Credit: Alyssa Ao

On Saturday, Oct. 7, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, claiming thousands of lives and displacing thousands of people.

The attack occurred due to the increasing tensions between Israel and Palestine over land. Hamas’ Saturday attack was a planned operation which was carried out by land, sea and air throughout cities in Israel.

At first response, the Israeli government called their troops and deployed their military. They launched airstrikes to the Gaza Strip and Hamas’ missiles. On Sunday, Oct. 8, Israel officially declared war on the Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.

According to thegaurdian.com, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “declared that Israel was at war and that Palestinians would pay a heavy price.” Israel has cut off all fuel and electricity supply to the land, impacting Gaza’s medical facilities.

The U.S. has been sending increased aid including military supplies to the country.

“We are going to make sure that Israel does not run out of these critical assets to defend its cities and its citizens,” President Joe Biden said during an announcement at the White House.

Thousands of Israelis and Palestinians have been killed and injured in the ongoing conflict, and even more have been displaced.

The progressing war has made a major impact on communities around the globe, including Greater Boston.

This news has taken over social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Influencers and celebrities have been using their differing platforms to share their thoughts and feelings about the situation. However, there has also been high levels of misinformation and false claims being made on such platforms.

This is a rapidly evolving event. For more information, check out the linked websites.

Links for live coverage:

• Associated Press Live Israel-Hamas War updates
• NYTimes Israel-Hamas War reporting
• NPR’s Middle East Crisis: Explained series