Israel–Hamas war

2023 Gaza−Israel war
Part of the Gaza–Israel conflict
Extent of the Hamas incursions: red denotes the Gaza Strip while blue denotes Israeli territory where the presence of Palestinian militants was reported. See here for a more comprehensive map.
Date 7 October 2023 – present Location Israel and Gaza Strip, Palestine Status Ongoing Palestinian militants break through the Gaza–Israel barrier and invade Israel's Southern District Israeli military carries out airstrikes in the Gaza Strip
Belligerents
Hamas PIJ Hezbollah	Israel
Commanders and leaders
Ismail Haniyeh Mohammed Al-Daif Abu Obaida	Benjamin Netanyahu Isaac Herzog Yoav Gallant Herzi Halevi Kobi Shabtai
Units involved
Al-Qassam Brigades Al-Quds Brigades Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades National Resistance Brigades	Israel Defense Forces Israel Police
Strength
1,000	Unknown
Casualties and losses
313 Palestinians killed, 1,790 injured, 20,000 displaced	350+ Israelis killed, 1,864 injured, 53+ captured
17 Nepalis kidnapped by Hamas, 7 Nepalis injured 2 Thais killed by Israel/Hamas, 1 Indonesian medic killed by Israel

On 7 October 2023, Palestinian militant groups from the Gaza Strip launched a large-scale offensive against Israel, breaking through the Gaza–Israel barrier and forcing entry into Gaza border crossings, nearby Israeli cities, adjacent military installations, and civilian settlements. It is the first direct conflict within Israel's de jure territory since the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. Hostilities were initiated in the early morning with a rocket barrage against Israel and vehicle-transported incursions into Israeli territory, with a number of attacks having been carried out on Israeli civilian communities and the Israeli military. Some observers have referred to these events as the beginning of a third Palestinian intifada.

Organizations that have taken part in the Palestinian assault include Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. In an emergency meeting in the West Bank shortly after the attacks began, Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority expressed support for the Gazan infiltration, stating that Palestinians had the right to defend themselves against the Israeli occupation. In Israel, all major opposition parties have advocated for the formation of a national unity government to combat the Palestinian offensive.

At least 2,200 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip as Hamas militants broke through the border and entered Israel, killing at least 300 Israelis and prompting Israel's government to declare a state of emergency; Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel "is at war" in a national address following the beginning of the attacks. Palestinian militants who infiltrated Israel made their way into several kibbutzim near the Gaza Strip as well as the Israeli city of Sderot. Israel Defense Forces killed at least 256 Palestinians in gunfights and by airstrikes, including civilians and 20 children. According to the the top Palestinian health official in Gaza, most of the casualties were from firefights in Israel. Both Palestinian and Israeli media sources reported that Israeli civilians and soldiers, including children, had been taken hostage by Palestinian militants; several of these hostages have reportedly since been taken to the Gaza Strip. Numerous cases of violence against Israeli women and massacres of Israeli civilians have also been reported since the beginning of the Palestinian offensive.

North American countries, most European countries, Argentina, Brazil and India condemned the Palestinian side for the violence and described the tactics used as terrorism, while some Arab and Muslim countries blamed the Israeli occupation for the escalation. Multiple other countries called for de-escalation.

Background

See also: Gaza–Israel conflict, July 2023 Jenin incursion, and 2023 Al-Aqsa clashes

The Gaza Strip and Israel have been in conflict since the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005 and Hamas gaining control of the Gaza Strip after elections in 2006 and a civil war with Fatah in 2007. The Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli and Egyptian blockade since 2007, because it refused to stop violent actions. Furthermore, Gaza is closed off from the rest of the world and access to resources including food, water, and electricity are almost entirely controlled by Israel . The blockade has caused significant economic hardship upon the Palestinians, and was cited by Hamas as one of the reasons for its offensive.

The Palestinian militant groups dubbed their assault Operation Al-Aqsa Deluge (or Flood) (Arabic: عملية طوفان الأقصى, romanized: ʿamaliyyat ṭūfān al-ʾAqṣā), while Israel announced the beginning of a counteroffensive effort called Operation Swords of Iron (Hebrew: מבצע חרבות ברזל, romanized: Mivtsa Charvot Barzel). The beginning of the Palestinian assault coincided with the 50th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1973 Arab–Israeli War. Several news agencies and observers have described the ongoing conflict as the Third Intifada.

The attack took place during the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah and Shabbat, and a day after the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, which also began with a surprise attack. The attack followed three weeks of violence at the Israel–Gaza separation fence. Hamas and Israel had recently negotiated a truce, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United Nations, on 29 September. Prior to the attack and including combatants and civilians on both sides, at least 247 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli forces in 2023, while 32 Israelis and two foreign nationals had been killed in Palestinian attacks.

