The Israeli government formally declared war against Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya, also known as the Islamic Resistance Movement, after Hamas launched an attack on Israel from Gaza on Oct. 7.
The attack resulted in the deaths of more than 700 Israeli citizens.
In response to this attack, Israel initiated retaliatory bombardments on the Gaza Strip, which claimed the lives of at least 400 Palestinians. Since then, more than 1,500 Gazans have died, and 338,000 others have been displaced.
Hamas was labeled a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom in 2018. Iran has publicly endorsed Hamas, supplying them with weapons and financial support.
Israel brought in special forces to reclaim four Israeli sites from Hamas fighters following Hamas and a smaller Islamic Jihad group claiming to have taken more than 130 captives inside Israel.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted to social media to offer sympathy towards those effected by the bombings.
“Whoever uses terror is a criminal against the whole world,” Zelenskyy continued. “Whoever sponsors terrorism is a criminal against the whole world.”
Other world leaders, including U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and U.S. President Joe Biden, also shared their support for Israel.
“Israel has the right to defend itself—today and in the days to come. The European Union stands with Israel,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed retaliation, warning his country would take “mighty vengeance” and was readying for “a long and difficult war.”
Netanyahu urged Palestinians living in Gaza to “leave now” to avoid being caught in the crossfire between Israel and Hamas.
Hamas launched thousands of rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel—landing direct hits on multiple locations inside the country, including in Tel Aviv—while armed terror groups entered Israel and infiltrated military bases, towns and farms, shooting civilians and taking hostages.
It has been over 17 years since an Israeli soldier was taken as a prisoner-of-war in an assault on Israeli territory. Israel has not seen the infiltration of military bases, towns and kibbutzim since the 1948 war for independence.
Israel imposed a “total blockade” of the Gaza Strip on Oct. 9, blocking the entry of food, water and medicine. As of Oct. 16, Israel has allowed water to be delivered to Gaza citizens through the Rafah crossing.
Israel is expected to launch a ground offensive to kill Hamas leaders, recover captives and destroy the group’s military infrastructure—much of which is in residential areas.
