A Closer Look: How tensions escalated between Israel and Gaza


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In A Closer Look, The National provides an in-depth take on one of the main stories of the week

Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Palestine

Saturday's surprise attack on Israel by Hamas has dramatically escalated tensions in the region and resulted in hundreds of deaths.

Considered the worst violence between Israel and Gaza in decades, the situation continues to unfold and is beginning to have knock-on effects around the world.

Here, host Sarah Forster speaks to Arab affairs editor Ismaeel Naar to hear what caused the situation to escalate at the weekend and whether there is an end in sight to the bloodshed.

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Israel - Gaza war latest – in pictures

  • Smoke near houses and buildings destroyed by Israeli strikes in Gaza city. Reuters
    Smoke near houses and buildings destroyed by Israeli strikes in Gaza city. Reuters
  • People sleep in a bomb shelter as rockets are launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, in Ashkelon, southern Israel. Reuters
    People sleep in a bomb shelter as rockets are launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, in Ashkelon, southern Israel. Reuters
  • Israeli soldiers drive in a tank by Israel's border with Gaza in southern Israel. Reuters
    Israeli soldiers drive in a tank by Israel's border with Gaza in southern Israel. Reuters
  • Palestinians inspect the massive destruction following Israeli air strikes on Gaza City's Al Rimal district. AFP
    Palestinians inspect the massive destruction following Israeli air strikes on Gaza City's Al Rimal district. AFP
  • The abandoned site of the Supernova desert music festival in southern Israel. AFP
    The abandoned site of the Supernova desert music festival in southern Israel. AFP
  • Mourners react during the funeral of Palestinians killed in the Israeli strikes, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip. Reuters
    Mourners react during the funeral of Palestinians killed in the Israeli strikes, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip. Reuters
  • Palestinians attend a rally in support of Hamas and the Gaza Strip in the West Bank city of Nablus. AP
    Palestinians attend a rally in support of Hamas and the Gaza Strip in the West Bank city of Nablus. AP
  • A medic tends to an injured child following Israeli air strikes in the Rimal district of Gaza city. Bloomberg
    A medic tends to an injured child following Israeli air strikes in the Rimal district of Gaza city. Bloomberg
  • Injured civilians arrive at a hospital following Israeli airstrikes in the Rimal district of Gaza City. Bloomberg
    Injured civilians arrive at a hospital following Israeli airstrikes in the Rimal district of Gaza City. Bloomberg
  • Israeli soldiers patrol a road near the border fence with Gaza. AFP
    Israeli soldiers patrol a road near the border fence with Gaza. AFP
  • Palestinians sit among rubbles of a damaged residential building, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Gaza city. Reuters
    Palestinians sit among rubbles of a damaged residential building, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Gaza city. Reuters
  • People gather at the site where a rocket landed in Ashdod, southern Israel. Reuters
    People gather at the site where a rocket landed in Ashdod, southern Israel. Reuters
  • Pictures of Natthaporn On-kaew, 26, a factory worker in Gaza, who has been abducted in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, at his house in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand. Reuters
    Pictures of Natthaporn On-kaew, 26, a factory worker in Gaza, who has been abducted in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, at his house in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand. Reuters
  • A fire burns among the rubble of a damaged residential building in Gaza city. Reuters
    A fire burns among the rubble of a damaged residential building in Gaza city. Reuters
  • Palestinians view aftermath of an Israeli air strike on Gaza city. EPA
    Palestinians view aftermath of an Israeli air strike on Gaza city. EPA
  • A Palestine Red Crescent Society paramedic carries a wounded child to Al Shifa hospital in Gaza city, following an Israeli air strike. EPA
    A Palestine Red Crescent Society paramedic carries a wounded child to Al Shifa hospital in Gaza city, following an Israeli air strike. EPA
  • People view a sign showing landed and cancelled flights at the arrivals hall at Ben Gurion Airport in Lod, south-east of Tel Aviv. Getty Images
    People view a sign showing landed and cancelled flights at the arrivals hall at Ben Gurion Airport in Lod, south-east of Tel Aviv. Getty Images
  • Pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Toronto, capital of Canada's Ontario province. AFP
    Pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Toronto, capital of Canada's Ontario province. AFP
  • A rally in support of Israel in Aventura, Florida. AFP
    A rally in support of Israel in Aventura, Florida. AFP
  • Israeli soldiers at the funeral of Ili Bar Sade, a soldier killed in an attack by Hamas militants, in Tel Aviv. Reuters
    Israeli soldiers at the funeral of Ili Bar Sade, a soldier killed in an attack by Hamas militants, in Tel Aviv. Reuters
  • Lightning strikes as smoke billows following Israeli bombardment of Gaza City. AFP
    Lightning strikes as smoke billows following Israeli bombardment of Gaza City. AFP
  • A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment of Gaza city. AFP
    A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment of Gaza city. AFP
  • Israeli artillery soldiers clean a cannon at an area on the border with Gaza, southern Israel. EPA
    Israeli artillery soldiers clean a cannon at an area on the border with Gaza, southern Israel. EPA
  • Palestinians search for survivors after an Israeli air strike on buildings in the refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip. AFP
    Palestinians search for survivors after an Israeli air strike on buildings in the refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip. AFP
  • Palestinians assess damage in Gaza city. EPA
    Palestinians assess damage in Gaza city. EPA
  • Israeli soldiers cordon off an area after a shooting in Hebron in the occupied West Bank. AFP
    Israeli soldiers cordon off an area after a shooting in Hebron in the occupied West Bank. AFP
  • Palestinians evacuate the area after an Israeli air strike on Al Sousi Mosque in Gaza city. AFP
    Palestinians evacuate the area after an Israeli air strike on Al Sousi Mosque in Gaza city. AFP
  • A site struck by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip is evacuated in Ashkelon, southern Israel. AP
    A site struck by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip is evacuated in Ashkelon, southern Israel. AP
  • Israeli troops in Merkava tanks take position near the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel. AFP
    Israeli troops in Merkava tanks take position near the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel. AFP
  • The heavily hit refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip is littered with debris. AFP
    The heavily hit refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip is littered with debris. AFP
  • Israeli soldiers take cover during a missile attack next to the border with Gaza, near Sderot, southern Israel. EPA
    Israeli soldiers take cover during a missile attack next to the border with Gaza, near Sderot, southern Israel. EPA
  • The rubble of a building destroyed in Israeli strikes, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Reuters
    The rubble of a building destroyed in Israeli strikes, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Reuters
  • A plume of smoke rises over Gaza city as Israeli air strikes hit. AFP
    A plume of smoke rises over Gaza city as Israeli air strikes hit. AFP
  • Grief at the funeral of Palestinians from the Shamalkh family, who health officials said were killed in Israeli strikes, in Gaza city. Reuters
    Grief at the funeral of Palestinians from the Shamalkh family, who health officials said were killed in Israeli strikes, in Gaza city. Reuters
  • Palestinians inspect damaged buildings in the aftermath of Israeli strikes at Al Shati refugee camp in Gaza city. Reuters
    Palestinians inspect damaged buildings in the aftermath of Israeli strikes at Al Shati refugee camp in Gaza city. Reuters
  • A wedding photo in the rubble of a building in Ashkelon, southern Israel. Reuters
    A wedding photo in the rubble of a building in Ashkelon, southern Israel. Reuters
  • Destruction in Gaza city's Al Shati refugee camp. AFP
    Destruction in Gaza city's Al Shati refugee camp. AFP
  • A mosque destroyed by Israeli strikes in Gaza city. AFP
    A mosque destroyed by Israeli strikes in Gaza city. AFP
  • A vigil for Israeli victims at the Stephen Wise Temple in Los Angeles. AFP
    A vigil for Israeli victims at the Stephen Wise Temple in Los Angeles. AFP
  • An Israeli soldier directs armoured vehicles heading towards the border with the Gaza Strip. Getty Images
    An Israeli soldier directs armoured vehicles heading towards the border with the Gaza Strip. Getty Images
  • A burnt out car from a battle between Israeli troops and Hamas fighters in Sderot. Getty Images
    A burnt out car from a battle between Israeli troops and Hamas fighters in Sderot. Getty Images
  • A police station that was destroyed in Sderot. Getty Images
    A police station that was destroyed in Sderot. Getty Images
  • A missile explodes in Gaza city. AFP
    A missile explodes in Gaza city. AFP
Updated: March 06, 2024, 7:51 AM
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