Israel and Gaza could be heading toward a war neither side wants. On July 20, Hamas militants and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) exchanged fire in an incident that left at least one soldier dead and several more wounded. In response, IDF announced the start of a military operation against the Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip. After a week of heightened tensions between Hamas and Israel, the Israeli Cabinet held an emergency meeting to decide on a course of action. Hamas and Israel have been moving toward a significant clash for some time. The two sides engaged in a large-scale exchange last weekend when Israeli airstrikes responded to Hamas rockets, and Gazan civilians protested Israeli border controls. In part, the conflict is driven by Gaza's dire economic situation, which has worsened after Qatar and the United States decreased aid .