Terrorist attack on Israel sparks war

The Palestinian armed group Hamas attacked Israel on Saturday morning.

They sent more than 2,200 rockets into Israel. Hamas also entered Israeli territory – by vehicles, boats, and even motor-powered paragliders (paramotors).

At least 600 Israelis have died and more than 2,000 have been injured so far.

Shocking images of collapsed buildings and the abduction of participants in a music festival held on the Israeli-Palestinian border engulfed the world. Armed members of Hamas took them to their territory.

Among the hostages are many women, children, and elderly. They also kidnapped an elderly woman who survived the Holocaust.

Israeli politics declared martial law. Its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu predicts a long and difficult war.

Many rockets have already been directed toward Gaza, the Palestinian territory.

The event is being condemned all over the world. The European Union, Ukraine, and the United States responded, saying that they stand by Israel. They also emphasize that Israel has the right to defend itself.

Slovenia has also expressed solidarity with the Israeli people.

Many countries, such as China, are again mentioning the two-state solution in this case. This means, among other things, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The last few days’ events represent an escalation of the long-standing conflict between the Palestinian and Israeli sides. This has been going on since the founding of the State of Israel.

Saturday’s attack happened on the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, when Egypt and Syria attacked Israel, but Israel successfully defended itself.

Glossary

Hamas is an extreme Islamist party that was founded in 1987. It is a group designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union. It has carried out numerous terrorist attacks on Israel in the past. It is supported by Iran.

Conflict is war, conflict.

Points to Consider

1. Do you know the history of this area?
2. Why do we say there are no winners in war?
3. What are the peaceful ways to resolve disputes?

For Parents and Teachers

How to talk about terrorism (in Slovenian)

How to talk about tragedies (in Slovenian)

How to talk about war (in Slovenian)

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The original version of this article was published on 9^th October