Timeline of events on October 7: Here's how Israel-Hamas war erupted

It has been a year since Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel, after which the Gaza war began, which has now escalated to other regions in the Middle East. With the war-like situation intensifying in the region, here's what happened on October 7.

In Short

• War began after Hamas attacked Israel last year
• Over 41,000 Palestinians have died in attacks so far
• War has now escalated to other regions in Middle East

Israel launched several airstrikes on Lebanon and the Gaza Strip on Sunday, just one day ahead of the first anniversary of its war with Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The Gaza war, which began on October 7 last year when Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,200 Israelis, has now escalated, putting Israel on the brink of war with Iran.

At least 41,788 Palestinians have died and over two million were displaced due to Israeli attacks, news agency Reuters quoted the Palestinian enclave's health ministry as saying.

With the war-like situation escalating in the Middle East, here's what happened on October 7.

TIMELINE OF KEY EVENTS

1. Hamas launched over 5,000 rockets into Israel, which killed over 500 Israelis in the early hours of October 7.

   Hamas chief, Muhammad Deif, said it had launched a new military operation against Israel.

   Dief said that 5,000 rockets had been fired into Israel to begin “Operation Al-Aqsa Storm”. “We’ve decided to say enough is enough,” Deif said, urging all Palestinians to confront Israel.

2. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel "was at war" and said Hamas would "pay a price" for launching an attack on Israel.

   "The enemy will pay a price they have never known," he said.

   Israel launched 'Operation Iron Swords', a counteroffensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

3. Over 360 Israelis died and around 250 people were taken as hostages, as Hamas militants launched a surprise attack at the Nova Music Festival in Kibbutz Re’im near the Gaza Strip.

   A place that was teeming with life was turned into a scene of devastation, echoing with cries and reverberating with shock and loss.

4. Hamas fighters infiltrated Israel either by land, seizing Israeli army vehicles or by air with the help of parachutes, according to reports in Israeli media. Fighting was reported in several parts of southern Israel.
5. Around 198 Palestinians were killed after Israel launched a counterstrike in Gaza after the attack by Hamas.
6. Israeli Minister for Energy and Infrastructure MK Israel Katz issued order directing the Electric Company to cease the supply of electricity to the Gaza Strip.

7. The United Nation's High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Tuerk called for an immediate halt to violence in Gaza after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched its biggest attack on Israel in years.

   "This attack is having a horrific impact on Israeli civilians," Tuerk said in a statement. "Civilians must never be the target of attack."

8. Israel told the United Nations Security Council that Hamas "holds the sole responsibility and will bear the results" of its attack on the country.
9. Palestine said that it had warned against the consequences of blocking the political horizon and failing to enable the Palestinian people to "exercise their legitimate right to self-determination" and "establish long their own state".
10. US President Joe Biden spoke to Netanyahu and offered "all appropriate means of support" to Israel after the attack and warned "any other party hostile to Israel" not to seek advantage.