The Hamas terrorist attack on Saturday (7) began the deadliest conflict in recent years between Israel and the terrorist group that controls the Palestinian territory in the Gaza Strip. Thousands of people died, thousands more were injured and civilians were kidnapped.
Based on the information published so far, Hamas’ actions could be reconstructed.
Check out the images below to see how the terrorist group operated:
Separated by iron walls
Hamas’s first action took place in the early hours of Saturday when it broke through the iron walls that separate Israel from Palestinian territory. There are almost 65 km of double barricades, six meters high and equipped with technology to detect any breach such as cameras, sensors and barbed wire in their structures. There is still a concrete barrier under the wall with sensors to detect tunnel excavations.
Photo: Vitoria Coelho | Art g1
According to Israel, Hamas acted in a coordinated manner and attacked the walls at 29 points on Saturday (7). Observation towers along the defenses failed to detect the attacks. In addition to the two iron walls, there is a sand barrier to delay the advance of Israeli invaders.
Photo: Vitoria Coelho | Art g1
Hamas used drones to support the offensive. The equipment flew over the iron walls and dropped explosives on the towers and defenses that Israel has on the border with Gaza.
Photo: Vitoria Coelho | Art g1
Paratroopers and explosives on the wall
Hamas bombarded Israel with thousands of bombs and relied on militants with aerial equipment to invade Israeli territory. Explosive explosions along the wall opened gaps for other members of the extremist group to enter by land, on foot or on motorcycles.
Photo: Vitoria Coelho | Art g1
Excavator to break through the wall
Hamas also used an excavator to more effectively damage the iron wall. By opening large gaps in the protective barrier, the terror group allowed larger vehicles such as cars to enter Israel and support drones and militants invading from the air.
Photo: Vitoria Coelho | Art g1
1 of 1 Hamas fighters broke through the iron wall with a bulldozer and invaded Israel Photo: Portal Hamas fighters broke through the iron wall with a bulldozer and invaded Israel Photo: Portal
What has happened so far?
▶️ How was the attack? Hamas’s actions last Saturday (7) were focused near the border with the Gaza Strip, from where the group fired 5,000 rockets.
- Armed men from the south of the country invaded Israeli territory by land, air and sea, on motorcycles and paragliders.
- There were reports that the invaders shot people in the streets and kidnapped dozens of Israelis (including women and children) and took them to Gaza as hostages.
▶️ What was Israel’s reaction? Faced with the Hamas offensive, the Israeli government began retaliatory measures.
- “We are at war and we will win,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said shortly after the attack. “Our enemy will pay a price he has never known.”
- Also on October 7, Israel launched bombing raids on the Gaza Strip.
G1 explains: The violent conflict between Israel and Palestine that has been ongoing for more than 70 years
▶️ How many people died? The latest report from local authorities on Tuesday morning said more than 2,100 people had died. More than 1,200 were in Israel. Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported registering 900 Palestinian deaths.
▶️ What is and where is the Gaza Strip? It is the Palestinian territory located on a narrow piece of land on the west coast of Israel on the border with Egypt.
- The city, which is characterized by poverty and overpopulation, has 2 million inhabitants who live in an area of 360 km².
- To get an idea of this size compared to Brazilian cities: the territory is slightly larger than that of the city of Fortaleza (312.4 km²) and smaller than that of Curitiba (434.8 km²).
- Gaza was captured by Israel in the SixDay War in 1967 and handed over to the Palestinians in 2005. Gaza is currently experiencing a blockade of goods and services imposed by its border neighbors.
▶️ What is the history of conflict in the region? The dispute between Israel and Palestine has been going on for decades and has resulted in numerous armed clashes and deaths.
In its modern form, it dates back to 1947, when the United Nations (UN) proposed the creation of two states, one Jewish and one Arab, in Palestine under a British mandate.