Gone quiet · last update Oct 6, 2026 / Israel
The Israel-Hamas war: Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel
Overview · reviewed October 28, 2026
On October 7, 2023, Hamas-led militants from Gaza launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking soldiers and civilians hostage. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Israelis, "we are at war."[1][3][5] President Joe Biden called it "the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust,"[4] and the attack set off the war in the Gaza Strip.[5]
President Joe Biden called it "the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust,"[4] and the attack set off the war in the Gaza Strip.[5]
Coverage over time
LeftCenterRight
Weekly counts, outlets and reports (22 weeks with coverage)
| Week of (UTC) | Left | Center | Right | Of tracked | Share | Receipts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 5, 2026 | 6 | 24 | 13 | 43 | 9% | |
| Sep 28, 2026 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | under 1% | |
| May 11, 2026 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 17 | 10% | |
| Oct 7, 2024 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 5% | |
| Sep 30, 2024 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2% | |
| Sep 2, 2024 | 15 | 22 | 10 | 47 | 22% | |
| Jul 15, 2024 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 4% | |
| Mar 25, 2024 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 4% | |
| Mar 11, 2024 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 17 | 7% | |
| Mar 4, 2024 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 31 | 12% | |
| Feb 19, 2024 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 6% | |
| Feb 5, 2024 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2% | |
| Dec 25, 2023 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2% | |
| Dec 11, 2023 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1% | |
| Dec 4, 2023 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 20 | 9% | |
| Nov 13, 2023 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 4% | |
| Nov 6, 2023 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 3% | |
| Oct 30, 2023 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 16 | 7% | |
| Oct 23, 2023 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1% | |
| Oct 16, 2023 | 9 | 15 | 11 | 35 | 14% | |
| Oct 9, 2023 | 25 | 46 | 25 | 96 | 41% | |
| Oct 2, 2023 | 26 | 40 | 24 | 90 | 37% |
Latest coverage
Background
Hamas's October 7, 2023 assault on southern Israel began with rocket fire: one attendee of a music festival near the Gaza border told CNN that the rockets started around 6:30 a.m., and that about half an hour later militants were firing on the crowd.[6] Israel's military said about 2,200 rockets were launched from Gaza as militants entered Israel by land, by sea and on motorized paragliders.[7]
Read the full background (3 more paragraphs)
Early accounts recorded mass casualties at civilian sites. At the festival site, a rescue organization said at least 260 bodies were found.[8] At Kibbutz Be'eri, more than 100 people were reported killed and dozens kidnapped.[9] The State Department later reported 30 Americans dead and 13 missing in the attack and subsequent war.[10]
In the months that followed, Israeli officials said victim testimony and evidence gathered by rights groups showed that Hamas militants had carried out widespread sexual crimes during the attack.[11] A United Nations team reported in March 2024 that there were reasonable grounds to believe rape had occurred at three or more sites, and that some hostages held in Gaza had also been subjected to sexual violence.[12] Human Rights Watch found that the attackers had committed numerous and crimes against humanity,[5] and a civil commission's two-year investigation, published in May 2026, described systematic rape and sexual torture.[13]
The US Justice Department charged six Hamas leaders over the attack in September 2024,[14] and in May 2026 Israel's voted 93-0 to set up a special tribunal that can sentence those convicted of taking part to death.[15] On the third anniversary, in October 2026, Israel marked the day with memorials and protests.[16]
Supporting stories (16)
- Israel war: Gaza sealed off after incursion by Hamas, death toll rises to nearly 1,600 on both sides
- Latest Death Tolls in Israel and Gaza
- Hamas Takes Israeli Soldiers, Civilians As Prisoners Of War
- Biden: Hamas attacks ‘the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust’
- Hamas-led groups committed ‘numerous war crimes’ on October 7, rights group says
- Desert horror: Music festival goers heard rockets, then Gaza militants fired on them and took hostages
- Israel declares war, bombards Gaza and battles to dislodge Hamas fighters after surprise attack - Hawaii Tribune-Herald
