On 7 October 2023, Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1200 people, seizing over 230 hostages, and committing a series of atrocities. The appalling act of violence shocked the world and led to Israel declaring war on the militant group.
Hamas – despite military support from Iran – would have known that it was no match militarily for Israel, yet its vast network of tunnels has provided the fighters with an asymmetric advantage in this war.
Do the tunnels represent a flagrant misuse of financial resources intended to provide aid to Palestinians, or are they a very astute investment by Hamas on behalf of the Palestinian people?
Nothing can justify the atrocities committed by Hamas on that fateful October day; however, this was no “spur of the moment” attack – it was well planned, over several years, with a specific aim in mind.
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1:16
‘Gaza a graveyard for children’
Over many decades, traditional political dialogue and negotiation to establish a way for Palestinians and Israelis to co-exist peacefully has failed. Meanwhile, Israel has increasingly exploited its military dominance to ramp up pressure on Palestinians living in Gaza and the West Bank.
Palestinian residents of Gaza have seen unemployment soar to 50%, standards of living decline consistently, and in the absence of any tangible political progress to address this cycle of decline, Hamas capitalised.
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Hamas offered hope. When conventional politics fails, a fresh approach is required. Israelis and Palestinians are no longer capable of seeing beyond the red mist of conflict, so an enduring peace will only be achieved through external international engagement – specifically the US and Saudi Arabia.
But what would be the catalyst to provoke international engagement in such an intractable issue?
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Hamas would have known that its 7 October attacks would incur the wrath of Israel and precipitate a major conflict that it could not win.
But it would also know that US intervention had ended previous conflicts, so by initiating a major conflict Hamas would shine a spotlight on the region and perhaps kick-start progress towards an enduring two-state solution.
However, Hamas also knew that Israel would be determined to destroy the group, so it needed to find a way to survive against a vastly superior military force. The answer lay in the tunnel network.
Experience had shown that a well-designed network with power, comms, security and protection, could provide Hamas with an asymmetric advantage, and they invested accordingly.
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Israel military destroys Gaza tunnels
In 2014 alone it is estimated that Hamas spent up to $90m (£70m) and poured 600,000 tonnes of concrete on developing the tunnel network. The strategy has succeeded in creating a subterranean stronghold for Hamas.
But the war provoked by Hamas has resulted in huge casualties – over 20,000 Palestinians (including Hamas fighters) killed and over 50,000 injured. Would Palestinians believe this was a price worth paying?
Despite the IDF’s military response to the 7 October attacks, Hamas has increased in popularity from 38 to 42% of Gaza residents. And although Hamas does not control the West Bank, decades of growing Israeli pressure on Palestinians living in the region has led to a surge in popularity for Hamas from 12% to 44%. Why?
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In contrast, Hamas’s stated intent to destroy the Israeli state is widely condemned as extremism; however, away from the extremist rhetoric, is Israel’s pursuit of a one-state solution any more palatable?
Hamas’s investment in the tunnel network might have diverted from the aid budget for Gaza, but if its intent was to attract international attention to ensure a more sustainable long-term solution for the region, history might judge that a prudent strategy.
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2:43
‘Safe’ Gaza areas hit
This in no way justifies Hamas’s brutal atrocities on 7 October.
However, if an enduring solution is to be found, the international community must look beyond the polarising acerbic rhetoric and recognise the huge weight of responsibility on its shoulders. If the Palestinian “cry for help” goes unheeded, the cycle of violence looks destined to continue.
Hope must replace despair, with opportunity inspiring a new generation. Failure – or indeed just “doing nothing” – will perpetuate the decades of violence, provide a recruiting ground for extremism, and risk the very future of Palestinians in the region.
This is not about taking sides. It is about placing humanity as the primary focus, and changing the narrative from one of conflict, anger and hatred, to one of compromise, accommodation and hope.
On 19 December, 80-year-old Palestinian grandmother Halima Abu Leil was shot in an Israel Defence Forces (IDF) raid on her neighbourhood in Balata refugee camp in Nablus, West Bank.
Two days later, Halima’s children told Sky News their mother was shot six times by Israeli special forces on her way to buy groceries. She died soon after.
Warning this piece includes an image from CCTV of the moment Halima Abu Leil was shot.
“They could see she is an elderly lady but they shot her six times – in her leg, in her chest. When she was first shot in her legs, she knelt on the ground,” her daughter said.
Newly released grainy CCTV footage shows the moment she was shot and reveals that a van marked as an ambulance was used during the surprise IDF raid.
Halima Abu Leil’s family want the footage to be seen.
Sky News’ Data & Forensics unit has analysed the CCTV and geolocated the street where the video was filmed. It is the exact location Halima’s son told us she “fell to her knees” as she was shot.
Three men are also walking down the street. There is no visible contact between them and Halima. Based on our analysis of their silhouettes, the figure in the middle appears to be holding a weapon. They are likely to be neighbourhood militants.
The three men veer to the right, moving into a sunny area. One takes a seat on some stairs, while the other two stand. They join someone sitting there already.
A few yards away, Halima stops in the middle of the street to speak to another woman with a shopping trolley.
An ambulance pulls into vision, separating the two women, and drives slowly down the street. A white van pulls in behind the medical vehicle.
A few moments later, the passenger door of the white van opens and a faint cloud of smoke is visible, suggesting that a gunshot is fired.
This is the moment Halima falls to her knees.
