Editing The Disengagement Plan (section)

== Hamas Attack on Simchas Torah ==

===== Extended Article - Iron Swords War =====
The Iron Swords War broke out on the morning of Simchas Torah 5784 (2023), with a massive attack on Israeli settlements around Gaza and southern cities. In the first weeks of the war, the attack was considered a complete surprise, but as time passed, it was published that there were warnings from within the military about Hamas planning a large-scale attack, but all were dismissed by senior military officials claiming Hamas was deterred, leading to a widespread attack that included mass murder.

In the first phase, the terrorists launched a widespread missile attack on settlements and IDF camps around Gaza and Israeli cities in the south and center. In the second phase, approximately 3,000 terrorists infiltrated Israeli territory along the Gaza Strip border using pickup trucks, motorcycles, boats, paragliders, and on foot.

Since the IDF was not prepared for this attack, entire settlements around Gaza and the cities of Ofakim, Sderot, and Netivot were attacked. Several IDF posts in the area fell to terrorists who went house to house, murdered, and set buildings on fire. Hundreds of Israeli civilians and soldiers, including elderly, women, children, and infants, were brutally kidnapped by Hamas terrorists and taken captive to Gaza. During the attack, over 1,500 terrorists were killed.

Vehicles destroyed by Hamas terrorists

The IDF initially delayed, and in the early hours, sparse forces operated on land, sea, and air, while simultaneously beginning to recruit reserve soldiers under Order 8. The IDF attacked many targets in the Gaza Strip while terrorists continuously fired missiles in the south and center with the aim of killing as many Jews as possible.

Approximately 240 men, women, and children were kidnapped to Gaza and held in various locations by Hamas and other terrorist organizations. Their condition is unknown, and some were wounded from the massacre in the Gaza envelope or from the fighting in Gaza. Many of the hostages are foreign or dual citizens, and there was pressure from additional countries for their release.

The war is considered a direct result of the Disengagement Plan.