Unveiling the Intensity: Inside Israel's Conflict with Hamas

Israel has officially declared war on Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, following their unprecedented attack conducted on Saturday via air, sea, and land.

700 people have been killed in Israel due to a shocking and extensive surprise attack, leading to a deadly response from Israel with airstrikes on Gaza resulting in the deaths of at least 560 individuals. Hamas claimed that during their retreat into Gaza, the militants took around 100 hostages. Israel has vowed that Hamas will face severe consequences and is potentially making preparations for a ground invasion of Gaza.

Heres what we know so far.

What happened?

In the early hours of Saturday morning, militants from Gaza launched a barrage of rockets towards Israeli towns. They then managed to breach the heavily fortified border fence and infiltrate deep into Israeli territory. In this brutal incursion, Hamas gunmen mercilessly killed both civilians and soldiers, even taking hostages from their own homes.

The Israeli forces faced a grueling battle that lasted over two days before finally regaining control. On Monday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that they had successfully recaptured all Israeli communities situated near Gaza's southern border, marking the end of the conflict with Hamas.

The attacks were unprecedented in both tactics and scale, as Israel had not engaged in street battles with its adversaries on its own territory since the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Additionally, Israel had never before experienced a terror attack of this magnitude, resulting in the loss of numerous civilian lives. Previous incidents involving Hamas had involved the kidnapping of Israelis, but never on the scale of taking dozens of hostages, including children and the elderly.

Referred to as "Al-Aqsa Storm," Hamas claimed that the assault was a response to Israeli attacks on women, the desecration of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, and the ongoing blockade of Gaza.

How has Israel responded?

Following the assault, Israel has announced a state of war and commenced "Operation Swords of Iron," which has already inflicted precise blows on approximately 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad objectives in Gaza, resulting in the loss of numerous lives.

The IDF has advised Gaza civilians to evacuate their residential areas promptly due to ongoing Israeli military operations targeting Hamas. Additionally, all crossings between Israel and Gaza have been closed, which may indicate preparations for a possible ground incursion into the enclave.

Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant announced on Monday that he has implemented a comprehensive blockade on Gaza. "There will be no access to electricity, food, fuel, or any services," he stated, emphasizing that water supplies will also be halted.

At least 560 had been killed in Gaza as of Monday, including at least 20 children, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said. Another 2,900 were injured.

How did the two sides get here?

Tensions have long plagued Israelis and Palestinians even before the establishment of Israel in 1948, resulting in numerous casualties and injuries over the years.

This year, the level of violence has escalated significantly. The occupied West Bank has witnessed the highest number of Palestinians, including militants and civilians, killed by Israeli forces in nearly 20 years. Similarly, Palestinian attacks have taken the lives of the highest number of Israelis and foreigners, primarily civilians.

Israel took control of Gaza from Egypt during the 1967 war, but later withdrew its troops and settlers in 2005. Since then, the territory, which is home to approximately 2 million Palestinians, came under the control of Hamas in 2007 following a short civil war with Fatah, a rival Palestinian faction that forms the backbone of the Palestinian Authority.

In response to Hamas's takeover, both Israel and Egypt imposed a strict blockade on the territory, which is still in effect. Israel also enforces an air and naval blockade on Gaza. Human Rights Watch has described Gaza as an "open-air prison." Over half of the population lives in poverty and faces food insecurity, with nearly 80% relying on humanitarian assistance.

Hamas and Israel have engaged in multiple conflicts. The most recent war between the two took place in 2021 and stretched over an 11-day period. This unfortunate event resulted in the loss of at least 250 lives in Gaza and 13 in Israel.

Significantly, the assault that occurred on a Saturday marks almost half a century since the 1973 war. It was during this historical event that Israel's Arab neighbors launched an unexpected attack on Israel on October 6, 1973, coinciding with Yom Kippur, the most sacred day in the Jewish calendar.

Israeli soldiers scan an area as rockets from Gaza are launched towards Israel, near Sderot in southern Israel on Monday.

Amir Cohen/Reuters

What is Hamas?

Hamas, an Islamist group formed in 1987, is an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, a Sunni Islamist organization established in Egypt during the late 1920s.

Similar to other Palestinian factions and political parties, Hamas maintains that Israel is an occupying force and strives for the liberation of Palestinian territories. It regards Israel as an illegitimate nation and advocates for its downfall.

Hamas, unlike other Palestinian factions, refuses to participate in any form of communication or negotiation with Israel. Back in 1993, it openly opposed the Oslo Accords, a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). These Accords resulted in the PLO giving up its armed resistance against Israel, in exchange for promises of an independent Palestinian state coexisting with Israel. Additionally, the Accords established the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Hamas aims to position itself as an alternative to the PA, which has recognized Israel and has made various unsuccessful attempts at achieving peace with the country. Over the years, the PA's credibility has diminished, and it is currently led by President Mahmoud Abbas.

