Here are ten key milestones in the war between Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which broke out following an unprecedented attack by the movement on the Hebrew state on October 7. Since then, Israeli airstrikes and ground assaults have resulted in at least 39,653 deaths, the majority of whom are civilians, including women and children, according to figures from the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by Hamas.
1. **Hamas Attack on October 7, 2023**: Hundreds of Hamas fighters infiltrated Israel and launched attacks in border towns and at a music festival. The attack resulted in 1,198 deaths, mostly civilians, according to a count by AFP based on official Israeli figures. The attackers also kidnapped 251 individuals, of whom 111 are still held in Gaza, including 39 whom the army says are dead.
2. **Israeli Prime Minister's Commitment**: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to eliminate Hamas, which is classified as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, and Israel.
3. **Evacuations to the South**: On October 13, Israel urged residents of Gaza City (north) to move south as it began bombarding the now fully besieged territory. By early July, the UN estimated that 80% of the population in the Gaza Strip had been displaced.
4. **Ground Offensive Launched**: Beginning October 27, the Israeli army commenced a ground offensive. On November 15 in Gaza City, the army raided the Shifa Medical Complex and claimed to have found "munitions, weapons, and military equipment," which Hamas denied.
5. **Seven-Day Ceasefire**: The only ceasefire reached during this war at the end of November lasted a week and allowed for the release of 105 hostages, including 80 Israelis and the rest dual nationals, in exchange for 240 Palestinians held by Israel. The ceasefire also allowed larger humanitarian aid convoys from Egypt, though the United Nations deemed them insufficient.
6. **Renewed Fighting and Escalation**: With fighting resuming, the Israeli army introduced tanks into southern Gaza on December 4, intensifying airstrikes and ground combat.
7. **International Court Ruling**: On January 26, following a complaint from South Africa, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take all measures to prevent acts of genocide during its military operations in Gaza.
8. **Humanitarian Aid Shooting Incident**: On February 29, 120 people were killed by Israeli gunfire during a humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza City, according to Hamas. The Israeli army stated its forces "fired accurately" at suspects approaching nearby soldiers.
9. **Humanitarian Assistance from Various Nations**: Starting in early March, planes from several countries, including the United States, began dropping aid into Gaza, which the UN warned was facing famine. The first aid ship arrived from Cyprus on March 15.
10. **Casualties Among Humanitarian Workers**: Seven workers from the American organization World Central Kitchen were killed in an Israeli strike on April 1 in Gaza, with the Israeli army admitting to making a "significant error." Israel withdrew its forces from southern Gaza on April 7, "in readiness to continue its missions." Netanyahu had vowed since February to launch a wide-reaching attack on the city of Rafah, seen as the last major stronghold of Hamas.
Further developments included increased tensions between Israel and Iran, the continuation of Israeli military operations in Gaza, and significant attacks on civilian structures, leading to further humanitarian crises.
