View source for 2023 Israel-Gaza War

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'''Operation''' '''Storm of Al-Aqsa''' (Arabic: '''Tufan Al-Aqsa, طوفان الأقصى''') is a major, unprecedented incursion into [[Israel|occupied territory]] conducted by the [[Palestinian resistance]] groups in [[Gaza strip|Gaza]] on 7 October, 2023.

== Timeline of events ==
[[File:Palestinian resistance fighter crossing over the gaza border oct 7 2023.png|thumb|Resistance fighter crossing over the border fence on a paraglider, 7 October 2023.]]
On Saturday morning, 7 October 2023, the joint Palestinian resistance groups in Gaza ([[Hamas]], [[Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine|PFLP]], [[Islamic Jihad]]) started firing rockets at settlements outside of Gaza. The [[Iron Dome]], Israel's anti-missile defense system, failed to intercept more rockets than usual.

At the same time, resistance units penetrated through the border fence surrounding the Gaza strip. Methods to get through the fence included the use of paragliders. In a video, a hole can be seen cut in the fence with motorcycle units being conveyed through.
[[File:Palestinian resistance fighters driving through the border fence 7 oct 2023.png|thumb|Resistance fighters driving motorcycles through the border fence, 7 October 2023]]
Afterwards, the resistance units moved into several settlements surrounding the Gaza strip, including Asqalan (Ashkelon), Erez and Sderot. Up to 7 settlements have been reportedly taken over.

The units quickly moved to neutralize the IDF presence in these towns, including incursions into barracks in record time, where most occupation soldiers were taken out before they even realized what was happening.

Videos on social media show Palestinian fighters walking freely through the streets of settlements,<ref>{{Web citation|author=@Marxozoic|newspaper=Twitter|title=This is unprecedented in Palestinian history. Palestinian Resistance fighters stroll through the Israeli settlement of Sderot.|date=2023-10-07|url=https://twitter.com/Marxozoic/status/1710535137056915757}}</ref> indicating they were successfully taken over and all occupation driven out in some way.

In response, the occupier has called on the reservists and declared a state of war, but did not name the recipient of that declaration.<ref>{{Web citation|author=News Desk|newspaper=The Cradle|title=We are at war: Netanyahu|date=2023-10-07|url=https://new.thecradle.co/articles/we-are-at-war-netanyahu|archive-url=https://archive.ph/xAhsA}}</ref>

== Aftermath ==
''This event is still ongoing.''

Israeli public broadcaster Kan News said that the operation came as a complete surprise to the IDF.

Other media reported that over 35 prisoners of war had been captured by the resistance. Videos show some of them being taken back to Gaza.

At the same time, settlers were filmed scrambling to leave.<ref>{{Web citation|author=@Mango_Press_|newspaper=Twitter|title=Settlers run! #Palestine|date=2023-10-07|url=https://twitter.com/Mango_Press_/status/1710553010890281396}}</ref><ref>{{Web citation|author=@ME_Observer_|newspaper=Twitter|title=Foreign squatters flee to the airport|date=2023-10-07|url=https://twitter.com/ME_Observer_/status/1710545747454673066}}</ref>

Gaza resistance groups also indicated they had seized military equipment, including vehicles, from the barracks.

With IDF presence removed from the fence keeping Gaza locked in, Palestinians started destroying it with bulldozers.<ref>{{Web citation|author=@prolewiki|newspaper=Twitter|title=Gaza is taking down the fence.|date=2023-10-07|url=https://twitter.com/prolewiki/status/1710597521662267470}}</ref>

== References ==
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