Adding to a long history of conflict between Israel and Palestine, a war has broken out between the two peoples following a surprise attack by Hamas, a Palestinian resistance group, and Israel has begun to respond in violence.

On Oct. 7, rockets were fired by Hamas from Gaza and militants broke through the border, storming Israeli territory. At this point, the group killed more than 1,000 soldiers and civilians, and captured more than 100 hostages. The attack was the first of its intensity since the prime of the two peoples’ conflict, during the Arab-Israeli War in 1948. 

The planned ambush was named “Al-Aqsa Storm” and Hamas regarded it as a response to so-called attacks on women by the Israeli people, sieges of Gaza, and an invasion of the al-Aqsa mosque. Many defending Palestine insist that Israel is not exactly “fighting back” if the Hamas attack was somewhat a response to the treatment by Israelis.

Following the raid, Israel declared war on Hamas and began “Operation Swords of Iron,” which would fire back into Gaza. 6,000 bombs were dropped in Gaza by Israel between the day of the first attack and through Oct. 12, and they soon established an emergency government as well as a “war management” cabinet.

Israel Defense Forces told civilians to evacuate and seek safety elsewhere, though many ways out of the territory are blocked out and the people of Israel have found themselves unable to attain refuge, according to CNN.

Many have spoken out in support of Israel, but some have also come out to defend Palestinians as the “Free Palestine Movement” has persisted for decades. This dates back to the 1940s in which the true Israel-Palestine conflict began, where territorial claims were fought over. Under British rule, following constant clashes between the two peoples (frequently over Jerusalem), the area separated into two independent territories–the “Jewish State” and the “Arab State.” This also put Jerusalem under United Nations (UN) control, which angered many groups who know the city to be a place of religious significance.

After this, Palestine was resistant to Britain’s “resolution,” and it eventually led to a declaration of independence from Israel, provoking the Israeli-Arab War. Palestinians were exiled from land, creating the first “large-scale exodus,” according to the UN. With the help of ally militaries, Israel won the war, and land was separated into Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. Since then, Palestine has continued to fight for their own independence, and eventually obtained rule over Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

The persistence of land control battles has continued all the way up to now, and the Israel-Hamas War has begun. More than 2,000 people have now died in Gaza, and Israel has called for a total siege of Gaza Strip, eliminating access to food, water, and electricity.

According to the New York Times, at least 30 Americans have been killed by Hamas and at least 10 are still missing in Israel. President Biden has committed to aiding Israel and finding those unaccounted Americans, saying in a statement, “At my direction, our teams are working in the region…to surge support and humanitarian consequences for Hamas’ attack to help Israel.” Though he says America stands with Israel, he also recognizes that “the overwhelming majority of Palestinians had nothing to do with Hamas and Hamas’ appalling attacks.”

Biden traveled to Israel on Wednesday, Oct. 18, and is expected to send troops to help support Israelis fighting.