestinians and 160 Israelis are killed during the intifada.
• 1993: The Oslo Accords are signed by Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Chairman Yasser Arafat, witnessed by US President Bill Clinton. The accords establish the Palestinian Authority (PA) as an interim self-governing body in the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank, and set a five-year timetable for negotiations on the final status issues, such as borders, settlements, refugees, and Jerusalem.
• 2000: The second intifada erupts after a visit by Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon to the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif, a site sacred to both Jews and Muslims, sparks violent protests by Palestinians. The intifada lasts until 2005, and is marked by suicide bombings, rocket attacks, and military operations. More than 3,000 Palestinians and 1,000 Israelis are killed during the intifada.
• 2005: Israel withdraws from the Gaza Strip, dismantling all of its settlements and military bases there. The move is seen as a unilateral step by Israel to disengage from the conflict, but also as a way to consolidate its control over the West Bank. The PA takes over the administration of the Gaza Strip, but faces challenges from the Islamist movement Hamas, which opposes the Oslo Accords and advocates armed resistance against Israel.
• 2006: Hamas wins the Palestinian legislative election, defeating the Fatah party led by PA President Mahmoud Abbas. The international community, which considers Hamas a terrorist organization, imposes sanctions on the PA, demanding that Hamas recognize Israel, renounce violence, and abide by previous agreements. A power struggle between Hamas and Fatah erupts, leading to a civil war in 2007 that results in Hamas taking over the Gaza Strip, and Fatah retaining control of the West Bank.