The Gaza Strip is a small part of land between Israel and Egypt. According to the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine intended to lead to the creation of independent Arab and Jewish States, the Strip was included in the territory of the future Arab state. After the Arab-Israeli war in 1948-1949 which followed the UN decision and further establishment of the Israeli state, no Arab state was created, and the Gaza strip has been under Egyptian rule in 1948-1967. The Six-Day war left the Strip under Israeli governance from 1967 to 2005.

In August 2005, Israel implemented its unilateral disengagement plan withdrawing the troops from Gaza and demolishing its settlements.

The coup organized by Islamist Hamas in July 2007 brought all public institutions of the Palestinian National Authority and its security forces, along with Gaza Strip, under militants’ control.

The refugees who fled the Israeli territory during 1948-1949 Arab-Israeli war and their descendants comprise over two thirds of Gaza’s population. Oddly enough, people who were born in Gaza still have the refugee status. According to some estimates, the population of the territory makes 1,06 mln people, while the CIA claims the figures makes 1,6 mln as of July 2011. The population density makes 2044 inhabitants per sq km, while Palestinian estimates name over 4000 people per sq km.

Such density of population favours Hamas movement; its utmost goal is extermination of Israel, with support of Iran, indeed, which supplies Hamas with missiles and launchers. Meanwhile, the rival Palestinian Fatah and Hamas groups decided to unite over the military conflict in Gaza Strip, AlArabia reports.

"From here, we announce that we are ending the division," senior Fatah official Jibril Rajoub said. “Whoever speaks about the division after today is a criminal,” top Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Ramahi noted.

On November 19, The UN Security Council held a meeting on Gaza conflict upon Russia's initiative; the outcome of the gathering is still unclear.

The UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Sir Mark Lyall Grant said the discussion currently focuses on admitting that the “rocket strikes against Israel by Gaza have become part of the crisis.” “We are deeply concerned over the situation, and the UN Security Council has an opportunity to assess steps to be taken,” Grant said.

Since the launch of the Israeli operation against the Palestinian militants on November 14, about 500 rockets have hit Israel; Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem were also attacked for the first time.

The U.S. President Barack Obama supported Israel’s actions in Gaza Strip naming it the necessary self-defense. “There's no country on earth that would tolerate missiles raining down on its citizens from outside its borders. We fully support Israel’s right to defend itself," the U.S. leader said.

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that their army was prepared to “significantly expand” its military operation against Hamas movement in Gaza.

As to the Arab League (AL), it indeed labels Israeli actions as aggression. AL Secretary-General Nabil al-Araby condemned the Quartet mediators for “inaction”. “I wonder what the use of the so-called peace process is if it yields no peace?” he said.

According to MIGnews, once the rules were clear. Egypt, while slamming Israel, somehow acted so that the Palestinians could not feel safe on this side. Jordan’s policy resembled the Egyptian one, but made no move to be perceived as direct support to Hamas. Qatar kept silent while recognizing Iran as the key sponsor of terrorists in Gaza Strip. In Syria, Assad also tried to avoid further trouble.

Now, everything is in a mess. In this situation, Hamas actions should be perceived as an attempt to identify its supporters and opponents. After everything is over, Hamas will definitely analyze the reaction of its neighbours and make relevant conclusions.

Meanwhile, a border terminal has opened to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza Strip. Tens of trucks with medical supplies, household gas and food are passing through the Kerem Shalom cargo crossing to Gaza. Is there another “aggressor” in the world that would send humanitarian aid?