Israel and Saudi Arabia are conducting negotiations to normalize relations, with Saudi crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman recently stating that normalization was "for the first time, real". Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it had "repeatedly warned that Israel's ongoing occupation of Gaza would propel further violence."

The commander of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Mohammed Deif, said that the attack was in response to "desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque," and called on Palestinians and Arab Israelis to "expel the occupiers and demolish the walls". Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri said the operation was a response "to the crimes of the occupation", adding that fighters were defending the Al-Aqsa Mosque and thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, which was estimated by the prisoners' rights NGO Addameer to be nearly 5,200, including 33 women, 170 minors and more than 1,200 who were under administrative detention. A spokesperson for Palestinian Islamic Jihad stated that they do not consider Israeli citizens to be civilians: "We are not killing civilians. This is a military society. They are the ones who elect their governments."

Palestinian offensive

Rocket barrages

See also: Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel

Aftermath of a rocket attack in Rishon LeZion

At around 06:30 local time (UTC+3) on 7 October 2023, Hamas announced the start of what it called "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood", stating that it had fired over 5,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel within a span of 20 minutes. Israeli media reported that at least 2,200 projectiles had been launched from Gaza. At least five people were killed by the rocket attacks. Explosions were reported in areas surrounding the Strip and in cities in the Sharon Plain including Gedera, Herzliyya, Tel Aviv, and Ashkelon. Air raid sirens were also activated in Beer Sheva, Jerusalem, Rehovot, Rishon Lezion, and Palmachim Airbase. Hamas issued a call to arms, with senior military commander Mohammad Deif calling on "Muslims everywhere to launch an attack". Palestinian militants also opened fire on Israeli boats off the Gaza Strip, while clashes broke out between Palestinians and the IDF in the eastern section of the Gaza perimeter fence. In the evening Hamas launched another barrage of about 150 rockets towards Israel, with explosions being reported in Yavne, Givatayim, Bat Yam, Beit Dagan, Tel Aviv, and Rishon Lezion. It was followed by another rocket barrage on the morning of 8 October, with one rocket hitting a hospital in Ashkelon.

Militant incursions into Israel

See also: Stand-off in Be'eri and Ofakim, Battle of Re'im, and Battle of Sderot

Simultaneously, around 1,000 Palestinian militants infiltrated Israel from Gaza using trucks, pickup trucks, motorcycles, bulldozers, speedboats and paragliders. Images and videos appeared to show heavily armed and masked militants dressed in black fatigue riding pickup trucks and opening fire in Sderot, killing several Israeli civilians and soldiers. Other videos appeared to show Israelis taken prisoner and a burning Israeli tank, as well as militants driving Israeli military vehicles. Militants were also reported to have opened fire at an outdoor nature festival. Infiltrators were also spotted at Nir Oz, Be'eri and Netiv HaAsara, where they reportedly took hostages and set fire to homes, as well as in kibbutzim around the Gaza Strip. Fighting was reported at Re'im military base. Hostages were also reported to have been taken in Ofakim, while homes in Sderot were set on fire. An amphibious landing occurred in Zikim.

An Israeli military spokesman stated that the militants from Gaza had entered Israel through at least seven locations and invaded four small rural Israeli communities, the border city of Sderot, and two military bases from both land and sea. Israeli media reported that seven communities came under Hamas control, including Nahal Oz, Kfar Aza, Magen, and Sufa Beheri. The police station of Sderot was reported to have come under Hamas control, as was the Erez crossing, enabling the militants to enter Israel from Gaza. Israeli Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai said that there were 21 active high-confrontation locations in southern Israel.

Israeli response

The attack, which coincided with the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, appears to have been a complete surprise to the Israelis.

The Iron Dome air defense system was activated. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant conducted security assessments at Israel Defense Forces (IDF) headquarters in Tel Aviv. Gallant later approved the mobilisation of tens of thousands army reservists and declared a state of emergency for the area within 80 kilometres (50 mi) of the Gaza border. He also said that Hamas "made a grave mistake" in launching its attack and pledged that "Israel will win". The IDF declared a "state of readiness for war". It also said that reservists were to be deployed not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank and along the borders with Lebanon and Syria. Residents in areas around the Gaza Strip were asked to stay inside, while civilians in southern and central Israel were "required to stay next to shelters". Roads around the Gaza Strip were closed by the IDF. The streets of Tel Aviv were also locked down.

