Palestine, 2023 to today

Armed groups led by Hamas attacked southern Israel from Gaza. Some 1,200 people were killed, most of them civilians, and 251 people were taken hostage into Gaza.

Two days after the attack, Israel's defence minister, Yoav Gallant, announced a complete siege of the Gaza Strip, saying electricity, food, water and gas would all be cut off.

An explosion at al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City killed and injured many people. What caused it and how many people died are disputed.

The Israeli military said its ground forces were expanding their activity in Gaza as strikes cut the territory's remaining links to the outside world, leaving it in a communications and internet blackout.

Israeli forces entered al-Shifa, Gaza's largest hospital, which Israel said Hamas used as a command and control centre. A Washington Post investigation later found that the evidence Israel made public fell short of showing this.

A truce in Gaza from 24 November to 1 December 2023 saw 105 hostages released from Gaza and 240 Palestinian prisoners freed from Israeli jails before fighting resumed.

Palestinians were killed and wounded as crowds surrounded an aid convoy near Gaza City. Palestinian health officials and the Israeli military gave conflicting accounts of how they died and how many.

An Israeli airstrike hit a World Central Kitchen convoy leaving a warehouse in Deir al-Balah, killing seven aid workers: citizens of Australia, Poland and the United Kingdom, a dual US-Canadian citizen and a Palestinian. Netanyahu said the strike was unintentional.

After telling about 100,000 people to leave parts of Rafah, Israel sent tanks into the city and took control of the Palestinian side of the border crossing with Egypt, in what it called a limited operation.

Israeli forces rescued four hostages held in Nuseirat in central Gaza. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 274 Palestinians were killed during the operation.

Ismail Haniyeh was killed with a bodyguard when the building where he was staying in Tehran was struck, while he was in the city for the Iranian president's inauguration. Hamas blamed Israel, which did not confirm or deny involvement at the time.

Israeli troops in Rafah killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in what appeared to be a chance encounter during fighting. Israel confirmed his identity through dental records, fingerprints and DNA.

A ceasefire brokered by the United States and France took effect in Lebanon, giving Israeli forces 60 days to withdraw while the Lebanese army deployed in the south.

A ceasefire took effect in Gaza at the start of a 42-day first phase. Hamas released three Israeli captives, and Israel was to free 90 Palestinian prisoners in exchange.

Israel carried out a wave of air strikes across Gaza in the early hours, ending the ceasefire in place since January. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 404 people were killed.

Israel began strikes on Iran on 13 June 2025. The United States bombed three Iranian nuclear sites, Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan, on 22 June, and a ceasefire came into effect on 24 June.

Israel struck the headquarters of Hamas's political leadership in Doha as its leaders met to discuss a US ceasefire proposal. Hamas said its top leaders survived and five members were killed; a Qatari security officer was also killed.

A ceasefire took effect at noon as the Israeli army completed its pullback to the "yellow line", keeping about 53 percent of the Gaza Strip, and a 72-hour countdown began for Hamas to return the hostages.

Hamas released all 20 living Israeli hostages, and Israel's prison service said it had transferred 1,968 Palestinian prisoners, as leaders met in Sharm el-Sheikh at a summit co-chaired by Trump and Egypt's president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Medical sources said Israeli attacks killed at least four Palestinians in central and southern Gaza, including a child. Gaza's Health Ministry put the number killed since the October 2025 ceasefire at 1,602.