Israel began a massive assault on the Gaza Strip on Dec. 27, inflicting scores of casualties over the following days. History provides some clues to what is behind this violence.

Where is the Gaza Strip?
The Gaza Strip is, as its name implies, a 146-square-mile strip of coastal land running along Israel's southwestern flank on the Mediterranean Sea and on the border with Egypt. Around 1.5 million Palestinians live there and it is governed by militant Islamist group Hamas.

What's the big picture?
The roots of the current conflict lie in the battle over land claimed by both Israel and the Palestinians. ...