What is the history of the Israel-Palestinian conflict?

Israel and Hamas have been waging war since gunmen from the Palestinian militant group in the Gaza Strip stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and capturing 253 hostages, by Israeli tallies.

Israel responded with a military offensive in Gaza in which more than 40,400 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza health authorities.

The conflict is the bloodiest in a protracted conflict between Israelis and Palestinians that has rumbled on for seven decades and destabilised the Middle East.