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The 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict, part of the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict, refers to an ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas which began when the Israel Defense Forces launched a series of airstrikes, known as Operation Cast Lead (Hebrew: מבצע עופרת יצוקה‎, Mivtza Oferet Yetzukah), against targets in the Gaza Strip, after planning the operation for over six months.[10] On 27 December 2008, (11:30 am local time (9:30 am UTC))[11] Israeli airstrikes hit various high-profile military and security targets and others suspected to be related to the Hamas government.[12][13][14] Israel asserts its strikes are a response to near-daily Palestinian rocket and mortar fire on its southern civilian communities.[15] This conflict has included the bloodiest one-day death toll in 60 years of the conflict, leading some Palestinians to label the operation the "Black Saturday Massacre".[16] The strikes have resulted in significant civilian casualties in Gaza.[17] By the first evening, Israeli Air Force fighter aircraft had deployed approximately 100 tonnes (110 short tons) of explosives, with an estimated 95 percent reaching their intended targets, according to IAF sources. Israel bombed roughly 100 Hamas-operated security installations (including police stations, prisons, and command centers) in four minutes during the first wave of the strike.[18][19] Israel also hit Hamas operated security installations in all of Gaza's main towns, including Gaza City and Beit Hanoun in the north and Khan Younis and Rafah in the south.[20][21][22][23][24][25]

The Israeli Navy has shelled targets in Gaza, instituting at the same time a naval blockade of Gaza, which has resulted in one naval incident with a civilian boat.[26][27][28][29]

Hamas renewed its attacks with rockets and mortars, hitting civilian communities like Beersheba and Ashdod, and esclating the distance of previous attacks to as far away as 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the Gaza border. These attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure, including an empty school.[30][31][32][33]

The IDF started massing infantry and armor units near the Gaza border and engaged in an active blockade of Gaza.[34] On January 3rd, a ground invasion began, with mechanized infrantry, armor, and artillery units, supported by armed helicopters, entering Gaza.[35][36]

Both Israel and Hamas are under pressure for a humanitarian truce, while Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that Hamas' Damascus based political leader, Khaled Meshal, had changed his earlier calls for ending the lull and started calling for a truce.[37][38][39] Israel has said its military action could last weeks, while Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak stated that this will be a "war to the bitter end" Hamas officials in the Gaza Strip have also dismissed the idea of a cease-fire.[37][40][41]

International reactions on the conflict have either condemned the Israeli operation, or the Hamas' attacks, or both. Many countries and organizations have called for an immediate ceasefire and have expressed concern for the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. Israel mantains that their humanitarian efforts, which include ambulance services, and hundreds of aid trucks, are enough, and that a humanitarian cease-fire is not necessary at this point.[42][43]