Will it lead to WW3? A year since the 7 October attack, the conflict between Israel and Hamas is escalating into a regional war. But some think it threatens to become even bigger.
The year the Middle East imploded
Will it lead to WW3? A year since the 7 October attack, the conflict between Israel and Hamas is escalating into a regional war. But some think it threatens to become even bigger.
On this day last year the 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. militant group HamasA militant Palestinian organisation, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007. It is listed as a terrorist organisation in the UK. launched a terrorist attack on Israeli citizens in which 1,200 people were killed and over 240 were taken hostage.
The next day, Israel declared war. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) began airstrikes on Palestinian territory in the Gaza StripThe smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, surrounded by Israel and Egypt. .
A year on, the Middle EastThe lands around the east of the Mediterranean Sea and Arabia. is in flames. As of 23 September, over 43,000 people have been killed in the conflict, the vast majority of them Palestinian.
The IDF has since targeted LebanonA small country on the eastern Mediterranean coast that has been in the grip of an economic crisis for over a year. It has a native population of just 4.7 million, but migrants and refugees have brought its total population up to almost 7 million., home to HezbollahA militant organisation based in Lebanon, classified in the UK as a terrorist group. It has made direct attacks on Israel and is believed to have been responsible for assassinating Lebanon's former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri., an IslamistAn advocate of Islamic fundamentalism. Often used in the West to describe those who believe in imposing Sharia (Islamic law) on societies. political party and military group that rejects Israel's right to exist.
Iran, which supports Hamas and Hezbollah, last week launched almost 200 missiles at Israel.
Israel was founded as a nation for Jewish people on land occupied by Palestinians. Israel conquered much of the region.
Will it lead to WW3?
Yes! What seems like a regional issue can quickly blow up. We could be at the beginning of a chain reaction.
No! Countries from outside the Middle East are unlikely to sacrifice their safety and stability.
Palestinian - Palestine 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.
Hamas - A militant Palestinian organisation, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007. It is listed as a terrorist organisation in the UK.
Gaza strip - The smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, surrounded by Israel and Egypt.
Middle East - The lands around the east of the Mediterranean Sea and Arabia.
Lebanon - A small country on the eastern Mediterranean coast that has been in the grip of an economic crisis for over a year. It has a native population of just 4.7 million, but migrants and refugees have brought its total population up to almost 7 million.
Hezbollah - A militant organisation based in Lebanon, classified in the UK as a terrorist group. It has made direct attacks on Israel and is believed to have been responsible for assassinating Lebanon's former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.
Islamist - An advocate of Islamic fundamentalism. Often used in the West to describe those who believe in imposing Sharia (Islamic law) on societies.
The year the Middle East imploded

Glossary
Palestinian - Palestine 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.
Hamas - A militant Palestinian organisation, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007. It is listed as a terrorist organisation in the UK.
Gaza strip - The smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, surrounded by Israel and Egypt.
Middle East - The lands around the east of the Mediterranean Sea and Arabia.
Lebanon - A small country on the eastern Mediterranean coast that has been in the grip of an economic crisis for over a year. It has a native population of just 4.7 million, but migrants and refugees have brought its total population up to almost 7 million.
Hezbollah - A militant organisation based in Lebanon, classified in the UK as a terrorist group. It has made direct attacks on Israel and is believed to have been responsible for assassinating Lebanon's former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.
Islamist - An advocate of Islamic fundamentalism. Often used in the West to describe those who believe in imposing Sharia (Islamic law) on societies.