- Israeli survivors recount terror at music festival, where Hamas militants killed at least 260
- Corpses and kids’ bikes, burned homes and death in kibbutz where Hamas butchered 100
- 30 Americans dead, 13 missing in Israel-Hamas War, State Department says
- 'Widespread' sexual and gender-based crimes committed during Hamas attack, Israeli officials say
- U.N. envoy says ‘reasonable grounds’ to believe Hamas committed sexual violence on Oct. 7
- First on CNN: New report details ‘systematic’ rape and sexual violence during Hamas’ Oct 7 attack on Israel
- US charges Hamas leader, other militants in connection with Oct. 7 massacre in Israel
- Oct. 7 attackers could face death penalty after Israel approves war crimes tribunal
- Israel marks three years since October 7 attack with memorials and protests
The full record
October 2026
May 2026
October 2024
March 2024
- Israeli woman who was held hostage by Hamas speaks out on her abduction and sexual assault in Gaza
- UN envoy: Finding that some hostages were victims of sexual violence doesn't justify Israeli attacks
- U.S. Citizen Itay Chen Died In Oct. 7 Hamas Attack On Israel, White House Says
- U.N. envoy says ‘reasonable grounds’ to believe Hamas committed sexual violence on Oct. 7
February 2024
December 2023
- Hamas used horrific sexual violence, raping and mutilating Israeli women and girls on October 7: NYT
- Blinken calls sexual violence inflicted by Hamas ‘beyond anything I’ve seen’
- Biden calls world to ‘forcefully condemn’ sexual violence by Hamas
- 'Widespread' sexual and gender-based crimes committed during Hamas attack, Israeli officials say
November 2023
October 2023
- Family of Shani Louk, who was caught up in Hamas rampage, confirm she is dead
- Israel shows footage of Hamas killings ‘to counter denial of atrocities'
- Biden: Hamas attacked Israel in part to stop a historic agreement with Saudi Arabia
- Evidence shows Hamas militants likely used some North Korean weapons in attack on Israel
- How volunteer guards foiled a carefully planned Hamas attack on one kibbutz
- Israeli rabbis work around the clock — even on the Sabbath — to count the dead from Hamas attack
- An Arab paramedic who treated Israelis injured by Hamas militants is remembered as a hero
- ‘Top secret' Hamas documents show that terrorists intentionally targeted elementary schools and a youth center
- After a hard fight to clear militants, Israeli soldiers find a scene of destruction, slain children - The Daily Reporter
- Secretary of State Antony Blinken says 25 Americans were killed in Hamas attack as he meets with Netanyahu
- His parents shielded him from gunfire as Hamas fighters attacked. He survived. They did not
- Israeli village near the Gaza border lies in ruin, filled with the bodies of residents and militants
- Biden confirms he saw photos of Israeli children beheaded by Hamas
- Thai death toll in Israel-Gaza conflict rises to 21: PM
- Biden: Hamas attacks ‘the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust’
- Israeli official says government cannot confirm babies were beheaded in Hamas attack
- 30 Americans dead, 13 missing in Israel-Hamas War, State Department says
- IDF says Gaza border finally sealed, bodies of 1,500 terrorists found inside Israel
- US death toll in Israel-Hamas war rises to 22: Officials
- Brandeis prof. describes hearing daughter's killing, saving grandson in Israel violence
- Corpses and kids’ bikes, burned homes and death in kibbutz where Hamas butchered 100
- Antony Blinken: U.S. is working to verify reports Americans are among the dead in Israel and being held hostage by Hamas
- 9 US citizens dead in Israel conflict, US National Security Council says
- Israeli survivors recount terror at music festival, where Hamas militants killed at least 260
- At least 11 Americans killed in surprise attacks against Israel, Biden says
- Desert horror: Music festival goers heard rockets, then Gaza militants fired on them and took hostages
- Israel retakes Gaza border areas as war death toll mounts
- American Hostages Were Taken in Hamas Assault, Israel Minister Says
- What is Hamas and what is it fighting for?
- Israel declares war, bombards Gaza and battles to dislodge Hamas fighters after surprise attack - Hawaii Tribune-Herald
- Early Intelligence Shows Iranian Leaders Surprised by Hamas Attack, U.S. Says
- Day 5 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Wednesday, Oct. 11
- Israel war: Gaza sealed off after incursion by Hamas, death toll rises to nearly 1,600 on both sides
- Hamas terrorism in Israel: Western leaders ‘strongly condemn’ attacks
- Latest Death Tolls in Israel and Gaza
- Hamas Takes Israeli Soldiers, Civilians As Prisoners Of War
- Biden condemns the ‘appalling assault’ by Hamas as Israel’s allies express anger and shock
Coverage & sources
Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.