What happened on October 7th, 2023?
The unresolved conflict for over 60 years between Palestine and Israel has led to the attack on Israel on October 7th. Militants from Gaza, members of Hamas, fired thousands of rockets into Israel. These militants proceeded to break down the border wall and send hundreds of militants into Israel. These gunmen killed more than 1,400 people and took over 150 hostages. No attack of this magnitude has happened in Israel since the Arab-Israeli war in 1948, explicitly killing this many children and elderly. Sources say that Hamas has been planning this attack for two years.
Israel’s response:
After Hamas’s invasion, Israel declared an official war and launched 6,000 bombs at the Gaza Strip between October 7th and 12th. Israel has also blocked supply lines, including fuel and water, to Gaza. All the crossings leaving Gaza have been blocked, leaving Palestinians stranded within. Israel’s Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant, has ordered a “complete siege” on Gaza imports, blocking food, fuel, and water deliveries.
What is Hamas?
Hamas is an Islamic militant movement and one of Palestine’s two major political parties. They believe Israel is an occupying power, and their goal is to liberate the Palestinian people. They govern more than two million citizens in the Gaza Strip and are known for their armed resistance against Israel. Many countries see Hamas as a terrorist organization, though some only label its military as terrorist. Individuals within Hamas have won most of the seats in the Palestinian legislature and in 2006 even controlled part of the government. Since then, the Fatah party of Palestine now rules under Mahmoud Abbas, however Hamas has continued to control parts of Palestine’s military and government through force.