120,000 Israelis displaced since onset of Gaza conflict onset

By Abdel-Rauf Arnaut

JERUSALEM (AA) - Around 120,000 Israelis have been internally displaced since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict on Oct. 7, local media reported on Monday.

The displaced Israelis are broken down into two main categories: those who have been fully evacuated from their homes, and those who are eligible to rest at state-subsidized guesthouses temporarily, according to The Times of Israel newspaper.

The conflict in Gaza, which has been under Israeli bombardment and a blockade since Oct. 7, began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

Nearly 6,500 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 5,087 Palestinians and more than 1,400 Israelis, according to official figures.