On October 7, 2023, Hamas militants crossed into Israel, launching a deadly assault that left over 1,000 dead and saw more than 200 individuals taken hostage. In response, Israel declared war and launched a large-scale military operation against Hamas in Gaza, leading to the deaths of over 42,000 Palestinians. As the conflict expanded, Israel also struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, resulting in several casualties.
Over the past year, nearly the entire population of Gaza has been displaced by the ongoing war. Many are now living in makeshift shelters, schools, and refugee camps, facing severe shortages of essential resources such as food, water, and medical supplies.
Timeline of Major Events
October 7, 2023: Hamas militants launch a deadly incursion into Israel, killing 1,200 and capturing an estimated 240 hostages. Prime Minister Netanyahu declares war, with Israel launching retaliatory airstrikes on Gaza.
October 8, 2023: Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, begins cross-border shelling into northern Israel.
October 13, 2023: Israel orders Gaza City residents to evacuate, prompting hundreds of thousands to flee south.
October 17, 2023: A Gaza hospital explosion incites regional outrage. Palestinian groups accuse Israel, while Israel attributes it to a misfiring Palestinian rocket. The U.S. supports Israel’s claim, and an Arab summit with President Biden is canceled.
October 19, 2023: The U.S. intercepts missiles and drones from Yemen’s Houthis, an Iranian-backed group, in solidarity with Gaza.
October 21, 2023: Aid trucks enter Gaza through Egypt’s Rafah crossing after significant diplomatic negotiations, providing limited relief.
October 27, 2023: Israel escalates its ground operations in Gaza.
November 1, 2023: Foreign nationals and dual citizens begin evacuating through Rafah.
November 8, 2023: Gaza’s death toll surpasses 10,000, drawing international criticism. Israel insists it targets Hamas only.
November 21, 2023: A truce between Israel and Hamas initiates the exchange of hostages and detainees.
December 1, 2023: The truce collapses, and hostilities resume.
December 6, 2023: The U.S. vetoes a U.N. Security Council ceasefire resolution.
December 12, 2023: Biden criticizes Israel’s bombing in Gaza, marking a shift in U.S. policy.
December 22, 2023: Gaza’s death toll exceeds 20,000, with Iran-backed militias increasing their attacks on Israel.
January 11, 2024: The International Court of Justice hears a case alleging genocide by Israel against Palestinians, which Israel denies.
February 20, 2024: The U.S. again vetoes a U.N. ceasefire proposal.
March 26, 2024: A ceasefire resolution passes at the U.N. as the U.S. abstains.
April 1, 2024: Israel targets the Iranian embassy in Syria, killing a senior commander, sparking retaliatory attacks by Hezbollah and the Houthis.
August 7, 2024: Hamas appoints Yahya Sinwar as its new leader after Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination in Tehran, which Israel does not claim.
September 30, 2024: Israel extends its operations, attacking Yemen-based Houthi positions and launching a targeted ground mission in Lebanon.
October 2, 2024: Iran launches missiles at Israel following the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, while Israeli troops continue incursions into Lebanon.
The fighting has caused many people to be displaced throughout the course of the year, and Gaza is currently experiencing serious humanitarian difficulties. As both sides continue their fierce military operations that impact Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, and other areas, hostilities persist. With no obvious end in sight, the battle, which attracted regional and international forces, has had long-lasting effects throughout the Middle East.