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8 Oct 2023

Photo essay: Israel declares war after attack by Hamas

2:29 pm on 8 October 2023

Palestinians take control of an Israeli tank after crossing the border fence with Israel from Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. Photo: AFP / Said Khatib

Hundreds of people are dead and more than 1000 injured after the Palestinian Islamic group Hamas launched an attack on Israel.

Israel has since declared a war, fighting back against Gaza, with hundreds already killed in retaliatory attacks..

Leaders across the world had condemned Hamas' attack, supporting Israel in its right to defend itself.

New Zealand's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nanaia Mahuta, has called for the "immediate cessation" of violence.

Follow RNZ's liveblog for the latest developments about the conflict.

RNZ is collating images from photographers around the world as the conflict continues:

Rockets are fired from Gaza City towards Israel on October 7, 2023. Dozens of rockets were fired from the blockaded Gaza Strip towards Israel on October 7, 2023, an AFP journalist in the Palestinian territory said, as sirens warning of incoming fire blared in Israel. (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS / AFP)

Dozens of rockets were fired from the blockaded Gaza Strip towards Israel on 7 October, an AFP journalist in the Palestinian territory said, as sirens warning of incoming fire blared in Israel. Photo: AFP / MAHMUD HAMS

A residential building in Tel Aviv is damaged following a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip into Israel on October 7, 2023. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP)

A residential building in Tel Aviv is damaged following a rocket attack. Photo: JACK GUEZ / AFP

People try to extinguish fire on cars following a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, southern Israel, on October 7, 2023. Palestinian militant group Hamas has launched a "war" against Israel, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said, after barrages of rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory on October 7. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)

People try to extinguish fire on cars following a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, southern Israel. Photo: AFP / AHMAD GHARABLI

Cars parked outside a residential building catch fire during a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, on October 7, 2023. Palestinian militants have begun a "war" against Israel, the country's defence minister said on October 7 after a barrage of rockets were fired and fighters from the Palestinian enclave infiltrated Israel, a major escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)

Cars parked outside a residential building catch fire during a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Photo: AFP / AHMAD GHARABLI

A plume of smoke rises above buildings in Gaza City on October 7, 2023 during an Israeli air strike. At least 70 people were reported killed in Israel, while Gaza authorities released a death toll of 198 in the bloodiest escalation in the wider conflict since May 2021, with hundreds more wounded on both sides. (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS / AFP)

A plume of smoke rises above buildings in Gaza City. Photo: MAHMUD HAMS

People walk atop the rubble of a tower destroyed in an Israeli air stike in Gaza City on October 7, 2023. Palestinian militants have begun a "war" against Israel which they infiltrated by air, sea and land from the blockaded Gaza Strip, Israeli officials said, a major escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

People walk atop the rubble of a tower destroyed in an Israeli air stike in Gaza City. Photo: MOHAMMED ABED

A damaged car sits amid the rubble of a tower destroyed in an Israeli air stike in Gaza City on October 7, 2023. Palestinian militants have begun a "war" against Israel which they infiltrated by air, sea and land from the blockaded Gaza Strip, Israeli officials said, a major escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED / AFP)

A damaged car sits amid the rubble of a tower destroyed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza City. Photo: MOHAMMED ABED

A salvo of rockets is fired by Palestinian militants from Gaza City toward Israel on October 7, 2023. At least 70 people were reported killed in Israel, while Gaza authorities released a death toll of 198 in the bloodiest escalation in the wider conflict since May 2021, with hundreds more wounded on both sides. (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS / AFP)

A salvo of rockets is fired by Palestinian militants from Gaza City toward Israel. Photo: MAHMUD HAMS / AFP

Residents queue to board a coach transporting them to a hotel in Tel Aviv on October 7, 2023, after a barrage of rockets were fired and fighters from the Gaza Strip infiltrated Israel, a major escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP)

Israeli residents queue to board a coach transporting them to a hotel in Tel Aviv. Photo: JACK GUEZ / AFP

Palestinian militants move towards the border fence with Israel from Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023. Barrages of rockets were fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip at dawn as militants from the blockaded Palestinian enclave infiltrated Israel, with at least one person killed, the army and medics said. (Photo by SAID KHATIB / AFP)

Palestinian militants approach the border. Photo: SAID KHATIB

People standing on a rooftop watch as a ball of fire and smoke rises above a building in Gaza City on October 7, 2023 during an Israeli air strike. At least 70 people were reported killed in Israel, while Gaza authorities released a death toll of 198 in the bloodiest escalation in the wider conflict since May 2021, with hundreds more wounded on both sides. (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS / AFP)

People standing on a rooftop watch as a ball of fire and smoke rises above a building in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike. Photo: MAHMUD HAMS / AFP

Israeli fire brigade teams douse the blaze in a parking lot outside a residential building following a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, on October 7, 2023. Palestinian militants have begun a "war" against Israel, the country's defence miniser said on October 7 after a barrage of rockets were fired and fighters from the Palestinian enclave infiltrated Israel, a major escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)

Israeli fire brigade teams douse the blaze in a parking lot outside a residential building following a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Photo: AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP

