Operation " Summer Rains " ( '' Mivtza Gishmey Kayitz '' ) refers to the series of battles between Palestinian militants and the Israel Defense Forces ( IDF ) during summer 2006 , prompted by Palestinian operations which resulted in the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit . Large-scale conventional warfare occurred in the Gaza Strip , starting on June 28 , 2006 . This was the first major ground operation in the Gaza Strip since Israel 's unilateral disengagement plan was implemented between August and September 2005
capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit
2006 Gaza cross-border raid
Operation Summer Rains