Your Guide to Understanding the Roots of the Israel-Hamas War

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The struggle between Arabs and Jews over ownership of the Holy Land dates back more than a century and has given rise to seven major wars. The latest broke out on Oct. 7 when the Islamist Palestinian group Hamas, which is dedicated to Israel’s destruction and which the US and European Union have designated a terrorist organization, attacked southern Israel from the Gaza Strip, killing 1,200 people in towns, kibbutzim, army bases and a music festival in the desert. Nearly 40,000 people have died in Israel’s military response, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza. Israeli officials have said some 14,000 of the dead were fighters. Here’s your guide to understanding the conflict between the US-backed Israel and the Iran-backed Hamas.