Aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attack Survivors of a Hamas rocket strike on Tel Aviv talking with rescuers on October 7, 2023. (more) October 7 attack Israel [2023] Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/event/October-7-attack Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Aug 14, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What happened on October 7, 2023? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "On October 7, 2023, Hamas led a coordinated attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip by land, sea, and air, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 240 hostages." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " Why was October 7, 2023, significant for Israel? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "October 7, 2023, was the deadliest day for Israel since its independence, coinciding with the Jewish holiday Shemini Atzeret and the day after the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " How did Hamas carry out the attack on Israel? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Hamas launched at least 2,200 rockets, infiltrated by land using explosives and bulldozers, breached the maritime border by motorboat, and crossed into Israel on motorized paragliders." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " Who were among the victims of the October 7 attack? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Victims included Israeli civilians, families in kibbutzim, attendees of an outdoor music festival, foreign nationals, and dual citizens." } } ] } Top Questions What happened on October 7, 2023? On October 7, 2023, Hamas led a coordinated attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip by land, sea, and air, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 240 hostages.

　　Why was October 7, 2023, significant for Israel? October 7, 2023, was the deadliest day for Israel since its independence, coinciding with the Jewish holiday Shemini Atzeret and the day after the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War.

　　How did Hamas carry out the attack on Israel? Hamas launched at least 2,200 rockets, infiltrated by land using explosives and bulldozers, breached the maritime border by motorboat, and crossed into Israel on motorized paragliders.

　　Who were among the victims of the October 7 attack? Victims included Israeli civilians, families in kibbutzim, attendees of an outdoor music festival, foreign nationals, and dual citizens.

　　On October 7, 2023, Hamas led a coordinated attack on Israel by land, sea, and air from the Gaza Strip. The attack killed about 1,200 people, primarily Israeli citizens, making it the deadliest day for Israel since its independence. More than 240 people were taken hostage during the attack, and in the days that followed Israel launched a war in the Gaza Strip in an effort to rescue them and depose Hamas. The attack took place on Shemini Atzeret, a Jewish holiday that closes the autumn thanksgiving festival of Sukkot. Many Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers were on leave, and ...(100 of 416 words)

　　Continue reading with Britannica Premium The trusted destination for facts and information 7-Day Free Trial, No Ads, Unlimited Access Subscribe Today