The war in Israel and Gaza in 2023 is generally understood to have begun with Hamas’s large, coordinated attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, and Israel’s declaration of war and massive retaliatory campaign in Gaza that followed.

What Actually “Started” the War?

On 7 October 2023, fighters from Hamas and allied groups launched a surprise assault from Gaza into southern Israel by land, air, and sea. They fired thousands of rockets, broke through the border fence, attacked nearby communities, killed around 1,200 people in Israel, and took hundreds of hostages back into Gaza.

The next day, Israel’s government formally declared a state of war against Hamas and began large‑scale airstrikes and a broader military campaign in the Gaza Strip. This escalation is what is commonly referred to as the 2023 Israel–Hamas war (or Gaza war).

Why Did Hamas Say It Launched the Attack?

Hamas framed its 7 October operation as a response to long‑standing grievances. Statements by Hamas officials and coverage by major outlets point to several motives they cited:

  • The ongoing Israeli occupation and blockade of Gaza.
  • Anger over Israeli actions and restrictions around the al‑Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem.
  • Israeli settler violence and military raids in the West Bank, especially during a particularly deadly period in 2022–2023.
  • The imprisonment of thousands of Palestinians in Israeli jails and the goal of trading hostages for prisoners.

These are the reasons Hamas publicly gives; they do not represent a consensus explanation and are rejected by Israel, which views the attack as an unprovoked act of terrorism.

Deeper Roots: Long Conflict, Immediate Spark

Many analysts stress that while the immediate trigger for the 2023 war was the 7 October Hamas assault, the conflict sits on decades of unresolved issues between Israelis and Palestinians. These include:

  • Competing national movements and claims to the same land since at least the early 20th century.
  • Wars in 1948, 1967, and later rounds of Gaza fighting (2008–09, 2012, 2014, 2021) that never produced a lasting political settlement.
  • The blockade of Gaza since Hamas took control in 2007, which has created severe humanitarian and economic pressures there.

An illustration often used: think of the October 7 attack as a match, but the room was already full of flammable material built up over years—occupation, blockade, violence, and failed diplomacy.

How Different Sides Explain “What Started It”

Israeli government and many Israelis

  • Emphasize the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack as the clear start of the war.
  • Describe it as a large‑scale terrorist massacre that forced Israel to respond militarily to protect its citizens and dismantle Hamas.
  • Point to the taking of civilian hostages as especially shocking and as a major reason for continuing military pressure.

Hamas and many Palestinians

  • Say the war is part of a much longer struggle against occupation, blockade, and systemic oppression.
  • Present 7 October as a “resistance” operation meant to break the status quo, answer Israeli actions at al‑Aqsa, and secure prisoner releases.
  • Highlight Palestinian casualties in Gaza and the West Bank in the months and years before the attack as context.

International analysts and human‑rights groups

  • Generally agree on the factual sequence : Hamas’s 7 October attack, then Israel’s declaration of war and massive campaign in Gaza.
  • Differ in how they allocate responsibility, with some stressing Hamas’s accountability for initiating the war, and others focusing on long‑term structural factors like occupation and blockade.

Short Timeline: From Spark to War

  1. Before October 2023
    • Years of blockade on Gaza, repeated flare‑ups between Israel and Hamas, expanding Israeli settlements, and rising violence in the West Bank.
  1. 7 October 2023
    • Hamas and allied militants launch a surprise multi‑front attack on southern Israel, firing rockets and entering Israeli territory.
 * Roughly 1,200 people in Israel are killed and hundreds kidnapped to Gaza.
  1. 8 October 2023 onward
    • Israel declares a state of war, begins massive airstrikes and later ground operations in Gaza.
 * The conflict widens regionally, with involvement or attacks from groups like Hezbollah and other Iran‑backed factions, though the core war remains between Israel and Hamas.

Latest News and Ongoing Situation (Context up to 2026)

By early 2026, the Israel–Hamas war is still shaping regional politics and security. Key ongoing elements include:

  • High civilian casualties and destruction in Gaza, drawing intense international scrutiny and debates over proportionality and war crimes.
  • Repeated but fragile ceasefire attempts, some involving hostage‑prisoner exchanges and humanitarian pauses.
  • Spillover tensions involving Iran, Hezbollah, and other groups, leading to broader confrontations in the region.

News about ceasefire proposals, diplomatic efforts, and regional escalation continues to evolve, so checking recent reputable outlets is important for the latest news on the war in Israel and Gaza.

TL;DR:

  • The 2023 war in Israel and Gaza was immediately triggered when Hamas launched a large surprise attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, killing over a thousand people and taking many hostages.
  • Israel then declared war on Hamas and began a major offensive in Gaza.
  • Hamas says it acted in response to decades of occupation, blockade, and recent escalations, while Israel and many others see the 7 October assault itself as what started the war.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.