The Palestinian militant organization Hamas launched a major attack against Israel early Oct. 7, firing thousands of rockets and sending militants across the border from the Gaza Strip into Israel, The Times of Israel reported. According to Palestinian media reports, the militants have taken some Israelis hostage (including an unspecified number of Israeli soldiers) while Israeli media is reporting that hundreds have been injured and at least two dozen people have been killed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the country is "at war," while the Israeli military said it was attacking Hamas targets in Gaza.

According to a Hamas spokesperson, the attacks came in response to Israeli "desecration" of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, though the Oct. 7 events follow weeks of tensions at the border between Israel and Gaza and sporadic clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians in the West Bank. The Oct. 7 events also coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War and are taking place on the Jewish Sabbath, a day of religious observance probably chosen in hopes Israel's ability to respond would be lower.