In the final days of 2008 and into 2009, Israel unleashed unprecedented firepower in its campaign to halt years of militant rocket attacks on Israeli communities - inflicting even more pain on Gaza's long suffering 1.5 million people. No country, Israel argued, would sit idly while its men, women and children were bombarded daily by deadly projectiles crashing into their homes and schools. Israel's policies toward Gaza, the Palestinians argued, had turned the seaside territory into little more than a prison.

On the ground, these opposing narratives played themselves out in bloody confrontations, tearful encounters and flashes of fire streaming across the night sky.

Flares and smoke are seen during an Israeli military operation in downtown Gaza City, early Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009.