Since Israel retreated from Gaza in 2005 and Hamas took control, Israel has fought an incredible seven wars with Gaza!

By Hezy Laing

While the current war in Gaza, Iron Swords, is by far the bloodiest in Israel’s history, it is by no means the only one. Since Israel retreated from Gaza in 2005 and Hamas took control, Israel has fought an incredible seven wars with Gaza! Most of them began when the Hamas shot rockets at Israeli towns, murdered Israeli civilians or kidnapped Israeli soldiers.

Here’s a detailed list of IDF wars and major operations in Gaza since Israel’s 2005 disengagement:

1. Operation Summer Rains (2006)

Trigger: Hamas kidnapping of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.
Duration: June–November 2006.
Israeli casualties: 5 soldiers killed.

2. Operation Cast Lead (2008–2009)

Trigger: Escalation of Hamas rocket fire from Gaza.
Duration: 22 days (Dec 2008–Jan 2009).
Israeli casualties: 13 killed (10 soldiers, 3 civilians).

3. Operation Pillar of Defense (2012)

Trigger: Targeted killing of Hamas military chief Ahmed Jabari.
Duration: 8 days (Nov 2012).
Israeli casualties: 6 killed (4 civilians, 2 soldiers).

4. Operation Protective Edge (2014)

Trigger: Hamas kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teens.
Duration: 50 days (July–August 2014).
Israeli casualties: 73 killed (67 soldiers, 6 civilians).

5. May 2021 Conflict

In May 2021 Arab-Israelis across Israel rioted and attacked Jews on the pretext of protesting the return of several Jewish families to east Jerusalem properties. Hamas then used the opportunity to shoot over 4,000 rockets at Israeli civilian centers.
Duration: 11 days.
Israeli casualties: 13 killed.

6. Operation Breaking Dawn (2022)

Trigger: Threats from Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

During a three-day period Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) shot 1,000 rockets at Israeli civilian population centers. Though Israel suffered no casualties, scores of Israelis were treated for injuries sustained as they ran to local shelters, and for shock. Operation Breaking Dawn began when Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror group threatened to attack Jewish civilian communities if the head of PIJ in Judea and Samaria wasn’t released. Over a period of three-days the IDF targeted PIJ in the Gaza Strip. It consisted of Israeli airstrikes on PIJ military and personnel targets in the Gaza Strip and PIJ rocket attacks on Israeli cities.
Duration: 3 days (August 2022).
Israeli casualties: 0 killed.

7. Iron Swords (2023–2025)

Trigger: Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
Duration: Ongoing since October 2023.
Israeli casualties:
IDF deaths: 900 soldiers killed as of August 2025
IDF wounded: Over 6,200 injured in combat
Civilian deaths (Oct 7 attack): ~1,200 Israelis killed.

While earlier operations were shorter and more contained, the Swords of Iron War has become the deadliest and most prolonged.