A missile explodes in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on October 8, 2023. srael, reeling from the deadliest attack on its territory in half a century, formally declared war on Hamas Sunday as the conflict's death toll surged close to 1,000 after the Palestinian militant group launched a massive surprise assault from Gaza. (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS / AFP) (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images)

In early October 2023, war broke out between Israel and Hamas, the militant Islamist group that has controlled Gaza since 2006. Hamas fighters fired rockets into Israel and stormed southern Israeli cities and towns across the border of the Gaza strip, killing and injuring hundreds of soldiers and civilians and taking dozens of hostages. The attack took Israel by surprise, though the state quickly mounted a deadly retaliatory operation. One day after the October 7 attack, the Israeli cabinet formally declared war against Hamas, followed by a directive from the defense minister to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to carry out a “complete siege” of Gaza.

More News & Insights

Instagram Podcast 11.22.23 V1

Building the Base Episode 40: Shelly O’Neill Stoneman

In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts welcome Shelly O’Neill Stoneman, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at Lockheed Martin. In the discussion, Shelly shares…

Gen Petraeus Event Copy

Event Recap – November 20, 2023

General David Petraeus, in collaboration with BENS Southeast, ATLVets, The Atlanta Press Club, The Buckhead Club, and the Atlanta History Center, was hosted on Monday, November 13. The events included a…

Paul Madera

BENS Member, Paul Madera

BENS member Paul Madera will be a guest speaker at the Military Veteran Startup Conference (MVS). This premier event brings together military veteran founders, VCs, institutional LPs, and operators. MVS24 will be held…

Receive BENS news and insights in your inbox.