Graduation ceremony for police officers in Gaza City.Photo:Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via Getty
Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via Getty
On Saturday, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a massive surprise attack in southern Israel, killing hundreds of civilians and soldiers and takingat least 150 moreas hostages.
In response, Israel declared war on Hamas — which controls the Palestinian territory of Gaza — and indicated that a long military campaign to defeat the Islamist militants is on the horizon.
As fighting continues, here’s what to know about the group behind the invasion of Israel as well as the deadly terrorist attack that escalated long-standing Israel-Palestine tensions.
What is Hamas?
Hamas now rules the Gaza Strip, a 25-mile long territory between Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. Gaza was historically under Egypt’s control until the Six-Day War in 1967, after which Israel seized control of both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Since then, the regions have been the source of conflict for Israelis and Palestinians.
Currently, Israel controls all access into the Gaza Strip and restricts the import of goods there, but Hamas acts as the area’s de facto government and is known for its brutal rule. The group has historically been linked with kidnappings, rocket attacks and suicide bombings.
Hamas' primary goals include freeing Palestinians from occupation, destroying Israel and establishing an Islamic state in historic Palestine, according to theCouncil on Foreign Relations.
Palestinian members of the military wing of Hamas who were killed or wounded in clashes on the Gaza-Israel border are removed from the area and brought back to the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023.Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu Agency via Getty
Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu Agency via Getty
Where did Hamas attack?
The Oct. 7, 2023, attacks saw Hamas launch several thousand rockets into southern and central Israel, hitting cities as far north as Tel Aviv and on the outskirts of Jerusalem. These attacks are rare due to Israel’s sophisticatedIron Dome missile defense system.
At least 900 people have died and 2,500 have been wounded since the surprise attacks, Israel Defense Forces international (IDF) spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus toldCBS News. There are reportedly over 150 Israelis being held hostage in Gaza, according toThe New York Times,including U.S. citizens.
The IDF also reported that more than 3,200 rockets had been fired on Israel from Gaza.
That the attacks began in the early morning on Saturday, Oct. 7 — both the Jewish Sabbath and Simchat Torah, an important Jewish holiday — was no doubt intentional.
Why did Hamas attack?
Hamas leaders have said the group attacked in retaliation for Israel’s occupation of the West Bank which, like the Gaza Strip, has been a focus of the Israel-Palestinian conflict for more than a hundred years.
Members of the group have also cited recent Israeli police raidson a Jerusalem mosqueas well as the detention of thousands of Palestinians in Israeli jails as reasons for the attack.
Muhammad Deif, the leader of the military wing of Hamas, said in a recorded message that the attack came so that “the enemy will understand that the time of their rampaging without accountability has ended,“The New York Timesreports.
Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas political chief, speaks to press.Cem Tekkesinoglu/Anadolu Agency via Getty
Cem Tekkesinoglu/Anadolu Agency via Getty
How has Israel responded?
The attack prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to say that the country is “at war” during a televised speech broadcast Saturday. Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced “acomplete siege on Gaza,” blockading the Palestinian territory from amenities like electricity, food, water and gas.
In retaliation, Israeli defense forces have also struck at least 653 Hamas targets.
Netanyahu has said that the “first phase” of Israel’s response has been completed, though it remains unclear whether Israel plans to invade Gaza in retaliation.
“All of us recognize the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people," the statement read. “But make no mistake: Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed.”
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What happens now?
As Israel continues to deal with the fallout from the attacks, Hamas has vowed that it will kill an Israeli hostage for every time Israel bombs a Palestinian home without warning, Al Jazeera reports. At least some of those hostages may be American.
In astatementreleased Monday, President Joe Biden said that at least 10 American citizens, “many of whom made a second home in Israel,” were killed after Hamas launched its surprise terrorist attack.
Biden said many more Americans were still unaccounted for and may be among the hostages.
source: people.com
