Israel-Palestine Escalation
Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on October 7, with Hamas movement's troops infiltrating border areas. On October 8, the Israeli government announced that it had invoked Article 40 of the Basic Law, which means the country was officially in a state of war.

Photos: Israeli Ground Operation Continues as Death Toll Among Palestinians Exceeds 10,000

The long-running conflict between Israel and Palestine escalated on October 7, when Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unexpected attack on southern Israel, taking at least 240 people hostage, according to the Israeli estimates.
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In response to the attack, Israel declared war on the organization, retaliated against the Gaza Strip and organized a complete blockade of the area, cutting off Palestinians from food, water and fuel.
More than 10,300 Palestinians died as a result of Israeli attacks and over 25,000 got injured, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Israel lost around 1,400 citizens, including 300 soldiers, and more than 5,000 were injured, Tel Aviv said.
The Israel Defense Forces also launched a series of attacks on the Jabalia and Al-Maghazi refugee camps in the Gaza Strip that reportedly killed at least 195 and 51 people, respectively. Furthermore, the World Health Organization stated that over 160 health workers were murdered due to Israeli attacks. The death toll of UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) staff reached 88, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee reported.
At the end of October, Israel announced the start of a full-scale ground operation in the Strip to clear out Hamas militants and rescue hostages. On November 5, Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, said in his interview to ABC News that "there’ll be no ceasefire, general ceasefire, in Gaza without the release of our hostages."
Take a look at Sputnik Africa's photos of the recent conflict development.
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Long exposure photo shows Israeli forces' flares light up the night sky in Gaza City, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled)
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In this photo released by the Israeli military on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, shows ground operation inside the Gaza Strip (Israel Defense Forces via AP)
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This picture taken from a position near Sderot along the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip on November 4, 2023, shows flares dropped by Israeli forces above the Palestinian enclave amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement. (Photo by Yuri CORTEZ / AFP)
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In this photo released by the Israeli military on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, shows ground operation inside the Gaza Strip (Israel Defense Forces via AP)
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Flares dropped by the Israeli army lit up the sky above Gaza City late on November 6, 2023, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement. (Photo by Bashar TALEB / AFP)
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In this photo released by the Israeli military on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, shows ground operation inside the Gaza Strip (Israel Defense Forces via AP)
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Shells explode above Gaza City on November 5, 2023 amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. (Photo by Bashar TALEB / AFP)
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An Israeli army self-propelled artillery howitzer fires rounds from a position near the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel on November 6, 2023 amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP)
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Fire and smoke rises from buildings following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled)
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In this photo released by the Israeli military on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, shows ground operation inside the Gaza Strip (Israel Defense Forces via AP)