BREAKING NEWS: WATCH DAY 2 OF ISRAEL WAR WITH HAMAS

On 7 October 2023, Palestinian militant groups[c] led by Hamas launched a large-scale campaign against Israel.[22] Part of the Gaza–Israel conflict, the war began with a militant invasion of Israel from the Gaza Strip named Operation Al-Aqsa Storm on 7 October 2023.[23] The Israeli counteroffensive was named Operation Iron Swords.[24]

Before the attack, Israeli-Palestinians clashes at Al-Aqsa mosque, Gaza and Jenin had killed 247 Palestinians and 36 Israelis. Hostilities were initiated in the early morning with a rocket barrage of at least 3,000 missiles against Israel and vehicle-transported incursions into its territory. Palestinian forces broke through the Gaza–Israel barrier, attacking nearby Israeli communities and military installations. At least 1,200 Israelis were killed,including a massacre at a music festival where at least 260 civilians were killed. Israeli soldiers and civilians, including women and children, were taken as hostages to the Gaza Strip.In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared states of emergency and war, vowing a "mighty vengeance" against "terrorism". Hamas announced the justification for the attack came in the aftermath of increased Israeli settlements, the Blockade of the Gaza Strip and Israeli settler violence against Palestinians. Hamas called on Palestinians outside of Gaza to join "the fight against the occupiers".

After clearing Hamas forces from affected areas, Israel responded with airstrikes in the densely-populated Gaza Strip. The United Nations reported that around 263,000 Palestinians, more than a tenth of the population of Gaza, have been displaced. Fears of a humanitarian crisis were heightened after Israel cut off food, water, electricity, and fuel supplies to the strip, which had already been jointly blockaded by Egypt and Israel. The war has led to immense collateral damage, including the widespread deaths of Israeli and Palestinian civilians, and there have been allegations of war crimes.

Many nations condemned Hamas for the violence,and described its actions as terrorism,while some Muslim nations cited the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories as the root cause of the escalation.Many nations called for a de-escalation.A conflict was reported between Hezbollah and Palestinian militants in Lebanon and Israeli forces on 8 and 9 October.On October 11, 2023, Reuters reported that Germany would begin supplying military aid to Israel.