Israeli–Hamas Conflict: 10 Developments You Need To Know In The War

The Israeli government has promised to hunt down Hamas fighters and to punish the Gaza Strip following a surprise weekend attack from the Hamas militants.

A day after formally declaring war, Israel's military worked to crush Hamas fighters who might remain in southern towns and intensified its bombardment of Gaza.

Key Updates On The Ongoing Conflict

1. Israel's military said about 1,500 bodies of Hamas militants were found in Israeli territory, as it said it had largely gained control in the country's south and "restored full control" over the border on the fourth day of fighting following an unprecedented surprise attack.
2. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said Israel has not started the war, "but it will finish it". "We didn't want this war. It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way. Though Israel didn't start this war, Israel will finish it," the Prime Minister said.
3. The casualties in this ongoing conflict have surpassed 1,600 collectively on both sides. In Israel, the death toll stands at a minimum of 900, with approximately 260 fatalities occurring during a densely packed music festival.
4. The Israeli government has responded to a bloody incursion by Hamas militants by intensifying airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and implementing a blockade that prevents the delivery of food, fuel, and other essential supplies. It means the Gaza Strip could be on the brink of a humanitarian crisis with key supplies.
5. The US has already begun delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, The leaders of numerous Western nations, including Britain and Germany, have condemned the attacks by Hamas, while Arab nations have urged that the fighting on both sides stop.
6. Arab foreign ministers plan to convene on Wednesday in Cairo at the behest of the Palestinians. Arab League Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki said the ministers would discuss Arab efforts to "stop the Israeli aggression" on Gaza. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on both Hamas militants and Israeli forces to stop violence and offered to mediate between the two parties.
7. Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler has expressed his support to Palestine and told Abbas the Gulf kingdom continued "to stand by the Palestinian people to achieve their legitimate rights to a decent life, achieve their hopes and aspirations, and achieve just and lasting peace," the official Saudi Press Agency reported.
8. Supporters of Israel and backers of the Palestinian cause held competing rallies in several American cities Sunday and in London; Athens, Greece, and France on Monday.
9. Prominent airline companies have halted air travel to and from Israel. Numerous flights arriving at and departing from Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport were canceled or postponed, as indicated by the airport's online flight schedule. The board also displayed a consistent number of flights that were still taking off or landing. Most were operated by Israel's national airline El Al along with others by regional carriers like Turkey's Pegasus Airlines and Greece's Blue Bird Airways. American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines suspended service as the US.
10. The Israel Defence Forces on Tuesday released a collage of 65 soldiers who have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict. On X, it said, "These are just some of the faces of the fallen soldiers in the war against Hamas. We stand by their families in this devastating time and together, we will carry on their memory."