October 7: A year of conflict
On October 7, 2023, a Hamas attack on Israel sparked a conflict that has lasted a year so far with no end in sight – killing thousands, encompassing more of the Middle East and putting the world on high alert for a regional war. CGTN’s Michael Voss looks back over the last year.
#israel #gaza #lebanon
#israel #gaza #lebanon
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00At around 6.30 a.m. on October the 7th, armed Hamas militants breached the defenses around
00:10Gaza to launch the deadliest attack in Israel's history.
00:14They massacred more than 1,100 Israelis and took 251 people hostage.
00:21Citizens of Israel, we are at war, not in an operation or in rounds, but at war.
00:29What followed was an intense bombing campaign, along with a military invasion of Gaza.
00:35Supplies of food, fuel, water and medicine were all largely cut off.
00:40If the United States stands with Israel, we will not ever fail to have their back.
00:48Initially, Israel had widespread international support, but as the levels of civilian suffering
00:54intensified, global opinions started to change.
00:58Thousands of people now regularly join pro-Palestinian demonstrations around the world.
01:05By August 15th this year, the grim milestone of 40,000 people in Gaza killed was reached.
01:12That figure now stands at nearly 42,000, although the real number is likely to be far higher,
01:18the UN warns.
01:20154 hostages have been released, rescued or killed.
01:2597 are believed to be still held by Hamas in Gaza.
01:29Their fate is unknown, but the IDF estimates a third of them are probably dead.
01:36In September, humanitarian agencies estimated that Israeli attacks have destroyed or damaged
01:42more than half of Gaza's homes and 80% of businesses.
01:47Of Gaza's 2.3 million population, around 1.9 million have been displaced at least once.
01:55That's nine out of every ten people living in one of the most densely populated areas
02:01in the world.
02:02There was a brief ceasefire in November last year, with Israeli hostages released in return
02:07for Palestinian prisoners.
02:11Despite intense global pressure, further attempts at a ceasefire have stalled, made more difficult
02:16after Israel assassinated the Hamas leader and chief negotiator, Ismail Haniyeh, while
02:22on a visit to Iran.
02:25It's left Israel increasingly isolated diplomatically, with the US, China and much of Europe calling
02:31for an immediate ceasefire.
02:33Now the conflict has spread to Lebanon and beyond, and attention on Gaza has shifted.
02:39Right now, there is no end in sight for the suffering of either the Palestinians in Gaza
02:44or the hostages and their families in Israel.
02:48Michael Voss, CGTN.