Israel Hamas war: how Oct 7 changed the Middle East

The attack started early last October 7th – as thousands of Hamas fighters came across the border from Gaza and attacked civilians. It led to a protracted war in Gaza, and since then Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 40,000 Palestinians.

Tensions and killings have also increased in the occupied West Bank and to Israel’s north, a constant exchange of fire with the militant group Hezbollah has, in recent weeks, escalated into conflict across the whole of Lebanon.

Israel is also fighting groups throughout the wider region – including militia in Syria and the Houthis in Yemen.

All of them backed by Iran – which has itself entered the battlefield directly with a second wave of missile attacks on Israel last week, and is now braced for possible Israeli strikes inside its territory.