Following the assault, Israel declared a heightened state of preparedness for potential conflict. The IDF declared a state of readiness for war, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency gathering of security authorities. The IDF additionally reported their initiation of targeted actions in the Gaza Strip under what it called "Operation Iron Swords". Israeli Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai announced that a "state of war" existed, following what he called "a massive attack from the Gaza Strip". He also announced the closure of the entire southern region of Israel to "civilian movement" as well as the deployment of the Yamam counterterrorism unit to the area. The IDF's chief spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said four divisions were deployed to the area, augmenting 31 preexisting battalions.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the country was facing "a very difficult moment", and offered strength and encouragement to the IDF, other security forces, rescue services and residents who were under attack. In a televised broadcast, Prime Minister Netanyahu stated: "We are at war." He also said that the IDF would reinforce its border deployments to deter others from 'making the mistake of joining this war'. In a later address, he threatened to "turn Gaza into a deserted island", and urged its residents to "leave now."

Airports in southern and central Israel were closed to commercial and private use, while Ben Gurion Airport and Eilat Airport remained operational. Lufthansa, Emirates, Ryanair, Aegean Airlines, Air France, Transavia and several US airliners cancelled flights to and from Israel.

Overnight on 7–8 October, Israel's Security Cabinet voted to undertake a series of actions to bring about the "destruction of the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad", according to a statement by the Prime Minister's Office. The Israel Electric Corporation, which supplies up to 80% of the Gaza Strip's electricity, cut off power to the area.

7 October

Stand-off in Be'eri and Ofakim

Main article: Stand-off in Be'eri and Ofakim

In Be'eri, Hamas militants took up to 50 people hostage. During a stand-off between militants and IDF forces, videos emerged from Be'eri showing the hostages being led, by Hamas militants, barefoot across a street in town. Approximately 18 hours after the stand-off began, the IDF announced that they had freed the hostages in Be'eri.

In the town of Urim, a suburb of Ofakim, two Israelis were rescued by Israel Defense Forces. During the rescue, four Hamas militants were killed and three Israel Defense Force soldiers were injured.

Airstrikes in the Gaza Strip

The IDF said it attacked targets in Gaza using fighter jets, reportedly hitting 17 Hamas military compounds and four operational command centres. Among the locations struck was the 11-story Palestine Tower in downtown Gaza City that housed Hamas radio stations on the rooftop. Israel also struck two hospitals, killing an ambulance driver and a nurse.

8 October

In the morning, Hezbollah fired rockets and shells at the Shebaa Farms region; in response the IDF fired artillery shells into Southern Lebanon. An Israeli military spokesperson claimed that two hostage situations had been "resolved". Israel's Security Cabinet said it had approved a military operation to bring about the "destruction of the military and governmental capabilities" of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip.

Casualties

Israel

Israel's Magen David Adom (MDA) initially reported that at least one woman was killed while 16 other people were injured from rocket strikes, two of them critically. Israeli authorities later said that at least 100 people had been killed and more than 900 others were injured, Ambulance teams were dispatched to the areas surrounding the Gaza Strip in response to the assault with 77 of them in critical condition. At least one civilian death was reported in Kfar Aviv, while three people were reportedly injured in Ashkelon and Yavne. Nine people were fatally shot at a bus shelter in Sderot. At least four people were reported killed in Kuseife. The head of the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council, Ofir Libstein, was also killed in an exchange of fire with the militants. The police commander of Rahat, Jayar Davidov was killed. Among the confirmed IDF dead was Colonel Yonatan Steinberg, the commander of the Nahal Brigade, who was killed near Kerem Shalom. At least 68 casualties were reported in Ashkelon, while 280 others were reported in Beer Sheva, 60 of which were in a serious condition. Dozens of bodies were reportedly discovered at the site of a nature party in Re'im, after the Battle of Re'im.

Hamas claimed it had taken 53 Israelis prisoners and transported them to the Gaza Strip. At least four people were reportedly taken from Kfar Azza. A photograph was released appearing to show Israeli major general Nimrod Aloni being held by Palestinians, Hamas also claimed to have captured him; a Farsi-language post by the IDF on X (formerly known as Twitter) quoted a post about his capture from Tasnim News Agency and wrote "Tasnim: Distributors of fake news of IRGC" without either denying or confirming the capture of Nimrod Aloni. Videos from Gaza appeared to show captured people, with Gazan residents cheering trucks carrying dead bodies. An MDA ambulance was also reportedly taken by the militants to Gaza.

Palestine

Following Israel's airstrikes in response, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza reported an unspecified number of injuries among "many citizens". It later said that 256 Palestinians had been killed and 1,788 others had been injured. Yousef Abu al-Rish, the top Palestinian health official in Gaza, stated that most casualties were from firefights inside Israel. Reporters for the Associated Press in the Gaza Strip saw funerals being held for 15 victims and eight other bodies in hospitals. At least one person was reported to have been killed in an airstrike on the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza. Four Palestinians were killed and five others were wounded in clashes with the IDF along Gaza's perimeter fence. Five Palestinian militants were reported to have been killed in Sderot. Medecins Sans Frontieres said a nurse and an ambulance driver were killed in Israeli strikes on two hospitals. Palestinian media reported that several casualties occurred after an Israeli aircraft fired a missile at an ambulance in front of the Nasser hospital in Khan Younis. A paramedic was reported to be in critical condition. Ten civilians were reportedly killed in a strike on a residential building in the Shabora neighborhood of Rafah.

