According to Israeli officials, Israel launched its attack in response to an unprecedented attack by Hamas on October 7, when its militants crossed the Gaza border, killing more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and wounding more than 230 others. Was taken hostage.
Since then, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says 8,500 people have been killed, more than 3,500 of them children.
Given the growing crisis, Iran-backed groups in Lebanon and Syria as well as Yemen have launched cross-border attacks that many fear could inflame the region.