The Israeli military has responded by pummeling the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip with airstrikes, killing more than 1,500 Palestinians, and massing troops along the border in preparation for a ground offensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The week has brought fear,<\/strong> destruction and uncertainty for millions in the region. Here\u2019s how the events unfolded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Early Saturday morning, under the cover of thousands of rockets, Hamas militants breached Israel\u2019s high-tech \u201csmart wall\u201d<\/a> and went on a killing rampage in small towns across southern Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How Hamas breached Israel\u2019s \u2018Iron Wall\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The ambush<\/a> took Israeli forces by surprise. Officials said the attackers overran more than 20 communities. It took<\/a> the military 10 hours to arrive in some towns. By that point, hundreds of civilians were already dead. Militants are believed to have taken more than 100 hostages<\/a> into Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maps and videos show how the deadly surprise attack on Israel unfolded<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The ambush<\/a> took Israeli forces by surprise. Officials said the attackers overran more than 20 communities. It took<\/a> the military 10 hours to arrive in some towns. By that point, hundreds of civilians were already dead. Militants are believed to have taken more than 100 hostages<\/a> into Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fighting continued with militant holdouts inside Israel as the country formally declared war on Hamas. Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group that is allied with Hamas, fired<\/a> dozens of rockets into northern Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Israel Defense Forces launched a punishing campaign of airstrikes on Gaza, displacing thousands of people in the first 24 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Day 3<\/strong> Monday, Oct. 9<\/p>\n\n\n\n Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a \u201ccomplete siege\u201d of Gaza, saying Israel would cut off supplies of power, food and gas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gazans have lived for 16 years under an Israeli blockade supported by Egypt and are heavily dependent on Israel for electricity and other basic services. Cutting off gas and power could leave many residents not only without electricity, but also without clean drinking water, proper sanitation and health care.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 1<\/strong> Saturday, Oct. 7<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Day of the attack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gfx-data.news-engineering.aws.wapo.pub\/ai2html\/power-sources-2\/D2H6TYAE4RDX5BCZFRFRQK7S7Q\/israel-fence-xlarge-1200.jpg?v=8\")
<\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 2<\/strong> Sunday, Oct. 8<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Fighting continues, death toll rises<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A \u2018complete siege\u2019 of Gaza<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gfx-data.news-engineering.aws.wapo.pub\/ai2html\/GazaMap2023\/QDWGWBTPEREJVOSVS34R4O5XP4\/GazaMap2023-Artboard_8.jpg?v=14\")
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