Hamas has been responsible for numerous attacks on Israel throughout the years and has been officially recognized as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, and Israel. Israel firmly believes that its adversary, Iran, supports this group.

Israelis inspect the rubble of a building a day after it was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel on Sunday.

Oded Balilty/AP

What happens next?

Israel is currently in a state of wartime readiness and has commenced the mobilization of its troops for a prospective ground operation in Gaza. It has unequivocally stated its intention to impose severe consequences on Hamas for their assault and is actively strategizing the safe retrieval of Israeli hostages from the region.

Israel has previously faced hostage situations, although never on this magnitude. Previously, the demands made by militants mostly involved the release of prisoners held in Israeli jails in exchange for captured Israelis. In 2011, as an example, Israel exchanged 1,027 Palestinians for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Likewise, in 2004, over two dozen Lebanese and Arab prisoners, including two senior Hezbollah officials, were released in return for Elhanan Tannenbaum, an Israeli businessman and army reserve colonel, as well as the bodies of three IDF soldiers. In 2008, five Palestinian prisoners, five Lebanese prisoners, and the bodies of nearly 200 Arab fighters were released in exchange for the bodies of two Israeli soldiers.

The exact demands that will be made by the militants for the reported 100 or more hostages held by Hamas remain uncertain. However, their presence in Gaza will undoubtedly complicate any Israeli military operation in the area.

Meanwhile, the IDF intends to assume authority over the Gaza Strip, according to its spokesperson, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht. He stated that the objective is to "terminate the Gaza enclave" and "establish full control over the entire area."

On Saturday, Saleh al-Arouri, a high-ranking member of Hamas, informed Al Jazeera Arabic that Hamas is prepared "for all possibilities, including engaging in a war and escalating tensions on all fronts."

"We are ready for the worst-case scenario, including a ground invasion, which will be the best for us to decide the ending of this battle," al-Arouri said.

A relative of an Israeli missing since the attack by Hamas cries during a press conference in Ramat Gan, Israel on Sunday.

Maya Alleruzzo/AP

Could this lead to a wider regional conflict?

The Hamas operation was executed with precision and meticulous coordination, indicating extensive premeditation. There has been widespread speculation about possible foreign aid received by the group, and if substantiated, it could potentially escalate into a broader regional conflict.

Israel alleges that Iran provides a substantial financial support of approximately $100 million per annum to Hamas. The US State Department confirmed in 2021 that Iran supplies funding, weaponry, and training to Hamas, in addition to certain funds acquired from Gulf Arab nations.

An unnamed US official stated to CNN, "Iran's involvement is undeniable. They have been aiding Hamas and Hezbollah for a considerable period."

A senior official from the Biden administration stated on Saturday that it is premature to determine Iran's direct involvement in the attack, but emphasized that the matter will be closely monitored by Washington. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi had a phone conversation with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Sunday, followed by extending congratulations to the Palestinian people for their perceived triumph over Israel. However, on Monday, Iran's mission to the United Nations asserted that the Islamic Republic was not involved in Palestine's response, specifically referring to the Hamas attack. The mission declared that the action was solely taken by Palestine itself.

Palestinians remove a dead body from the rubble of a building after an Israeli airstrike hits Jebaliya refugee camp, in the Gaza Strip on Monday.

The US has deployed a carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean Sea, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed. Additionally, more fighter jets are being sent to the Middle East to deter potential Iranian aggression or the escalation of fighting beyond the borders of Israel, according to a US official speaking to CNN.

Israel potentially faces the threat of new fronts opening in the ongoing war. Among its immediate neighbors, it maintains peaceful relations with Jordan and Egypt, while officially remaining in a state of war with Lebanon and Syria. Israel has expressed readiness to defend against any attacks from these two countries.

Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group backed by Iran, has praised the recent Hamas attack and announced its communication with Palestinian militant groups both domestically and internationally, according to its Al Manar channel. On Sunday, the group claimed responsibility for targeting three Israeli sites in an area known as Shebaa Farms using missiles and artillery. Lebanon views this area as under Israeli occupation. In response, Israel retaliated by deploying artillery.

On Monday, the IDF announced that it eliminated a group of armed individuals who illegally entered Israel from Lebanon, and soldiers are currently conducting a search operation in the area. Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati expressed his country's desire to avoid being pulled into the conflict.

Reported by CNN journalists Hadas Gold, Richard Allen Greene, Amir Tal, Ibrahim Dahman, Abeer Salman, Kareem Khaddar, Mostafa Salem, Hamdi Alkhshali, Mia Alberti, Elliott Gotkine, Oren Liebermann, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Eyad Kourdi, and Celine Alkhaldi.