What's happened
As of October 7, 2024, Israel marks one year since the deadliest terrorist attack in its history, which has escalated into a broader conflict affecting multiple countries. Survivors from both sides share their experiences amid ongoing violence and political tensions.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Sabrina Tavernise from the New York Times, the conflict has expanded significantly since last year, with 'tens of thousands of people' affected across multiple countries. Meanwhile, Bethan McKernan from The Guardian highlights the profound grief and anger among survivors in Israel, particularly in Kibbutz Nir Oz, where a quarter of the population was killed or kidnapped. This sentiment reflects a broader frustration with the Israeli government's priorities over the past year. The New York Times also notes the ongoing political implications, as the state of the race for leadership is influenced by the government's handling of the crisis, with significant challenges ahead for leaders like Kamala Harris.
How we got here
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, resulting in significant casualties. This event triggered a military response from Israel and has since escalated into a regional conflict involving multiple nations.
More on these topics
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The Gaza Strip, or simply Gaza, is a self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, that borders Egypt on the southwest for 11 kilometers and Israel on the east and north along a 51 km border.
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Nir Oz (Hebrew: נִיר עֹז, ניר עוז, lit. Meadow of Strength) is a kibbutz in southern Israel. It is located in the northwestern Negev desert between Magen and Nirim, and covers 20,000 dunams. Nir Oz is under the jurisdiction of Eshkol Regiona
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.