How 6 months of Israel's war in Gaza have upended the Middle East

Hamas unleashed its early morning rampage in southern Israel six months ago this Sunday, igniting the deadliest war ever between Israelis and Palestinians.

To look at how the war is reshaping the region, and where the war could be heading, a trio of NPR correspondents drew on their deep experience of reporting in the region, including the current conflict.

The three are Daniel Estrin in Tel Aviv; Jane Arraf, who's based in Amman, Jordan; and Greg Myre, who's based in Washington and has been working in the region.

How have the past six months changed Israel?

Daniel Estrin: The Hamas-led assault on Israel was the deadliest single attack against Jews since the Holocaust, with around 1,200 dead, by the Israeli government's count. Israelis speak about the Oct. 7 attack as a "second Holocaust" because of the atrocities committed. Israelis were hiding at home when they were killed. Some were burned alive. Others were shot and killed in fields at a music festival. Corpses were decapitated and mutilated, among other acts of violence documented by the United Nations. More than 250 hostages were taken to Gaza.

The brutality of the surprise Hamas attack tapped into Israelis' generational trauma from the Holocaust and it helps explain how Israelis have responded. Hundreds of armed civilian squads were formed. People's hearts were hardened. A common Israeli phrase now, referring to the entire Palestinian population in Gaza, is, "There are no uninvolved civilians in Gaza."