What's happening?

Yesterday, three days after a surprise attack on IsraelA country in the Middle East, and the only Jewish nation in the modern period. It is seen by Jews, Christians and Muslims as the Holy Land. by PalestinianPalestine is an area of the eastern Mediterranean region, including the West Bank, Gaza Strip and parts of modern Israel. It has been fought over by Arab and Jewish national movements for many years. militantFavouring confrontational or violent methods in support of a political or social cause. group HamasA militant Palestinian organisation, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007. It is listed as a terrorist organisation in the UK., the number of people who had died in the region was more than 1,100. This will rise.

Amid all the horror, many have turned their eyes 1,000 miles east to IranA country in Western Asia, officially called the Islamic Republic of Iran. It has a population of 84 million. . Iran is a supporter of Hamas.

Experts think it is unlikely that Iran actually took part in organising the attack. Preparations, first begun two years ago, were top secret. They would not have risked telling Iran and Israel finding out.

However, even if Iran was not involved in the plans for the assault, some say Hamas would not have gone ahead without Iran knowing.

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That is why some think this is bigger than Israel and Palestine. The world map, they say, is being redrawn. Iran, RussiaThe largest country in the world by area. It has a population of 144 million people. and ChinaA country in East Asia, home to 1.4 billion people. are steadily forming into a unified group who all are against American power.

But others say the real cause of the attacks is exactly the opposite: Palestinians are running out of friends. The ArabArabia includes the countries on the coast of north Africa (from Morocco in the north-west) and the Arabian peninsula. It does not include Iran, which is in Asia but which is the most significant supporter of Shia Islam. world is now making closer ties with Israel. Without their support, Palestinians think Israel may take over more areas lived in by Palestinians.

That is why some say this attack was not the work of a new anti-western world order - but Hamas acting on its own.

Yes! Iran and Russia have been working together in places like Syria and Ukraine for some time already. They know they will be more powerful if they work together.

No! Hamas is acting on its own. Russia wants to have a better relationship with Israel, not a worse one. Other countries will not become part of this conflict.