Israeli-Hamas Conflict (Events Since October 7th)

The conflict in the Mideast between Israel and Hamas has shaped up to be among the most protracted and extensive in recent memory. It not only has significant repercussions in the region, but is engulfing the world in the conflict. The conflict is also creating a space for the discussion of a wide range of issues, including the nature of war and retribution, military conflict between an established nation and a idelogical armed entitty, the treatment of civilian populations, the protection of NGO's (nogovernmental and humantarian groups) in the region and the larger global implications connected to free speech and expression, and the the right to protest and assemble. Below we have assembled some of the most important information related to the military aspects of the conflict. We at Historianspeaks are committed to objective and impartial journalism. We will produce several blogs to document this reality and its multifaceted components of this conflict.

Since October 7, 2023, the conflict between Israel and Hamas has escalated significantly. Let’s delve into some key points:

Initial Attacks (7 October – 27 October 2023):

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an unprecedented multi-faceted and sustained assault on Israel from the Gaza Strip.

The attacks on Israel resulted in the death of 1,139 people, including 764 civilians and 373 Israeli security personnel. Additionally, 248 persons were taken hostage during the initial attack on Israel to the Gaza Strip.

In response, Israel vowed to “crush and destroy Hamas” to eliminate the threat and secure the release of the hostages .

In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, 13 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces during this period1.

On October 8, 2023, the Israeli government passed Resolution 941, extending the special home front situation initially declared by the minister of defense.

See the following resources below for more interactive informaton on the Initial Attacks:

Israel-Hamas war: Timeline and map of what happened | AP News

Israel-Gaza war in maps and charts: Live tracker | Israel War on Gaza News | Al Jazeera

Invasion of the Gaza Strip (28 October – 23 November 2023):

On October 28, 2023, Israel began a large-scale ground assault on the towns of Beit Hanoun and Bureij in the Gaza Strip

First Ceasefire (24 November 2023 – 11 January 2024):

A ceasefire was established between Israel and Hamas, temporarily halting the hostilities.

Yemen Airstrikes (12 January 2024 – present):

The conflict continues, with airstrikes in Yemen.

As of April 8, 2024, over 34,000 people have been reported killed in the Israel-Hamas war, including 33,091 Palestinians and 1,410 Israelis. The vast majority of casualties have been in the Gaza Strip, with 70% of them being women and minors. The death toll may be higher than reported, with thousands remaining unaccounted for, including those trapped under rubble

Best source for current assessments of the war:

Israel-Gaza war in maps and charts: Live tracker | Israel War on Gaza News | Al Jazeera

Interactive Map: Israel's Operation in Gaza (arcgis.com)

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/13/israel-hamas-war-conflict-visual-guide-in-maps-satellite-images-and-video

War Statistics:

The war has been brutal, with at least 33,000 Palestinians killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Large parts of Gaza have been devastated due to the conflict .

Israel claims to have killed thousands of Hamas fighters and has targeted the vast network of tunnels beneath Gaza that Hamas used for attacks

The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) reports having killed about 13,000 Hamas fighters since the war began .

Notably, Marwan Issa, deputy commander of Hamas’s military wing, was killed in March, making him the most senior leader to be killed during the conflict .

Good source for visual images of the conflict:

Israel-Hamas war: a visual guide in maps, video and satellite images | Israel | The Guardian

Hamas Leadership:

Before October 7, Hamas had approximately 30,000 fighters in Gaza.

While many senior political figures live abroad, much of the military leadership structure remains inside Gaza.

The IDF has not been able to reach the top brass of the Hamas leadership, including prominent leaders like Yahya Sinwar .

Israeli-Hamas Conflict (Events Since October 7th)

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