There are 1.7 million Gazans trapped between Israel's powerful military machine and the militants of Hamas and its affiliates, who fire rockets into Israel with little regard for how the deadly response affects Gazans. Virtually imprisoned by the tight border controls of Israel and Egypt, most Gazans have nothing to do with the perennial conflict, but cannot escape it.
Smoke billows from a beach shack following an Israeli military strike, on July 16, 2014 in Gaza City which killed four children, medics said.
Israelis and tourists run from the beach to take cover in a nearby hotel in the costal city of Tel Aviv on July 14, 2014 during a rocket attack fired by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian employees of Gaza City's al-Deira hotel carry a wounded boy following an Israeli military strike nearby on the beach, on July 16, 2014.
Palestinians flee their homes in the Shajaiyeh neighborhood of Gaza City, after Israel had airdropped leaflets warning people to leave the area, Wednesday, July 16, 2014.
Palestinians inspect damages of the el-Yazje family apartment building which was destroyed following an overnight Israeli missile strike in Gaza City, Thursday, July 17, 2014.
Smoke rises after an Israeli missile strike in the Gaza strip as seen from the Israel Gaza border on Wednesday, July 16, 2014.
