Hamas' attack on Israel explained in maps and satellite
In three days, Hamas' attack and Israel's response plunged an entire territory into war. A look back at the first stages of a regional conflict that threatens to destabilize the Middle East.
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Thomas Lecomte, Renaud Meillier, Victor Alexandre, Stanislas de Livonnière
Last updated: 10/10/2023
Since the Hamas attack, which began on Saturday, October 7, the Jewish state's response has been organized. Faced with thousands of rockets fired by Hamas' ground commandos, the Israeli authorities first carried out evacuations and then fought for control of the border area. Israel is now imposing a total blockade on the Palestinian enclave, which it is relentlessly bombing.
Read alsoLive: Hamas' attacks on Israel
To better understand the events of the past few days, here is a series of maps that detail the key stages of this escalation of violence, compiling satellite sources, press and authorities involved.
October 7, 2023
A hail of rockets
In the early morning hours of Saturday, October 7, 2023, Israelis are awakened by the sound of warning sirens. It's 6:30 a.m. and Hamas fighters have just launched an unprecedented operation against the Jewish state, dubbed the "Al-Aqsa Flood." Thousands of rockets are fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel, targeting Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in particular.
Hamas Rocket Strike Zones
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Credit: Le Parisien - Source: New York Times, Copernicus
Hamas Rocket Strike Zones
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Credit: Le Parisien - Source: New York Times, Copernicus
Hamas says it has fired more than 5000,<> rockets into Israel. While many of them were intercepted by the "Iron Dome", Israel's anti-missile system, some nevertheless managed to reach their target.
The hospital in the coastal town of Asheklon, about 10 kilometers from Gaza, was damaged in the attack.
Villages along the border with the Gaza Strip are also heavily targeted by Hamas rockets. Simultaneous strikes observable by satellite.
Hamas rocket attacks as seen by satellite
Overview
Credit: Sentinel 2 - Copernicus
Hamas rocket attacks as seen by satellite
Overview - Heat Zones
Credit: Sentinel 2 - Copernicus
Hamas rocket attacks as seen by satellite
Zoomed-in view - heat zones
Credit: Sentinel 2 - Copernicus
Hamas rocket attacks as seen by satellite
Zoomed-in view - heat zones
Credit: Sentinel 2 - Copernicus
The Gaza Strip and part of Israel as seen by satellite on Saturday, October 7.
In yellow and red on this view, the heat emanating from the hit areas along the border with Israel.
This impact zone is located in the northern Gaza Strip, near the village of Zikim.
These are located in the east, at the level of the cities of Reïm and Beeri.
October 7, 2023
The Ground Assault
An hour later, the authorities announced that men from the Gaza Strip had also managed to infiltrate into Israeli soil. These armed commandos carry out simultaneous attacks on several border towns, taking about 100 civilians hostage and killing many others.
Read alsoIsrael: what we know about the Hamas attack on a rave-party in the desert
In total, according to an official assessment on Tuesday, October 10, the Hamas operation left more than 900 dead and 2616,<> wounded on the Israeli side.
Israeli Cities Targeted by Hamas
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Credit: Le Parisien - Source: New York Times, War Mapper
Israeli Cities Targeted by Hamas
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Credit: Le Parisien - Source: New York Times, War Mapper
Israeli Cities Targeted by Hamas
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Credit: Le Parisien - Source: New York Times, War Mapper
Simultaneous attacks were carried out on several border towns.
Hamas fighters cross the border by land, but also by air, using paragliders.
Near Reim, terrorists attack participants at a music festival in the desert. Some reports announce more than 250 deaths among festival-goers.
October 7, 2023
Mobilization and evacuation
At the end of the morning, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a "state of war" in a televised address. For its part, the Israeli army announced the mobilization of 300,000 reservists. Villages near the border with the Gaza Strip are evacuated.
Cities evacuated by the Israeli army
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Credit: Le Parisien
October 7, 8 and 9, 2023
Border control
For two days, Israeli soldiers clashed with Hamas fighters. Finally, on the morning of Monday, October 10, the IDF announced that it had regained control of all the localities in the south of the country. In the aftermath, the Minister of Defense, Yoav Galant, ordered a total blockade of Gaza, preventing any supply of electricity, water and food.
Fighting zones around the Gaza Strip
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Credit: Le Parisien
The Israeli military says 1,500 bodies of Hamas fighters have been found on the Israeli side.
October 7, 8 and 9, 2023
Gaza under bombs
On Saturday, the Israeli army began to bomb the Gaza Strip intensively, despite the presence of Israeli hostages. Official buildings, but also many homes were hit by these strikes. Benaymin Netanyahu warns that the attack on Gaza will be "of an intensity that has never taken place." Hamas, for its part, threatens to kill Israeli hostages in the event of further strikes without warning.
Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip
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Credit: Le Parisien - Source: New York Times
2.3 million people live in the Gaza Strip, a densely populated territory of 360 km2 controlled by Hamas since 2007.
No building is safe in Gaza. Six mosques were destroyed by Israeli missile strikes.
The UN is calling for an end to the blockade while civilians fear the worst is yet to come.
The Israeli government justifies its mode of action by the violence of the attack suffered on Saturday, October 7. "We are fighting animals and we are acting accordingly," said Defense Minister Yoav Galant. The provisional toll is 687 dead and 3727,<> wounded on the Palestinian side.