Foreign nationals

The Nepali ambassador to Israel, Kanta Rijal, said at least seven of its nationals in the country were injured in the attack, and that they along with ten others were held captive by Hamas at an agricultural farm in Alumim. Israeli media also reported that migrant workers from Thailand and the Philippines were also taken captive by Palestinian militants. The Thai government acknowledged the possible abduction of two of its nationals. A German national was reportedly killed in an attack on the outdoor Nova Festival near the border with Gaza.

Doctors Without Borders stated that Israel attacked an Indonesian-run hospital in the Gaza Strip, killing one nurse, one ambulance driver and injuring several others. Indonesian NGO Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C) confirmed that one of its personnel had been killed and the IDF had targeted its hospital.

Reactions

Israel

The protest group Kaplan Force announced the cancellation of its demonstration against the judicial reform planned on 7 October in Tel Aviv. The group expressed support for the IDF, stating that they were standing by "the IDF and the security forces carrying out their duties during this difficult time and hope for the restoration of calm and security". Forum 555 and Brothers in Arms, a protest group of reservist soldiers that organized boycotts of the military draft in protest against the judicial reform, called on reservists to serve if they were called up.

Magen David Adom appealed for blood donations and announced plans for a special blood donation drive in Tel Aviv on 7 October. The Israeli Education Ministry announced the closure of all schools in the country on 7 October. The Haifa International Film Festival was cancelled.

An investigation was launched as to the failure of Israeli authorities to prevent the attack from occurring.

Emergency unity government

Former prime minister and Leader of the Opposition Yair Lapid, National Unity chairman Benny Gantz, Yisrael Beiteinu Party leader Avigdor Lieberman and Labor Party leader Merav Michaeli issued a joint statement expressing full backing for the IDF and unity with the government, saying: "In times like these, there is no opposition and coalition in Israel."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed that the main opposition parties Yesh Atid led by Yair Lapid and National Unity enter an emergency unity government with his Likud-led coalition, after Lapid urged Netanyahu put "aside our differences and form an emergency, narrow, professional government."

Palestine

The Palestinian Education Ministry said schools in the Gaza Strip were closed until further notice. The Palestinian Health Ministry appealed for blood donations.

At an emergency meeting with officials of the Palestinian Authority, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that Palestinians had the right to defend themselves against the "terror of settlers and occupation troops". In the West Bank, celebrations occurred in Ramallah. Neighborhood watches were established in 50 locations amid fears of reprisals by Israeli settlers, while a general strike was called for 8 October. Six Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli forces later in the day, while 126 others were injured.

Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri told Al Jazeera that its forces had taken enough Israeli hostages to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel in an exchange. Hamas spokesperson Abu Obaida said it was holding captured Israeli soldiers in "safe places" and tunnels.

International

Main article: International reactions to the October 2023 Gaza–Israel conflict

International leaders, including from Argentina, Brazil, India, most European countries and the United States condemned the attacks by Hamas, expressed solidarity with Israel, and said Israel has a right to defend itself from armed attacks and describing Hamas' tactics as terrorism. Some Arab League countries such as Oman, Yemen, and Qatar, and non-Arab countries such as Iran, Pakistan,expressed support for the Palestinians, blaming the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories for the escalation of violence. A number of other countries called for de-escalation and a ceasefire. Demonstrations took place in many Middle Eastern countries, such as Yemen, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Turkey, Bahrain, and Iran in solidarity with the Palestinian groups. A small rally was also held in Berlin.

Argentina, Canada, Germany and France said that they would increase security in Jewish-associated sites in response to the attack.

Analysis

According to Daniel Byman and Alexander Palmer, the attacks showcased the decline of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the rise of Hamas as the main power center in Palestinian politics. They predicted the PLO's further decline if the status quo held.

According to Israeli analyst Seth Frantzman, the attack signified a notable escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. It stood out for its substantial scale and reach, encompassing both rocket fire and border attacks in Gaza. This event marked a significant departure from prior conflicts, which typically followed a phased progression with a gradual escalation of tensions.

Political journalist Peter Beaumont described the attack as "an intelligence failure for the ages" on the part of the Israeli government. Similarly, the Jewish News Syndicate deemed it a "failure of imagination".

See also

• Timeline of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict in 2023
• May 2023 Gaza–Israel clashes
• 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
• 2014 Gaza War
• First Intifada
• Second Intifada

External links

• Escalation in the Gaza Strip and Israel | OCHA Flash Update #1 as of 18:00, 7 October 2023