October 7, 2023: Hamas launches surprise attack against Israel

Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fire a large barrage of rockets into Israel, triggering airstrike sirens across the country.

October 7, 2023 (continued): Militants infiltrate Israeli neighborhoods

Meanwhile, armed Hamas fighters are breaking through Israeli border fortifications and making their way to nearly two dozen locations outside the Gaza Strip, including towns and other communities up to 15 miles (24 kilometers) from Gaza. Border with the Gaza Strip. In some places they wander around for hours, shooting civilians and soldiers and taking hostages.

SEE ALSO | Understanding the Israel-Hamas War: Who are the actors in the conflict?

October 7, 2023 (continued): Desert music festival attacked

About 3,000 Israelis take part in one rave in the desert are attacked. Witnesses told Israeli media that Hamas militants fired into the crowd of revelers at the Tribe of Nova music festival, killing around 260 people.

October 8, 2023: Air strikes

The Israeli military responds with airstrikes on Gaza as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the country is “at war” against Hamas militants who control the territory.

October 8, 2023 (continued): Gaza City neighborhood hit by Israeli airstrikes

Among the targets of Israeli airstrikes is the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City, a densely populated, upscale neighborhood that is home to ministries of the Hamas-led government.

October 8, 2023 (continued): Israel begins evacuations

Israel Defense Forces Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said the military planned to begin evacuating thousands of Israelis from communities near Gaza after Netanyahu ordered the withdrawal of hundreds of thousands of reservists.

October 9, 2023: Mosques in Gaza City are destroyed in Israeli response

Israeli airstrikes in retaliation for Saturday’s surprise attacks destroyed the Al-Sousi and Al-Gharbi mosques (pictured) in Gaza City.

October 11, 2023: Imposition of a military exclusion zone

Israeli forces have sealed off about 370 square miles (about 960 square kilometers) of the border with the Gaza Strip.

October 12, 2023: Troop deployment

Israel is deploying troops along the border with Gaza and along the borders with Syria and Lebanon, an Israeli military official who spoke on condition of anonymity told The Associated Press.

October 13, 2023: More than a million people have to be evacuated

Israeli authorities have urged Palestinians in Gaza to move south ahead of a planned ground operation against the ruling Hamas militant group.