what is happening in israel explained

The conflict in Israel is a long-standing issue that has its roots in the creation of Israel in 1948. After the announcement of the creation of Israel, five Arab nations invaded territory that was part of the British mandate, and a war followed. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were forced out of their homes in what they call Al Nakba, or the "Catastrophe". Since then, there have been numerous conflicts between Israel and Palestine, with tensions often high between Israelis and Palestinians living in East Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank. Gaza is ruled by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has fought Israel many times. The latest violence began with Israeli attacks on sites in the Gaza Strip, which its military said was in response to threats from a militant group called Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Hamas launched a surprise attack, killing more than 1,200 Israelis and taking an estimated 150 people hostage. The assault signals a new bloody chapter in a decades-long battle over land and sovereignty. Israeli Defense Forces mounted a swift response, triggering a war between the nation and Hamas, which controls the besieged Gaza Strip. The conflict, which entered its fifth day on October 11, 2023, is playing out against the backdrop of centuries-old religious tensions, an Israeli government in turmoil over judicial reform, and increased Israeli military raids within Palestinian territories. Israel has since carried out an economic and physical blockade of the territory, claiming it necessary to isolate Hamas. Backed by Egypt, the Israeli government has restricted the import of goods they say could be used for weaponry and blocked many Palestinians from leaving Gaza[[1]](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2023/10/11/hamas-israel-conflict-war-expl...