About This Lesson
On October 7, 2023, on the Jewish Sabbath and during the celebration of the Jewish holiday Simchat Torah, the terrorist group Hamas carried out an unprecedented surprise attack on Israel.
In an act of war, Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, entering communities near the Gaza Strip—killing hundreds of civilians, taking hostages (including young children and elderly people), and firing thousands of rockets and missiles at cities across the country. As of this date, more than 1,000 Israelis have been murdered, thousands wounded and hundreds of people are missing. In a horrific scene at a music festival, Hamas shot into the crowd and killed at least 260 people and they also grabbed as many hostages as they could. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of a “long and difficult war” ahead and called for a mass mobilization of army reserves.
Use this table talk to discuss these events with students ages 11 and up.
Note: Data in this news lesson is subject to change as events evolve.