Gaza conflict

In response to rocket attacks against Israeli targets, the Israeli military began a rocket-and-artillery offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza on July 7, escalating it to a ground offensive on July 17.

At press time, more than 1,850 Palestinians had been killed and 9,080 injured, with 64 Israeli soldiers killed as well as two Israeli citizens and one Thai citizen in Israel.

A number of cease-fire agreements have failed to hold, with both sides blaming the other for breaking them. The Israeli government has said they will not end the siege of Gaza until they’ve destroyed tunnels leading into Israel that Hamas has used to attack Israeli targets, while Hamas has declared they will not agree to talks until a blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt is lifted.

Hamas rocket attacks on Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv caused the FAA and the European Aviation Safety Agency to ban flights to Israel on July 22. US and European flights resumed on July 24.

Costa Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises all canceled stops in the cities of Haifa and Ashdod, Israel, after the German cruise ship AIDAdiva was struck with missile fragments on July 7 as it was leaving Ashdod. There were no injuries.

The resort city of Eilat in southern Israel has also been targeted by rockets fired by militants in the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. At press time, no casualties had been reported.