On October 7, 2023, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, other terrorist groups, and civilians from Gaza launched a brutal attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of around 240 hostages who were taken to Gaza. As of August 2025, around 50 hostages remain in Gaza, with Israeli officials estimating that about 20 are still alive, including citizens of various nations, among them also German citizens.