Questions include what Hamas is, what’s going on in Israel and the Gaza Strip, among others.

With its fighters invading communities close to the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian militant group Hamas has launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing hundreds of residents and robbing dozens of hostages.

Describe Hamas.

The militant Palestinian organization Hamas is in charge of the Gaza Strip. It has vowed to destroy Israel and wants to install an Islamic state in its place. Since taking over Gaza in 2007, Hamas and Israel have engaged in a number of wars.

Between those wars, it carried out other deadly attacks and fired or allowed other groups to fire thousands of rockets at Israel. Additionally, Israel has repeatedly carried out airstrikes against Hamas and, along with Egypt, has blockaded the Gaza Strip since 2007 in the name of security.

Hamas clarified
Israel, the US, the EU, the UK, and other nations have all designated Hamas as a terrorist organization, as well as its military wing in some cases. Iran supports Hamas by giving it money, funding, equipment, and training.

The Gaza Strip is what?

The Gaza Strip is a region that is 10 km (3.1 mi) wide and 41 km (25 mi) long that lies between Israel, Egypt, and the Mediterranean Sea. One of the highest population densities in the world, it is home to about 2.3 million people.

According to the UN, approximately one million people in Gaza depend on daily food aid, making up about 80% of the population.

Describe Palestine.

Since Roman times, Israel, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank, collectively known as the Palestinian Territories, have all been a part of the region known as Palestine.

 

Jews view these regions as their ancestral homeland because they were the locations of Jewish kingdoms in the Bible.

 

Maps illustrating Israel’s borders

Describe Palestine.

Since Roman times, Israel, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank, collectively known as the Palestinian Territories, have all been a part of the region known as Palestine.

Jews view these regions as their ancestral homeland because they were the locations of Jewish kingdoms in the Bible.

Although the territory is still referred to as Palestine by those who do not accept Israel’s right to exist, Israel was officially recognized as a state in 1948. Palestinians also refer to the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem collectively as Palestine.

What made Hamas attack right now?

Although the militants’ attack on October 7 came as a complete surprise, it took place at a time when Israeli-Palestinian tensions were at an all-time high.

The fact that this year has been the deadliest on record for Palestinians living in the Israeli-occupied West Bank may have inspired Hamas to launch a spectacular attack against Israel. Hamas may also have wanted to defeat Israel in a significant propaganda battle to increase its standing among Palestinians in general.

 

The fact that it has kidnapped so many Israelis is probably intended to put pressure on Israel to release some of the 4,500 Palestinians being held in Israeli jails, a subject that is extremely sensitive for all Palestinians.

While Iran’s ambassador to the UN has denied his country’s involvement, there is speculation that the attack was planned by Israel’s archrival Iran.

A historic peace agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia is becoming more likely, but Iran and Hamas vehemently oppose it. This potential agreement may be derailed if Israel’s military response to the attacks incites widespread resentment in the Arab world.

How unusual is this attack, exactly?

This is the most ambitious operation Hamas has ever carried out from Gaza, according to our international editor Jeremy Bowen, and the most significant cross-border assault Israel has experienced in more than a generation.

Multiple points of the wire separating Gaza from Israel were breached by militants.

The unheard-of assault occurred one day after the Middle East war-starting surprise attack by Egypt and Syria in 1973, which marked its 50th anniversary. The Hamas leadership will not have overlooked the significance of the date.

Is this a significant lapse in Israeli intelligence?

Yes, according to Frank Gardner, our security correspondent. He claims that considering the combined efforts of Mossad, the IDF’s external spy agency, Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence, and all of its resources, it is truly amazing that no one anticipated this or failed to take action if they had a warning.

Israel has arguably the most extensive and well-funded intelligence services in the Middle East, with informants and agents inside Palestinian militant groups, as well as in Lebanon, Syria and elsewhere.

On the ground, there are cameras, ground-motion sensors, and regular army patrols along the tense border fence between Israel and Gaza.

A “smart barrier” with barbed-wire on top of the fence was intended to stop exactly the kind of infiltration that occurred in this attack. However, Hamas militants simply bulldozed through it, cut gaps in the wire, or crossed into Israel by boat and paraglider.

Are Americans involved?

America is Israel’s closest ally, and successive US administrations have vowed to support Israel’s security with “iron-clad” commitment.

Following the Hamas attack, the US declared it would send a carrier, ships, and jets to the eastern Mediterranean and provide Israel with additional equipment and ammunition.

 

Although the exact reason for the movement of the fleet is unknown, it may be a warning to the potent Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah, which is an enemy of Israel and a supporter of Hamas, not to attack Israel.

What occurred in 1973 that people are drawing comparisons to?
The Hamas attack and what Israelis refer to as the Yom Kippur War of 1973 are being compared. On Yom Kippur, a Jewish holy day, Egypt and Syria surprised Israel with an attack. This happened almost exactly 50 years ago to the day.

Before Israel was able to repel the Arab forces, they made significant advances, killing up to 18,000 Arab soldiers and injuring tens of thousands more, costing 2,656 Israeli soldiers their lives.

 

The Hamas attack claimed the lives of nine US citizens along with victims from about 16 other nations, excluding Israel.

The fact that Israel was caught off-guard and suffered so many casualties made a deep impact on the Israeli psyche, and military preparedness since then convinced Israelis that such a thing could never happen again.

What might occur next?
Palestinians and other Arabs are being urged to join the militants’ effort to “sweep away the [Israeli] occupation,” according to Hamas militant commander Mohammed Deif.

Yolande Knell, our Jerusalem correspondent, says the key question at this point is whether Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, or elsewhere in the region will heed his call.

 

Israel is aware of the possibility of a conflict that could develop on several fronts. The worst-case scenario is that it might attract Hezbollah, a potent militant organization in Lebanon. Hezbollah fired a number of missiles and shells at northern Israel early on Sunday, but no one was hurt.

 

The Israeli military has commanded a significant troop increase. Along with its ferocious airstrikes on Gaza,  it has indicated that it is planning a ground operation there.