why did hamas attack israel

Hamas attacked Israel primarily as a reaction to what it describes as decades of Israeli oppression, the ongoing Israeli occupation and blockade of Palestinian territories, including the Gaza Strip, and specific provocations like Israeli actions at the al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem. The attack was intended to highlight the Palestinian plight on the global stage, to disrupt the normalization of relations between Israel and some Arab states, and to push for the release of thousands of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. The attack on October 7, 2023, was the deadliest in Israeli history, involving thousands of rockets fired from Gaza and militants infiltrating Israel to attack border communities and take hostages. Hamas framed the attack as a response to years of killing of Palestinians, settler violence, restrictions on Palestinian movement, and the blockade of Gaza, which has caused severe humanitarian crises. The assault was also portrayed as a call for global attention to the Palestinian cause amid the broader Israeli- Palestinian conflict.