Smoke billows over Khan Yunis following a strike in the southern city of the Gaza Strip as the war began after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7 that Israeli officials say killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Vowing to destroy Hamas and bring home an estimated 240 hostages abducted by militants to Gaza, Israel launched a massive offensive that has left much of the besieged territory in ruins. The Hamas government says the war has killed at least 18,800 people, mostly women and children. IMAGES