Israel and Hamas have engaged in a conflict in Gaza for a span of 100 days, beginning when militants from the latter carried out disruptive actions in southern Israel. This triggered a robust Israeli military response, resulting in the loss of nearly 24,000 Palestinian lives. The following is a chronological overview of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, the Islamic movement that holds control over the Gaza Strip:
Oct. 7, 2023: Hamas gunmen crossed into southern Israel from Gaza, causing widespread havoc, resulting in 1,200 casualties and 240 hostages taken back to Gaza. Israel, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, declared war and initiated retaliatory airstrikes on Gaza, along with imposing a total siege on the enclave.
Oct. 8: Hezbollah, an Iranian ally akin to Hamas, began cross-border shelling attacks from Lebanon, drawing counter-strikes from Israel.
Oct. 13: Israel urged residents of Gaza City to evacuate, marking the beginning of a mass exodus. The north of Gaza was targeted for evacuation in subsequent weeks, displacing hundreds of thousands.
Oct. 17: The explosion at al-Ahli al-Arabi Baptist hospital in Gaza City sparked controversy. Israel attributed it to a misfiring Palestinian rocket, a claim supported by Washington.
Oct. 19: Yemen’s Houthi group launched missiles and drones toward Israel over the Red Sea, expressing solidarity with Gaza.
Oct. 21: Aid trucks crossed the Rafah border from Egypt to Gaza after diplomatic efforts. The humanitarian crisis persisted due to a shortage of food, water, medicines, and fuel.
Oct. 27: One week after executing limited incursions, Israel initiated an extensive ground offensive in Gaza, commencing with an attack on the northern regions. The operation was undertaken with a commitment to liberate all hostages and eliminate Hamas.
Oct. 31: Fifteen Israeli soldiers were killed in Gaza, marking the military’s biggest single-day losses.
Nov. 1: The evacuations began from Gaza via the Rafah crossing for approximately 7,000 individuals, including foreign passport holders, dual nationals and their dependents, and those requiring urgent medical treatment. However, the vast majority of Gaza residents remained without a viable means of exiting the enclave.
Nov. 9: Israel reported that a drone, launched from Syrian territory, struck its southern city of Eilat. Subsequently, the Israeli military states that it carried out an offensive against the militia deemed responsible. Later on, Israel asserts that Syria has become one of the new fronts in the escalating Gaza war.
Nov. 15: Israeli troops entered Al Shifa hospital, alleging it concealed Hamas headquarters. Hospitals in the northern half of Gaza cease functioning.
Nov. 21: Israel and Hamas announced a four-day truce to exchange hostages and allowed aid, which later collapsed on Dec. 1.
Dec. 4: Israeli forces launched a significant ground assault in southern Gaza, worsening the humanitarian situation.
Dec. 12: Biden criticized Israel’s “indiscriminate bombing,” signaling a shift in U.S. rhetoric.
Dec. 15: Israeli forces mistakenly cause the death of three hostages in Gaza. This incident resulted in some of the most notable criticism of the war’s conduct within Israel, despite the campaign maintaining broad domestic support.
Dec. 22: Islamic Resistance in Iraq, the Iranian-backed militia targeted Israel from Iraq, expanding regional fronts in the conflict.
Dec. 26: Israeli forces initiated a substantial ground assault on zones within the central Gaza Strip, preceded by a series of airstrikes that once again forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee, the majority of whom were already displaced.
From Jan. 1, 2024: Israel indicated its intention to initiate the withdrawal of certain troops from Gaza as part of a focused new phase in its campaign, anticipated to extend over several months. Authorities specified that this tactical shift will commence in the northern regions of Gaza, even as intense confrontations persist in the southern areas.
Jan. 11, 2024: U.S. and British military forces deployed numerous airstrikes in Yemen, utilizing warplanes, ships, and submarines to retaliate against Houthi forces for their assaults on Red Sea shipping. The United States conducted an additional strike in Yemen the subsequent day. The Houthis reported the death of five of their fighters in the initial airstrikes and declared their intention to retaliate, vowing to persist in their attacks on shipping.
Simultaneously, on January 11, the International Court of Justice commences the hearing of opening statements in a case where South Africa alleges that Israel is engaged in a state-led genocide campaign against the Palestinian population. Israel vehemently denies these accusations.
As of now, the Israel-Hamas conflict remains highly complex with ongoing diplomatic and military developments shaping its trajectory.
(With Reuters Inputs)