Three months after the war between Israel and Hamas began, we review the conflict’s key moments
A Palestinian child cries next to his mother, following an Israeli attack, in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, on November 13, 2023. (Photo: Mohamed Salem/Reuters).
Three months have passed since the devastating Hamas attack that sparked Israel’s war in Gaza, and the deadly fighting has created a severe humanitarian crisis in the area.
The Israeli army launched an offensive against the Palestinian enclave after Hamas fighters launched a brutal attack on Israel on October 7, in which gunmen killed nearly 1,200 people and took more than 200 hostage, according to Israeli authorities.
In the three months since the attack, more than 22,700 Gazans have died, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Here, some key moments of the conflict:
October 7: Hamas attack. The Hamas ambush on October 7 was the largest terrorist attack in Israel’s history. At least 1,500 Hamas fighters crossed the border with Israel by land, sea and air using paragliders. Shortly after, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel was “at war.”
October 9: Israel ordered a “total siege” of Gaza. Two days later, Netanyahu said the Israeli military would attack Hamas with force “like never before” with the aim of destroying the extremist group.
October 13: Growing emigration. The Israeli military ordered 1.1 million people in northern Gaza to evacuate their homes immediately, as it intensified its response. Since the conflict began, the UN estimates that 1.9 million people have been displaced.
On October 13, 2023, Palestinians fled to safer areas in Gaza City after Israeli airstrikes. (Photo: Mahmoud Hames/AFP/Getty Images).
17th October: Hundreds dead in Gaza hospital. A deadly explosion destroyed Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza, which houses thousands of displaced people. CNN learned that the explosion was caused by a malfunctioning rocket fired by Palestinian militants and not an Israeli attack.
October 27: Israel expands its ground offensive. After a war largely conducted from the air, the Israel Defense Forces announced that they were “expanding ground operations” in Gaza.
November 15: Attack on Al-Shifa Hospital. Israel launched a “targeted” operation against Hamas inside Gaza’s largest hospital, where thousands of Palestinians are believed to be taking refuge. The condition of the hospital deteriorated rapidly during the days of fighting. The raid drew international criticism.
November 24: A truce begins. After days of careful negotiations, a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas puts a halt to the fighting. As part of the ceasefire, groups of hostages in Gaza were released daily.
1st December: A truce breaks down. A week later, the Israeli army resumed fighting Hamas in Gaza, accusing the group of violating the terms of the cease-fire. Israel’s attention began to shift from the north to the south of Gaza.
December 15: Killed in a hostage attack. Israeli soldiers shot dead three Israeli hostages in northern Gaza after they mistakenly identified them as threats. The IDF said the shooting violated its rules of engagement and that the soldiers involved would face disciplinary action.
January 1: Israel announces partial withdrawal. On the first day of the new year, Israel announced it would soon begin withdrawing thousands of troops from Gaza to prepare for a new phase of the conflict, although a senior official warned it expected fighting to continue throughout the year.
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