Hamas, the Islamist political and militant organisation that governs Gaza, left the world reeling when it stormed across the border into Israel killing festival-goers, and families – including young children and elderly – in their homes, and taking about 200 Israeli hostages back to Gaza.

Since then, the death toll in Israel has risen to 1400, the Israeli government reports. Israel has taken swift steps to retaliate, ordering a “complete siege” against the Gaza Strip, which includes blocking food, fuel, medical supplies and any other goods from entering the enclave that is home to some 2.1 million Palestinians.