In July 2014 fighting broke out between in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. Tensions had risen the previous month after three Israeli teenagers were kidnapped and found dead a few weeks later. Israel had accused Hamas for the crimes but they denied it. Israel arrested many Palestinians within a few days, most of whom which were Hamas. The conflict officially began on July 8, 2014 when Israel started a military launch in response to the Hamas for launching rockets the night the bodies of the teens were found. In less than a month more than 1,000 Palestinians, who were mostly civilians, were killed.