TIMELINE - Israeli-Hamas violence since Gaza takeover

(Reuters) - Israeli warplanes pounded the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Monday, the third day of an air offensive that has killed more than 300 Palestinians. Here is a timeline since Hamas seized the Gaza Strip in 2007:

June 14, 2007 - Hamas seizes Gaza after overpowering Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah forces in a week of fighting in which at least 100 people are killed.

-- Abbas dismisses Hamas-led unity government and appoints a Fatah-backed administration, led by Salam Fayyad, a technocratic economist favoured by the West.

-- Israel and the new Palestinian government open formal contacts. The Jewish state tightens a blockade of Gaza.

January 23, 2008 - Militants blow up border wall at Rafah and tens of thousands of Palestinians pour into Egypt from Gaza to shop for food and fuel in short supply because of the Israeli-led blockade. The border is sealed again days later.

March 3 - Israeli troops pull out of the Gaza Strip after five-day offensive that has killed more than 120 Palestinians.

March 4 - Egypt calls for cease-fire between Hamas and Israel.

March 6 - A Palestinian gunman kills eight students at Jewish seminary in Jerusalem. Hamas officials claim the deadliest attack on Israelis in two years.

March 23 - Fatah and Hamas sign Yemeni-sponsored deal promising to revive direct talks but dialogue falls apart amid differences over whether Hamas must first cede control of Gaza.