Residents in the Gaza Strip have marked the first anniversary of Israel's assault on the Hamas-ruled territory. Some observed a minute of silence, while others marched in protests.

Drivers stopped their cars to observe the 60 seconds of quiet, while women and children marched through the streets. Local radio stations replayed archived reports, that broke the news of the surprise attack.

The operation was aimed at subduing Hamas, and halting rocket fire on Israeli border towns.

Palestinian and Israeli human rights researchers, said about 14-hundred people, including hundreds of civilians, were killed during the campaign.