A woman weeps over the covered corpse of her nephew who was shot dead in the southern city of Sderot on October 7, 2023. Palestinian militants have begun a "war" against Israel which they infiltrated by air, sea and land from the blockaded Gaza Strip, Israeli officials said, a major escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

An Israeli woman mourns over the body of a family member. Photo: BAZ RATNER / AFP

Iraqis burn Israeli flags during a rally held in central Baghdad on October 7, 2023 in support of the Palestinians, after Hamas militants launched a deadly air, land and sea assault into Israel from the Gaza Strip. (Photo by Murtadha Ridha / AFP)

Iraqis burn Israeli flags during a rally held in central Baghdad in support of the Palestinians. Photo: MURTADHA RIDHA

US President Joe Biden addresses the terrorist attacks in Israel from the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 7, 2023. Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise large-scale attack against Israel Saturday, firing thousands of rockets from Gaza and sending fighters to kill or abduct people as Israel retaliated with devastating air strikes. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP)

US President Joe Biden addresses the terrorist attacks in Israel from the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC. Photo: AFP / JIM WATSON

07 October 2023, Hesse, Frankfurt/Main: Several hundred people take part in a pro-Israel solidarity rally at Römerberg in Frankfurt. Photo: Boris Roessler/dpa (Photo by BORIS ROESSLER / DPA / dpa Picture-Alliance via AFP)

Several hundred people take part in a pro-Israel solidarity rally at Römerberg in Frankfurt. Photo: AFP / BORIS ROESSLER

07 October 2023, Berlin: The Brandenburg Gate was illuminated in the colors of the Israeli flag on Saturday evening as a show of solidarity. According to a spokeswoman of the Berlin Senate Administration, this was done at the request of the Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU). Photo: Sven Käuler/dpa (Photo by Sven Käuler / DPA / dpa Picture-Alliance via AFP)

Berlin: The Brandenburg Gate was illuminated in the colors of the Israeli flag as a show of solidarity. According to a spokeswoman of the Berlin Senate Administration, this was done at the request of the Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU). Photo: AFP / SVEN KAULER

Passengers look at a departure board at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, on October 7, 2023, as flights are canceled because of the Hamas surprise attacks. The conflict sparked major disruption at Tel Aviv airport, with American Airlines, Emirates, Lufthansa and Ryanair among carriers with cancelled flights. (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN / AFP)

Passengers look at a departure board at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, as flights are cancelled because of the Hamas surprise attacks. Photo: AFP / GIL COHEN-MAGEN

TOPSHOT - A building in Tel Aviv is damaged by a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023. Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise large-scale attack against Israel on October 7, firing thousands of rockets from Gaza and sending fighters to kill or abduct people as Israel retaliated with devastating air strikes. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP)

A building in Tel Aviv is damaged by a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip. Photo: AFP / JACK GUEZ

An Israeli rescuer walks in front of a damaged shop in Tel Aviv, after it was hit by a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023. Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise large-scale attack against Israel on October 7, firing thousands of rockets from Gaza and sending fighters to kill or abduct people as Israel retaliated with devastating air strikes. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP)

An Israeli rescuer walks in front of a damaged shop in Tel Aviv, after it was hit by a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip. Photo: AFP / JACK GUEZ

07 October 2023, Hesse, Frankfurt/Main: A man lights candles at the rally. Several hundred people take part in the rally. Photo: Hannes P. Albert/dpa (Photo by Hannes P Albert / DPA / dpa Picture-Alliance via AFP)

A man lights candles at a pro-Israel rally in Frankfurt. Photo: HANNES P ALBERT / DPA via AFP

Passengers wait at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, on October 7, 2023, as flights are canceled because of the Hamas surprise attack. The conflict sparked major disruption at Tel Aviv airport, with American Airlines, Emirates, Lufthansa and Ryanair among carriers with cancelled flights. (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN / AFP)

Passengers wait at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, as flights are cancelled because of the Hamas surprise attack. Photo: AFP / GIL COHEN-MAGEN

EDITORS NOTE: Graphic content / TOPSHOT - A man walks atop the rubble of a tower destroyed in an Israeli air stike in Gaza City on October 7, 2023. Palestinian militants have begun a "war" against Israel which they infiltrated by air, sea and land from the blockaded Gaza Strip, Israeli officials said, a major escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED / AFP)

A man walks atop the rubble of a tower destroyed in an Israeli air stike in Gaza City. Photo: AFP / MOHAMMED ABED

Fire and smoke rises above buildings during an Israeli air strike in Gaza City on October 8, 2023. Photo: AFP / Eyad Baba

EDITORS NOTE: Graphic content / People run along a debris-strewn street following Israeli air strikes in Gaza City on October 7, 2023. Palestinian militants have begun a "war" against Israel which they infiltrated by air, sea and land from the blockaded Gaza Strip, Israeli officials said, a major escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Photo by Mohammed ABED / AFP)

People run along a debris-strewn street following Israeli air strikes in Gaza City on 7 October. Photo: AFP / MOHAMMED ABED

People assess the destruction cause by Israeli air strikes in Gaza City.

Photo: AFP / Majdi Fathi

Members of the Israeli forces take cover on the side of a street in Ashkelon as sirens wail while barrages of rockets are fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel. Photo: AFP / Ahmad Gharabli