- How did war break out? On Saturday, October 7, 2023—Shabbat Chag—Hamas launched a surprise attack in the south of Israel. Hundreds of Hamas fighters breached the border that separates Israel from the Gaza Strip, dispersed and took control of multiple settlements, killing hundreds of civilians, burning homes and property, and taking hundreds more as prisoners into Gaza. More than 1300 Israeli civilians were murdered, including hundreds at a party being held near the border. Many of these events were captured on videos which are circulating on social media, including those showing Hamas terrorists dragging civilians into vehicles to take them back to Gaza. On Sunday, October 8, the Israeli government declared a state of war. Since the border breach, there has been heavy fighting in towns and kibbutzim in the south of Israel. Missiles have also been shot in major cities like Ashkelon, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv, leading to additional civilian deaths and injuries.
- What is the significance of this war? Proportionally, civilian casualties are the highest in any war since 1948. U.S. Special Antisemitism Envoy Deborah Lipstadt, among the most renowned Holocaust scholars in the world, called the Hamas attacks “the most lethal assault against Jews since the Holocaust.” Lipstadt said there is “no justification” for the “heinous, barbaric terrorism against Israeli civilians.”
- What is Hamas? Hamas is an Islamic militant group that is dedicated to destroying Israel. Since 2007, it has been the governing force in the Gaza Strip. Hamas has fired thousands of rockets at Israel, carried out other deadly attacks, and engaged in several military operations against Israel since 2007. Israel has retaliated with air strikes, and, together with Egypt, has blockaded the Gaza Strip, controlling all of its borders and who and what can enter or exit, for security purposes. Hamas is designated as a terrorist group by Israel and Western powers, including the United States, Canada, UK, Australia, and the European Union. Hamas is funded by Iran, which provides it with money, weapons, and training.
- What and where is the Gaza Strip? The Gaza Strip is an enclave that is home to more than 2 million Palestinians, and has one of the highest population densities in the world. It lies between Israel, Egypt, and the Mediterranean Sea. Israel gained control in 1967 and withdrew unilaterally from the territory in 2005. Since then, Israel has controlled the air space and controls the border crossing to Israel. Egypt controls its border with Gaza.