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On 7 October 2023, the Palestinian group Hamas, officially designated a terrorist group by many countries including Israel, the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom, commenced an armed assault against Israel. It launched several thousand rockets into Israel and conducted attacks in border areas, killing around 1,200 civilians and taking 253 hostages, as part of what it called “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood”.

In response, in October Israel conducted air strikes against Hamas in Gaza and launched a ground attack to “destroy Hamas’ governing and military capabilities and to bring the hostages home”. Hamas continued to fire rockets into Israel after 7 October. Fighting in Gaza is ongoing.

This briefing provides information on the UK response, including activity at the UN and statements from the government and opposition parties from 5 July 2024. The Commons Library research briefing, 2023/24 Israel-Hamas conflict: US, UN, EU and regional response details the international response to the conflict, including actions at the UN Security Council, the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court, and wider violence in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. 

Ongoing hostilities and casualties

Fighting between Israel and Hamas is centred in southern Gaza, Khan Younis and the Rafah crossing into Egypt, where in May Israel announced it would conduct “limited” operations against Hamas and ordered the evacuation of Palestinian civilians. Around 90% of Palestinians in Gaza are displaced.

Citing Israeli authorities, the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health and Palestinian civil defense, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) says that since 7 October over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals have been reported killed and around 5,400 injured. At least 40,861 Palestinians have been reported killed, a further 10,000 are missing or under rubble and 94,398 injured across Gaza and Israel (as of 4 September 2024).

There is also ongoing violence in the occupied West Bank and hostilities between Israel and Iran-aligned Hezbollah (also a proscribed terrorist group in the UK) in Lebanon and northern Israel. Other Iran-supported groups such as the Houthis in Yemen and Shia militias in Iraq and Syria have been launching attacks on civilian shipping and against US and Israeli targets.

On 13 April, Iran launched its first direct attack on Israel. It said this was in retaliation for an attack on its consulate in Syria, launching 330 drones and missiles (of which 99% were intercepted).

Pauses in fighting and ceasefire proposals  

From 24 November to 1 December, a pause took place to enable the release of hostages. Before the pause began, Israel said it would last no longer than 10 days and that fighting would then resume. The pause enabled the release of 110 hostages from Gaza and 240 Palestinian prisoners from Israel.

On 10 June, the UN Security Council (UNSC) passed a resolution introduced by the US for a three-stage plan to end the conflict, backed by Israel. Its first stage includes the release of many hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel, an increase in aid and withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas of Gaza. The UNSC called on Hamas and Israel to implement the agreement. Israel said it remains committed to destroying Hamas.

UK actions and response (from 5 July 2024)

Government advice for British nationals

  • UK visa holders in Gaza can contact the UK for assistance to leave if they hold valid permission to enter or remain in the UK for more than six months and have a spouse/partner or a child aged 17 or under in the UK.

Military, diplomatic and humanitarian actions  

Government and opposition statements on the conflict

  • Post-conflict Gaza: both Labour and Conservative governments said Hamas cannot be allowed to remain in Gaza and threaten Israel. Mr Lammy has also said that Israeli Defence Forces cannot remain in Gaza. He has suggested “trusted” Arab states may take a security role there.

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