How this could be the last Gaza war

Khaled Elgindy, Special to CNN
5 minute read
Updated 8:17 PM EST, Tue November 20, 2012
A boy stands in the rubble of a destroyed shop in Beit Lahia, in northern Gaza, on Monday, November 26.
Israel-Gaza conflict —
A boy stands in the rubble of a destroyed shop in Beit Lahia, in northern Gaza, on Monday, November 26.
MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images
Palestinian school girls walk in a destroyed class room on Monday, November 26, in Gaza. The school was damaged some days ago, before a truce between Hamas and Israel.
Israel-Gaza conflict —
Palestinian school girls walk in a destroyed class room on Monday, November 26, in Gaza. The school was damaged some days ago, before a truce between Hamas and Israel.
MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images
Robert Serry, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, greets children during a visit to Gaza to survey damage caused by the exchange of fire between Israel and Hamas militants, on Sunday, November 25.
Israel-Gaza conflict —
Robert Serry, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, greets children during a visit to Gaza to survey damage caused by the exchange of fire between Israel and Hamas militants, on Sunday, November 25.
MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images
Employees of the Palestinian Interior Ministry pray in the rubble of the Interior Ministry building in Gaza City on Sunday, November 25.
Israel-Gaza conflict —
Employees of the Palestinian Interior Ministry pray in the rubble of the Interior Ministry building in Gaza City on Sunday, November 25.
MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images
An Israeli soldier fires during clashes with Palestinians after Israeli settlers fought with villagers in the northern West Bank village of Qusra on Saturday, November 24.
Israel-Gaza conflict —
An Israeli soldier fires during clashes with Palestinians after Israeli settlers fought with villagers in the northern West Bank village of Qusra on Saturday, November 24.
JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP/Getty Images
Palestinian schoolboys look through a hole at their damaged school in Gaza City on Saturday.
Israel-Gaza conflict —
Palestinian schoolboys look through a hole at their damaged school in Gaza City on Saturday.
MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images
Palestinians school girls walks along a corridor of their school in Gaza City on Saturday.
Israel-Gaza conflict —
Palestinians school girls walks along a corridor of their school in Gaza City on Saturday.
MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images
A Palestinian schoolgirl writes on the blackboard of a classroom in Gaza City on Saturday.
Israel-Gaza conflict —
A Palestinian schoolgirl writes on the blackboard of a classroom in Gaza City on Saturday.
MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images
Palestinian youths gesture during a demonstration next to the security fence on the Gaza border with Israel east of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Friday, November 23. A Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli forces near the Gaza border, the first casualty since the two sides agreed a truce ending their week-long conflict, Palestinian medical sources said.
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Palestinian youths gesture during a demonstration next to the security fence on the Gaza border with Israel east of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Friday, November 23. A Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli forces near the Gaza border, the first casualty since the two sides agreed a truce ending their week-long conflict, Palestinian medical sources said.
SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images
A Palestinian boy plays in a demolished car in Gaza City on Friday.
Israel-Gaza conflict —
A Palestinian boy plays in a demolished car in Gaza City on Friday.
MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images
Palestinians inspect the rubble of a destroyed house in Gaza City on Friday.
Israel-Gaza conflict —
Palestinians inspect the rubble of a destroyed house in Gaza City on Friday.
MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images
Palestinians gather to listen to Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh speak Thursday in Gaza City. Supporters of Hamas and its moderate rival Palestinian party Fatah displayed rare unity in celebrating the cease-fire.
Israel-Gaza conflict —
Palestinians gather to listen to Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh speak Thursday in Gaza City. Supporters of Hamas and its moderate rival Palestinian party Fatah displayed rare unity in celebrating the cease-fire.
MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images
Hasidic Jewish boys dance near the border with northern Gaza on Thursday. The Jews provided music on a visit to show their support for the Israeli soldiers.
Israel-Gaza conflict —
Hasidic Jewish boys dance near the border with northern Gaza on Thursday. The Jews provided music on a visit to show their support for the Israeli soldiers.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
A Hasidic Jewish boy dances on the barrel of a tank Thursday as he and others celebrate the Israeli soldiers.
Israel-Gaza conflict —
A Hasidic Jewish boy dances on the barrel of a tank Thursday as he and others celebrate the Israeli soldiers.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh waves to the crowd Thursday in Gaza City. Haniyeh, who heads the governing party of Gaza, said the cease-fire showed the United States had been forced to soften its stance in the region in the wake of the Arab Spring.
Israel-Gaza conflict —
Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh waves to the crowd Thursday in Gaza City. Haniyeh, who heads the governing party of Gaza, said the cease-fire showed the United States had been forced to soften its stance in the region in the wake of the Arab Spring.
MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images
Palestinians celebrate news of the cease-fire with Israel in Gaza City on Wednesday, November 21.
Israel-Gaza conflict —
Palestinians celebrate news of the cease-fire with Israel in Gaza City on Wednesday, November 21.
MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images
Israeli soldiers sit in a restaurant at the Yad Mordechay Junction as they watch Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deliver a statement on live television from Jerusalem.
Israel-Gaza conflict —
Israeli soldiers sit in a restaurant at the Yad Mordechay Junction as they watch Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deliver a statement on live television from Jerusalem.
MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty Images
Rockets launch from Gaza City as an explosion is seen on the horizon at Israel's border with Gaza on Wednesday.
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Rockets launch from Gaza City as an explosion is seen on the horizon at Israel's border with Gaza on Wednesday.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Israeli soldiers pray next to an artillery gun along Israel's border with Gaza on Wednesday, November 21. Violence continued in the region Wednesday, leaving hopes of a cease-fire in tatters just hours after a halt in fighting seemed close.
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Israeli soldiers pray next to an artillery gun along Israel's border with Gaza on Wednesday, November 21. Violence continued in the region Wednesday, leaving hopes of a cease-fire in tatters just hours after a halt in fighting seemed close.
Uriel Sinai/Getty Images
Emergency services personnel work at the scene of an explosion on a bus Wednesday in Tel Aviv, Israel. The blast on the public transport bus left at least 22 injured, a hospital official said.
Israel-Gaza conflict —
Emergency services personnel work at the scene of an explosion on a bus Wednesday in Tel Aviv, Israel. The blast on the public transport bus left at least 22 injured, a hospital official said.
Ziv Oren/Getty Images
A woman is helped at the scene by emergency workers Wednesday after the explosion on the bus in Tel Aviv.
Israel-Gaza conflict —
A woman is helped at the scene by emergency workers Wednesday after the explosion on the bus in Tel Aviv.
Ziv Oren/Getty Images
The Ministry of Internal Security compound in Gaza City is in ruins Wednesday after an Israeli airstrike targeted it overnight.
Israel-Gaza conflict —
The Ministry of Internal Security compound in Gaza City is in ruins Wednesday after an Israeli airstrike targeted it overnight.
MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images
Smoke billows after Israeli airstrikes in southern Gaza on Wednesday.
Israel-Gaza conflict —
Smoke billows after Israeli airstrikes in southern Gaza on Wednesday.
SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images