What's happened
On August 7, 2024, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) escalated military operations in Gaza, targeting Hamas rocket launchers and military infrastructure. This follows a series of rocket attacks from Gaza into southern Israel, prompting airstrikes that reportedly resulted in civilian casualties and significant destruction in the region.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Times of Israel, the IDF has intensified its operations in Gaza, targeting Hamas infrastructure while facing criticism for civilian casualties. The military's spokesperson emphasized efforts to minimize harm, stating, 'We are taking many steps to ensure civilian safety.' However, reports from Palestinian health officials indicate that over 39,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the conflict began, raising serious humanitarian concerns. Al Jazeera highlights the plight of displaced families, noting that '86 percent of the Gaza Strip is now under evacuation orders.' This stark contrast in narratives underscores the complexity of the situation, with military objectives clashing against humanitarian realities.
How we got here
The ongoing conflict escalated after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel, which resulted in significant casualties and hostages. Since then, Israel has conducted extensive military operations in Gaza, leading to high civilian and militant casualties amid accusations of human rights violations.
Common question
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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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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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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.
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The West Bank is a landlocked territory near the Mediterranean coast of Western Asia, bordered by Jordan to the east and by Israel to the south, west and north. The West Bank also contains a significant section of the western Dead Sea shore.
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The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs, are an ethnonational group comprising the modern descendants of the peoples who have lived in Palestine continuously over the centuries and who today are largely culturally and
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Herzl "Herzi" Halevi is a major general in the Israel Defense Forces and the current chief of the Israeli Southern Command. Halevi is the first Orthodox Jew to serve as head of Israeli military intelligence.