The background leading up to Oct 7th, 2023
10 FAQ
1. How did Jewish migration to Palestine start?
In the late 1800s, the Zionist movement encouraged Jews to move to Palestine (then under the Ottoman Empire). They wanted a safe homeland because of rising antisemitism in Europe. Palestinians (mostly Arabs and Muslims, with Christian minorities) already lived there and saw this as an existential threat. After World War I, Britain controlled Palestine (the “Mandate”). Britain promised both Jews and Arabs things it couldn’t deliver: a Jewish homeland and Arab independence. Tensions grew, leading to violence between Jews and Arabs — and also against the British. Before Israel was created, some Jewish underground groups (like the Irgun and Lehi) carried out terrorist attacks against the British and Palestinians. Examples: the King David Hotel bombing (1946) and the Deir Yassin massacre (1948). These groups wanted to force Britain out and establish a Jewish state.
2. What role did the Holocaust play?
The Holocaust (1941–1945) killed 6 million Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe. After this genocide, international support for a Jewish state grew stronger. Survivors wanted safety, and Palestine seemed like the answer. But for Palestinians, this meant more displacement from their land.
3. What happened in 1947–1948?
The UN proposed partition: one Jewish state, one Arab state, and Jerusalem under international control. Jews accepted, Arabs understandably rejected it. In 1948, Israel declared independence. Neighboring Arab states invaded, leading to the First Arab-Israeli War. Israel won. Around 750,000 Palestinians were expelled or fled. They call it this period the Nakba, the catastrophe.
4. What changed in 1967 ?
During the Six-Day War, Israel captured:
West Bank & East Jerusalem (from Jordan)
Gaza & Sinai (from Egypt)
Golan Heights (from Syria)
Since then, Israel has controlled (occupied) the West Bank and Gaza, though it withdrew troops from Gaza in 2005.
5. What about Palestinian resistance?
In 1964, the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) formed, demanding Palestinian self-determination. In the 1970s–80s, Palestinian groups carried out hijackings and attacks, while Israel responded militarily. This period hardened views on both sides.
6. What were the Intifadas (uprising) ?
First Intifada (1987–1993): Mass Palestinian uprising of arab palestinian civilisans against Israeli rule.
Second Intifada (2000–2005): Much more violent, with suicide bombings and harsh Israeli crackdowns. Palestinians were killed by the thousands (about 3000-4000 ).
7. Did peace ever look possible?
In the 1990s with the Oslo Accords: Israel and the PLO recognized each other, and the Palestinian Authority was created. But settlements increased bBetween 1993 and 2000, the Jewish settler population in the West Bank (excluding East Jerusalem) grew from about 110,900 to 190,206, nearly doubling), borders never defined, refugees issue and Jerusalem question never solved. Over a longer horizon: one “30 Years After Oslo” analysis says that in 1993 there were ~110,000 settlers in the West Bank and in 2023 about 465,000, meaning more than a four-fold increase over 30 years.
8. What led to Oct 7 th, 2023?
Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007 after winning elections and fighting the largely corrupt Palestinian Authority.
Gaza has since been under blockade by Israel, leaving 2 million people in dire conditions.
Between 2008–2021, Israel and Hamas fought several wars.
In 2023, tensions spiked: violence in the West Bank, clashes at Al-Aqsa Mosque, deep political crisis in Israel.
Amid this, Hamas launched the Oct 7 attack — the deadliest in Israel’s history.
9. What happened on Oct 7 th, 2023 ?
Before dawn / early morning: Hamas launches surprise multi-front incursions from Gaza into southern Israel, using rockets, tunnels, drones, and armed fighters.
Militants breach border in dozens of locations, hit kibbutzim, military posts, civilian areas, and the Nova music festival venue.
Israeli forces scramble — initial local defense (civilians, border security) try holding lines while national forces mobilize.
Hours pass: many areas have no backup; delayed reinforcements.
Later that day / into night: Israel begins counter-operations, taking back some territories; initial counts of dead, hostages, damage begin emerging.
Intel failure or cover-up?
Critics argue Israel’s intelligence should’ve detected preparations for this onslaught — the fact it didn’t raises questions about negligence or deliberate “stand-downs” orders.Six-hour delay & response lag
The gap between initial attacks and effective response is a major flashpoint. Detractors suspect command breakdowns or intentional delay.False / exaggerated atrocity claims
Investigations found that certain claims repeated by officials - like beheaded babies, mass rape, etc.- were cheer lies.Conspiracy / “false flag” whispers
Some claimed Israel allowed parts of the attack to justify future actions (“let-down orders”). But fact-checkers warn there’s no solid evidence for that.Opaque archives & withheld data
The Israeli state has been criticized for refusing to release full timelines, recordings, warning memos — meaning the public, victims’ families, and researchers can’t verify or contest the story fully. Why ? This feeds into all the skepticism above.