Hamas-led militants took 251 hostages during the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel

A comprehensive overview of ongoing and historical armed conflicts, military engagements and geopolitical tensions shaping the world today.

An ongoing armed conflict between Israel and Hamas that escalated on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a large-scale assault on southern Israel, killing over 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel's subsequent military campaign in Gaza has triggered a severe humanitarian crisis with mass casualties and widespread displacement.