On Saturday, October 7, the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas carried out a surprise assault, marking the most significant attack on Israel in years. This attack combined the infiltration of gunmen into several Israeli towns with a heavy barrage of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip.
As warning sirens blared across southern and central Israel, including Jerusalem, the Israeli military declared a state of readiness, with the defense minister emphasizing that Iran-backed Hamas had committed a “grave mistake” by initiating a war with Israel.
Responding to the attack, the Israeli military launched airstrikes into Gaza, with witnesses reporting hearing significant explosions in the area.
This incident represented an unprecedented infiltration by an unspecified number of Hamas gunmen into Israel from Gaza and marked one of the most serious escalations in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in recent years. Reports from Israel’s public broadcaster Kan indicate that at least two Israelis died, and many people sustained injuries.
Israeli media documented skirmishes between Palestinian fighters and security forces in towns in southern Israel. Israel’s police chief indicated that there were “21 active scenes” in southern Israel, underscoring the extent of the attack.
In Gaza, residents rushed to purchase supplies in anticipation of days of conflict ahead, while some evacuated their homes to seek shelter.
Hamas military commander Mohammad Deif announced the launch of the operation through a broadcast on Hamas media, urging Palestinians worldwide to join the fight. He declared, “This day signifies the most significant battle to put an end to the last occupation on earth,” and asserted that they had launched 5,000 rockets.
The last major confrontation between Israel and Hamas occurred during a 10-day war in 2021.