Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on Saturday (October 7), by firing a barrage of 2,200 rockets and missiles from Gaza Strip and invading into Southern Israel. As per recent developments, are 22 people were confirmed killed in the attack, while many were injured and were being given medical treatment.

Hamas claimed that 5,000 rockets were fired from the blockaded enclave to Israel and that fighters had infiltrated into Israeli towns.

Hamas fighters have infiltrated multiple communities in the south of the country, the Times of Israel reported.

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After the Hamas attack, Israel declared a 'state of war'. However, the latest flare up is a result of a series of events linked to the decades-long Israel-Palestine conflict, which escalated in recent months.

On January 16, 2023, Israeli forces allegedly killed a Palestinian boy in the West Bank. The incident took place when the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) responded with open fire after being attacked by rocks, Molotov cocktails and other explosive devices. Following the incident, on January 27, the Palestinian officials reported that there were nine Palestinians killed during an Israeli military raid in Jenin. Responding to Palestinian’s claims, the Israeli military said that the objective of the raid was to arrest the Palestinian Islamic Jihad “terror operatives” who they said were planning major attacks.

Smoke rises from the Israeli side after Palestinian Hamas gunmen infiltrated areas of southern Israel, as seen from Gaza, October 7, 2023.

On February 22, Palestinian officials again reported that 10 more Palestinians were killed while over 100 were injured in another Israeli raid in Nablus. After the report, Palestinian militants and the Israel Defence Forces exchanged rocket fire in the Gaza Strip. During the same time, the Israeli military carried out air strikes in response to the Palestinian militants firing rockets at southern Israel.

On February 26, a Palestinian gunman reported killing two Israeli settler brothers in Hawara. Responding to the act, Israeli settlers in Palestinian villages retaliated and set cars and homes on fire. Several people were affected while one of the Israeli American was killed as well.

The latest offensive is aimed at freeing Jerusalem’s sensitive al-Aqsa mosque compound. The operation has been named ‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’.

(Edited by : Jerome Anthony)