Tensions have skyrocketed in the Middle East as Israel and Hamas find themselves at war, following the largest attack from the Gaza Strip in recent years.
With thousands of rockets fired from Gaza by Hamas, Israel has officially declared a state of war.
Israel was caught off guard by the vast nature of the attacks. Casualties have been reported on both sides, with several Israelis being captured by Hamas militants.
The move by Hamas is said to be a bid to “free” the respected al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem, signalling the potential for a larger religious and territorial conflict.
With Lebanon’s political party Hezbollah and Iran openly expressing their support for Hamas’s actions, there are grave concerns about the situation growing into a broader regional conflict.
This intense flare-up marks one of the most significant attacks since the 2021 battle between Israel and Hamas and seems to be of an even more dangerous scale.
Given the historical context, the current clashes might have severe consequences for the region.
Pictured above: The attacks in the Gaza Strip
Image source: Twitter
