The War Between Israel And Palestinian Militant Group Hamas, Explained
Here’s what you need to know about the war between Israel and Hamas.
![The War Between Israel And Palestinian Militant Group Hamas, Explained](/content/images/size/w1200/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/israel-hamas-war-explained-2023.jpg)
War has erupted between Israel and the Palestinian militant group, Hamas.
Here is what’s happening.
![Palestinians evacuate the area following an Israeli airstrike](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/palestinians-evacuate-the-area-following-an-israeli-airstrike.jpg)
The fighting erupted on Saturday Oct. 7 when Hamas fired thousands of rockets and invaded southern Israel in a surprise attack.
![Palestinian Hamas militants during a military show](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/palestinian-hamas-militants-during-a-military-show.jpg)
Founded in 1987, Hamas is a Islamist militant group that has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, separate from the Palestinian government.
![supporters of the ruling Hamas party attend a rally in Gaza City](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/supporters-of-the-ruling-hamas-party-attend-a-rally-in-gaza-city.jpg)
Hamas seeks to establish a Palestinian state and does not recognize Israel as a state, whereas the Palestinian Liberation Organization – the internationally recognized representative of the Palestinian people – does.
![Masked Palestinian Hamas militants attend the funeral](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/masked-palestinian-hamas-militants-attend-the-furneral.jpg)
Hamas has been been attacking Israel through suicide bombings and rocket attacks for years to reach its goal
![Palestinian Hamas members ride an armored vehicle](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/palestinian-hamas-members-ride-an-armored-vehicle.jpg)
Israel, meanwhile, has continuously launched assaults on Palestinians.
![Israel Iron Dome air defence system](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/israels-iron-dome-air-defence-system.jpg)
Israeli forces attacked the Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites, in 2023, as well as in 2022.
![Members of Israeli security forces guard the Al Aqsa Mosque](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/members-of-israeli-security-forces-guard-the-al-aqsa-mosque.jpg)
![Israeli security forces remove Palestinian Muslim worshippers](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/israeli-security-forces-remove-palestinian-muslim-worshippers.jpg)
![Israeli policemen detain a Palestinian man](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/israeli-policemen-detain-a-palestinian-man.jpg)
Israeli forces also killed Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in 2022.
![Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/al-jazeera-journalist-shireen-abu-akleh.jpg)
Experts say Hamas carried out the unprecedented attack in order to liberate Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, Vox reported.
![Izz ad Din al Qassam Brigades hamas](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/izz-ad-din-al-qassam-brigades-hamas.jpg)
Hamas military leaders said other reasons included Israel’s 16-year occupation of the West Bank, Israeli raids inside West Bank cities over the past year, and recent Israeli police raids on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
![man sits near Israel controversial separation barrier](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/man-sits-near-israels-controversial-separation-barrier.jpg)
The attack from Hamas is one of the largest assaults in Israel in decades and caught Israel off guard.
![Hamas Izz ad Din al Qassam Brigades](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/hamas-izz-ad-din-al-qassam-brigades.jpg)
Hamas fighters have killed about 700 Israelis and are holding another 150 people hostage as of Sunday, according to the New York Times.
![Hamas armed wing the Izz ad Din al Qassam Brigades](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/hamas-armed-wing-the-izz-ad-din-al-qassam-brigades.jpg)
In response, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on Hamas and mobilized Israeli military forces
![A Palestinian youth sits in front of a charred building](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/a-palestinian-youth-sits-in-front-of-a-charred-building.jpg)
Israel launched massive airstrikes into Gaza, destroying residential buildings.
![Palestinians inspect the destruction](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/palestinians-inspect-the-destruction.jpg)
Gaza officials said that at least 413 people, including 78 children and 41 women, have been killed, according to AP.
![Israeli fighter jets hamas](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/israeli-fighter-jets-hamas.jpg)
On Monday Oct. 9, Israel ordered “a complete siege” of the Gaza Strip, saying authorities would cut electricity and block food, water and fuel from entering.
![Palestinians evacuate the area following an Israeli airstrike on the Sousi mosque in Gaza City](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/palestinians-evacuate-the-area-following-an-israeli-airstrike-on-the-sousi-mosque-in-gaza-city.jpg)
Gaza is home to more than two million Palestinians, and 123,000 Palestinians have already been displaced by Israel’s air strikes, according to the UN.
![Palestinian men look at the destruction outside a damaged apartment building](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/palestinian-men-look-at-the-destruction-outside-a-damaged-apartment-building.jpg)