Israel-Hamas War: 10 Crucial Moments

On October 7, a devastating assault by Palestinian militants targeted southern Israel, culminating in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians. This attack, the deadliest ever recorded in Israel, was perpetrated by Hamas, the militant group that governs the Gaza Strip. In retaliation, Israel launched a severe military offensive against Gaza, resulting in 34,151 deaths, predominantly among women and children, as reported by Gaza’s health ministry.

The conflict, now nearly 200 days long, has seen significant events, including the resignation of Israel’s military intelligence chief, Major General Aharon Haliva, on April 22. He stepped down due to intelligence failures associated with the initial Hamas attack.

Key events in the conflict include:
– On October 13, Israel declared northern Gaza a war zone and advised civilians to relocate to the south, leading to massive displacement.
– October 27 saw the initiation of an Israeli ground offensive with tanks entering Gaza.
– A contentious raid by Israeli forces on Gaza’s largest hospital, Al-Shifa, occurred on November 15, sparking global outrage.
– On November 24, a temporary truce facilitated by Qatar resulted in a hostage swap, although the war soon resumed.
– Early 2024 witnessed additional regional tensions, including U.S. and British strikes in Yemen against the Iran-backed Houthis.
– On January 26, the International Court of Justice issued a provisional ruling on potential acts of genocide by Israel in Gaza.
– February 29 was marked by a tragic incident involving Israeli forces firing on Gazans rushing towards aid trucks, resulting in significant casualties.
– On April 2, an Israeli airstrike killed seven aid workers, leading to international condemnation and internal military repercussions in Israel.
– The conflict escalated on April 13 when Iran conducted its first direct attack on Israel, launching over 300 drones and missiles, in response to an earlier Israeli airstrike on an Iranian facility in Damascus.

Throughout, the situation remains volatile with a persistent threat of further escalation.