October 7 attacks
A Hamas-led assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, involving attacks on communities and a music festival, and the taking of hostages.
Hamas: A Palestinian Islamist political and militant organization founded in 1987 that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas-led forces organized and carried out the assault.
Israel–Hamas war: The war between Israel and Hamas that began after the October 7, 2023 attacks. Israel launched a major military campaign in Gaza in response to the assault.
Israeli–Palestinian conflict: The ongoing national and territorial conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. The assault occurred within this broader conflict, though it does not explain or justify attacks on civilians.
Israeli intelligence failure before October 7: The failure to anticipate and prevent the October 7 assault despite warning signs and intelligence information. Investigations examine how warnings were assessed and why defenses were unprepared.
October 7 massacre: A common description of the mass killing of civilians during the October 7 attacks. This wording emphasizes civilian deaths, while the broader label includes the full assault.
Kibbutz Be'eri: An Israeli kibbutz near the Gaza border, established in 1946. Attackers killed and abducted residents during the assault on this community.
Gaza humanitarian crisis: The severe humanitarian emergency in Gaza, including displacement, shortages, and damage to essential services. The ensuing war caused mass displacement and acute shortages in Gaza.
Gaza Strip: A coastal territory on the eastern Mediterranean, home to more than two million Palestinians. Hamas governed Gaza, the territory from which the assault was launched.
Israeli military response on October 7: The Israel Defense Forces' response to the assault during October 7, 2023. Delays, command decisions, and conduct during the day remain subjects of review.
October 7, 2023: The date on which the Hamas-led assault on Israel began. The date became a shorthand for the attacks and their aftermath.