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.

Turkish President Erdogan Says Israel's 'Cruelty' in Gaza Becoming More Widespread

08:22, 9 March 2024

ANKARA (Sputnik) - Last October, Palestinian movement Hamas attacked Israel from Gaza Strip and in the ensuing fighting killed 1,100 Israelis and abducted some 240 others. Israel launched massive strikes on Gaza, blockading it and then invaded it with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas. More than 31,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed.

Sputnik

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Israel's "cruelty" in the Palestinian Gaza Strip is becoming more widespread.

"Reckless killings, cruelty and theft committed by the Israeli government are becoming more widespread," Erdogan said.

Israel-Palestine Escalation

UN Condemns Israel Announcement About Advancing Settlements in West Bank, Special Coordinator States

8 March, 09:40

Since October 7, 2023, some 31,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's military operations and more than 76,000 have been wounded, according to the local authorities. More than 1.9 million Palestinians out of 2.3 million in Gaza have been displaced and more than half are facing hunger and starvation as a result of Israel's blockade, according to UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA.

On November 24, 2023, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the Palestinians imprisoned by Israel and hostages taken by Hamas, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1, 2023. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza.