At least 563 dead in Israel-Palestine ‘war’, Hamas holds several Israelis captive: 10 things we know so far

World leaders have condemned the attacks, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron, and others. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour,” Modi wrote on X (formerly Twitter), while Biden posted a video in which he said, “We’ll make sure that they (Israel) have the help their citizens need and they can continue to defend themselves.”

Here’s what we know so far:

1. 01

   At least 563 Israelis and Palestinians dead

   Gunmen from the Palestinian militant outfit Hamas carried out a deadly rampage in Israeli towns in the southern part of the country on Saturday, killing at least 250 Israelis. This marked the deadliest day of violence in Israel since the Yom Kippur war half a century ago. In response, Israel launched devastating retaliatory strikes, resulting in over 313 casualties in Gaza.

2. 02

   Israelis held captive by Hamas

   Several Israeli civilians and soldiers were abducted by Hamas militants, during the ‘unprecedented infiltration’ that took place on Saturday, Israel’s top military spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said. Residents of Israeli border towns had told news broadcasters that gunmen were looking for civilians. Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad, another small militant faction in Gaza, had also issued statements claiming to have Israeli captives.

3. 03

   Fresh escalation on Israel-Lebanon border

   A day after the Hamas attacks, tensions escalated at the Israel-Lebanon border, with the Israeli military saying one of its drones struck a Hezbollah post in the Har Dov area on the border. Hezbollah, meanwhile, has claimed responsibility for a rocket and artillery attack on the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms on Sunday, saying it was “in solidarity” with the Palestinian people. According to three security sources quoted by Reuters, projectiles launched from Lebanon hit an Israeli military post in Shebaa Farms.

4. 04

   What has Israeli PM Netanyahu said

   In his first remarks after the Hamas attacks started, Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu said, “We are at war and we will win.” He also declared a mass mobilisation of the country's army reserves. Later, he wrote on X: “All of the places which Hamas is deployed, hiding and operating in, that wicked city, we will turn them into rubble. I say to the residents of Gaza: Leave now because we will operate forcefully everywhere. At this hour, the IDF is clearing the terrorists out of the last communities. They are going community by community, house by house, and are restoring our control.”

5. 05

   What have Hamas leaders said

   Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said the assault that had begun in Gaza would spread to the West Bank and Jerusalem. In a speech, Haniyeh highlighted threats to Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, the continuation of the blockade on Gaza and Israeli normalisation with countries in the region, as per Reuters. "How many times have we warned you that the Palestinian people have been living in refugee camps for 75 years, and you refuse to recognise the rights of our people?"

   Mohammed Deif, leader of Hamas’ military wing, said in a recorded message that “enough is enough” and called on Palestinians to join Operation Al-Aqsa Storm. Salah Arouri, an exiled Hamas leader, told news agency AP that the operation was a response “to the crimes of the occupation.”

6. 06

   How have world leaders reacted

   Major world leaders unequivocally condemned the Hamas attacks and extended solidarity to Israel. US President Joe Biden, in a series of posts on X, reaffirmed his country’s alliance with Israel and said, “My administration’s support for Israel's security is rock solid and unwavering.’’ UK PM Rishi Sunak called the attacks “cowardly and depraved”, and wrote: “We will work with international partners in the next 24 hours to co-ordinate support."

7. 07

   How has India reacted to the Hamas attacks in Israel?

   PM Narendra Modi wrote on X: “Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour." However, no official statement has been made through the Ministry of External Affairs so far.

   It should be noted that Modi’s statement does not name or blame Hamas, but focuses on the “innocent victims” and “Israel at this difficult hour.” The tone, however, marks an unmistakable shift away from the carefully choreographed balancing act that has marked New Delhi’s reaction to earlier stand-offs between Israel and Palestinian militants.

8. 08

   What about Indians in Israel?

   The Indian Embassy in Israel Saturday asked all Indian nationals in the country to “remain vigilant” and “observe safety protocols.” There are about 18,000 Indians in Israel, according to data on the Embassy’s website. This includes caregivers employed by Israeli elders, diamond traders, IT professionals and around 900 students. “All Indian nationals in Israel are requested to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities. Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary movement, and stay close to safety shelters,” the Embassy said.

   The Representative Office of India in Palestine also asked Indian nationals in the country to “directly contact” it in case of an emergency. “In light of the prevailing security situation, Indian nationals in Palestine can directly contact the Representative Office of India to address any case of emergency or needed assistance on the 24-hours Emergency Helpline,” it posted on X, and gave two contact numbers as well.

9. 09

   Why is this being called the ‘Third Intifada’?

   This escalation is the latest chapter in a decades-long conflict between Israel and Palestine, with some observers calling it the beginning of the “Third Intifada”.

   ‘Intifada’ is an Arabic word that translates to ‘shake off’. It came into popular usage in December 1987, with Palestinians using it to describe their uprising against the Israeli presence in the West Bank and Gaza. The First Intifada lasted from 1987 to 1993, and the Second Intifada from 2000-2005. These were extremely popular uprisings spearheaded by Palestinian youth who were sick of the treatment they faced from the much more powerful Israeli settlers in their own homeland.

10. 10

    Who are Hamas?

    Hamas is the largest Palestinian militant Islamist group and one of the two major political parties in the region. Currently, it governs more than two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, from where the infiltration into Israel was launched on Saturday. The outfit, known for its armed resistance against Israel, is designated a terrorist group by Israel, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and other countries – in some cases, as a whole, and in others, just its military wing.