How did the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel begin?

The October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas and other militants, such as the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, began at approximately 6:30 am on the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret.12

The assault commenced with a massive barrage of at least 2,200 rockets launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel within 20 minutes, which reportedly overwhelmed the Iron Dome defense system. Under the cover of this rocket fire, at least 1,500 militants infiltrated Israel at dozens of locations. They breached the heavily fortified border using explosives and bulldozers, disabled communication networks at nearby military posts, and entered civilian areas. Additionally, militants bypassed the border by sea using motorboats near Zikim and by air using motorized paragliders.12

This coordinated attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of more than 240 hostages, marking the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.12