The men, some of them armed, scatter to the right and left into alleyways along with other people in the street.
A detailed analysis of the footage suggests that visible clouds of smoke on the walls are the result of multiple shots. The footage and imagery we gathered from the site of the killing shows bullet holes in the building next to where Halima was standing.
The woman she was speaking to moments earlier takes cover in a doorway.
At the same time, figures who appear to be Israeli military forces exit the ambulance in the foreground. They are equipped with helmets, backpacks, rifles, and other gear.
Armed figures can also be seen leaving the white van in the background. They are seen aiming their weapons down the street.
Halima appears to get hit again and collapses to the floor. The men likely to be neighbourhood militants are not visibly present in the street when this happens.
At the time of our previous report, the IDF said they had conducted “counterterrorism activity” in Balata camp the morning Halima was killed.
We approached the IDF about the CCTV footage and the use of a medical vehicle to conduct their operation.
This was its response: “The IDF is committed to and operates in accordance with international law. The mentioned incident is under review. The review will examine the use of the vehicle shown in the video and the claims of harm to uninvolved individuals during the exchange of fire between the terrorists and our forces.”
The use of a marked medical vehicle for a security operation could be a contravention of the Geneva Convention and a war crime – as well as Halima’s killing.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on occupied Palestinian territory Francesca Albanese watched the CCTV video and told Sky News she was shocked but not surprised.
She says: “When I look at the footage, what emerges prima facie is that there were no precautions taken – within these operations whose legality is debatable – to avoid or spare civilian life. No principle of proportionality because there was wildfire directed at the identified target and ultimately no respect for the principle of distinction.
“So this was a murder in cold blood and could be a war crime as an extrajudicial killing.”
According to the United Nations Office of Human Rights in occupied Palestinian territory (OHCHR oPt), Israeli security forces and settlers have killed at least 813 mostly unarmed Palestinians, including 15 women and 177 children, since 7 October 2023.
In a statement to Sky News regarding Halima’s killing, the OHCHR oPT said: “Any deliberate killing by Israeli security forces of Palestinians in the Occupied West Bank who do not pose an imminent threat to life is unlawful under international human rights law and a war crime in the context of Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian Territory.
“This incident must be investigated independently, effectively, thoroughly, and transparently. If there is evidence of violations of the applicable law enforcement standards, those responsible must be held to account.”
Sophie Alexander, international affairs producer, and Michelle Inez Simon, visual investigations producer, contributed reporting.
The Data and Forensics team is a multi-skilled unit dedicated to providing transparent journalism from Sky News. We gather, analyse and visualise data to tell data-driven stories. We combine traditional reporting skills with advanced analysis of satellite images, social media and other open source information. Through multimedia storytelling we aim to better explain the world while also showing how our journalism is done.
Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy has met Israel’s prime minister in an effort to secure a ceasefire deal in Gaza before the president-elect takes office on 20 January.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed details of the meeting with Steve Witkoff on Saturday, adding that the head of the Israeli Mossad intelligence agency has been deployed to Qatar in order to “advance” talks.
It was not immediately clear when David Barnea would travel to Doha for the latest round of indirect discussions between Israel and Hamas.
Earlier on Saturday, an Israeli official said some progress had been made, mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, to reach a deal in Gaza.
The mediators are making renewed efforts to halt fighting in Gaza and free the remaining Israeli hostages held there before Mr Trump takes office.
A deal would also involve the release of some Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Families of Israeli hostages welcomed Mr Netanyahu’s decision to dispatch the officials, with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters describing it as a “historic opportunity”.
Mr Witkoff arrived in Doha on Friday and met the Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s foreign ministry said.
Egyptian and Qatari mediators received reassurances from Mr Witkoff that the US would continue to work towards a fair deal to end the war soon, Egyptian security sources said, though no further details were released.
Israel launched its assault on Gaza after Hamas fighters stormed across its borders in October 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
Families of the roughly 100 hostages still held in Gaza are pressing Mr Netanyahu to reach a deal to bring their loved ones home.
Since then, more than 46,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials, with much of the area destroyed and gripped by a humanitarian crisis, with most of its population displaced.
Pope Francis has been honoured with America’s highest civilian award by President Joe Biden, who has described the pontiff as “a light of faith, hope, and love that shines brightly across the world”.
It is the first time Mr Biden, 82, has given the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction during his four years in office.
In a statement, the White House said the award is “presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavours”.
Mr Biden had been scheduled to present the medal to Pope Francis, 88, in person on Saturday in Rome on what was to be the final overseas trip of his presidency. But the president cancelled his visit to monitor the California wildfires.
The White House said Mr Biden bestowed the award during a phone call in which they also discussed efforts to promote peace and alleviate suffering around the world.
The award can be presented with or without distinction.
Mr Biden presented the medal of freedom – without distinction – on 5 January to several people including fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton, humanitarian and U2 singer Bono, fashion designer Ralph Lauren and actors Michael J Fox and Denzel Washington.
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Mr Biden himself is a recipient of the award with distinction, recognised when he was vice president by then president Barack Obama in a surprise ceremony eight years ago.
The citation for the pope’s honour said his “mission of serving the poor has never ceased”.
“A loving pastor, he joyfully answers children’s questions about God. A challenging teacher, he commands us to fight for peace and protect the planet. A welcoming leader, he reaches out to different faiths,” it added.