What is Hamas and why is it fighting with Israel in Gaza?

Hamas gunmen launched an unprecedented assault on Israel from the Gaza Strip on 7 October, killing
1,200 people and taking about 240 hostages.

The Israeli military responded with air strikes on Gaza, and launched a ground offensive. More than
21,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

During a temporary truce at the end of November, Hamas released 105 hostages and Israel freed 240
Palestinian prisoners in exchange.

What is the goal of Israel's military operation in Gaza?

Since the 7 October attacks, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) warplanes have carried out air strikes across
Gaza while its troops have moved through the territory.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had a "clear goal of destroying Hamas's military and
governing capabilities", as well as freeing the hostages.

Israel, the UK, US and other Western powers class Hamas as a terrorist organisation.

Mr Netanyahu also declared that Israel would have "overall security responsibility" for Gaza "for an
indefinite period" after the conflict. However, he later said Israel had no plans to reoccupy the territory.

Israel drafted 300,000 reservists for the operation, boosting its standing force of 160,000. What is
happening on the ground in Gaza?

The IDF says it has struck more than 22,000 targets since 7 October.

It also says it has destroyed more than 800 tunnel shafts built underneath Gaza. Hamas previously
claimed that its tunnel network stretches for 500km (310 miles).

Satellite images suggest that nearly 100,000 buildings in Gaza may have been damaged during the
fighting. After the temporary truce ended, Israeli troops pushed into southern Gaza and began
operations against Hamas and other armed groups in and around the city of Khan Younis.

The ground offensive is now expanding into refugee camps in central Gaza.

The IDF has carried out many air strikes on Rafah, near the Egyptian border, where it previously told
residents of Khan Younis to flee.

There has been fierce fighting in the north, around the Jabalia refugee camp and the Shejaiya district of
Gaza City. The UN estimates that 100,000 civilians remain in the north.

Israel claims to have killed thousands of Hamas fighters during the war and arrested hundreds.

The IDF says 167 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the start of its ground offensive on 27 October.