The Hamas Oct. 7 Attack on Israel: A Deep Dive into Historical Trivia and Facts

The Middle East, a region steeped in history, often surprises the world with the unexpected. One such event was the meticulously planned Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Let’s unwrap this tragic event and explore the trivia in this complex geopolitical conundrum.

The Hamas Oct. 7 Attack on Israel: The Facts

A Ghost from the Past: Echoes of the Yom Kippur War

Exactly 50 years and a day before Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7, Israel faced the Yom Kippur War. The recent assault bore eerie similarities to that past conflict, intertwining history with the present in a tapestry of conflict and scare.

The Surprise Package: Beyond Just Rockets

The Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel was intricate. Hamas sent paragliders and amphibious forces and even performed explosive landscaping on the border fence. Over 3,000 rockets were fired, overwhelming the Iron Dome missile defense system and causing chaos in various locations, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. But that was to throw the Israelis off. Meanwhile, as many as 3,000 Hamas militants raided Israeli communities and two music festivals, viciously killing 1,400.

The Hostage Crisis: A New Layer of Complexity

Adding to the gravity of the Hamas Oct. 7 attack, the terror organization ruling Gaza took approximately 240 Israeli civilians, spanning a range of ages and backgrounds, and military personnel hostage. This presented Israel with a challenging dilemma. Israel, known for its soft stomach for even one captive, was thrust into a precarious position, balancing the lives of the hostages against potential concessions and strategic responses.

Israel’s Determined Response: A Vow Wrapped in Grit

Israel, not to be outdone in the determination department, responded with countless daily airstrikes and military actions, targeting presumed Hamas locations in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, perhaps channeling his inner Liam Neeson, vowed to “reach into every place Hamas is hiding” and turn those locations into ruins.

The Global Peanut Gallery: World Leaders Weigh In

From US President Joe Biden expressing “rock solid” support for Israel to the UN human rights chief calling for an immediate end to violence, the international community chimed in with varying degrees of concern, support, and condemnation. In the days after the Oct. 7 massacre, Israel received visits from the UK, France, Italy, Germany, and other nations’ leaders.

The Humanitarian Disaster: Aid is Coming

The conflict led to the forced relocation of 1.1 million Gazans and over 8,000 Gazan civilian casualties, as reported by Hamas (which is a terror organization not to be relied on for accurate information). Calls for an immediate ceasefire or humanitarian pause have not been answered. Egypt and Israel have allowed humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. On Nov. 1, hundreds of people entered the Rafah crossing from Gaza to Egypt. This was the first time Egypt and Israel allowed foreign passport holders to leave the besieged territory since the war began.

Communication Blackout: When Gaza Goes Offline

Communications and internet services in Gaza faced disruptions during Israel’s ground activities, with two major blackouts severely affecting humanitarian work in Gaza.

Superpower Dynamics: the US, Russia, and Iran

The US positioned its carriers to support Israel, urging neighboring countries (namely Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah) not to interfere. Russia, on the other hand, is now a close ally of Iran, which supports Hamas and other proxy forces in the region. Both may have a common interest in inflaming the Middle East before a US-Saudi-Israeli axis can be proclaimed. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called on Muslim nations to stop exporting food and oil to Israel.

A Blunder of Historic Proportions: Israel’s Intelligence Oversights

Despite being renowned for its intelligence capabilities, Hamas’ elaborate attack preparations caught Israel off guard. This significant intelligence failure will surely find its place in trivia books alongside other historic oversights and miscalculations in global events.

Motivations and Justifications: Hamas’ Stated Reasons for the Attack

Hamas cited various motivations for their attack, from escalating Israeli attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem to issues related to Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Israeli blockade of Gaza. This blend of political, territorial, and religious motivations has fueled the conflict for decades. While Israel’s right to defend itself is inarguable, and the country’s determination to drive Hamas out of Gaza is understandable, fears rose that the conflict would end with the permanent relocation of Palestinians, much like the 1948 war.

Northern Exposure: Hezbollah’s Involvement

While involved, Hezbollah has played a subdued role in the conflict. This is despite Israeli artillery responding to mortar fire from Lebanon and drone strikes targeting a Hezbollah militia post along Israel’s northern border.

November 22, 2023: Truce Agreement

On Nov. 22, Israel and Hamas agreed to a four-day truce to facilitate the release of 50 hostages held in Gaza since the Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The truce also included conditions for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. President Joe Biden welcomed the truce agreement, emphasizing the release of American hostages. Qatar played a key role in mediating the truce with the involvement of the US.

The Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel testifies to the Middle East’s brutal complexity. As we delve into the details and historical parallels, it’s crucial to remember the human aspect of such conflicts. Here’s to hoping future trivia will speak of peace and resolution in a region with too much conflict.

⏱️Timeline of Gaza’s History

Long before the Hamas Oct. 7 attack, the Gaza Strip’s Philistines were at war with the Israelites. Here’s a brief history.

• · Iron Age (1175 BC): The heartland of ancient Philistia, Gaza, was ruled by the Philistines, believed to have settled in Canaan from the Aegean. Key cities included Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ekron, and Gath.
• · Egyptian Dominance (c. 350 years before 730 BCE): As a Canaanite settlement, Gaza was under Egyptian rule for several centuries.
• · Assyrian Era (c. 730 BCE): The Assyrian Empire, under leaders like Tiglath-Pileser III and Sargon, incorporated Gaza, marking the decline of the Kingdom of Israel.
• · Greek Influence (c. 332 BCE): Captured by Alexander the Great, Gaza became a hub for Hellenistic learning and philosophy, frequently changing hands between the Seleucids and the Ptolemies.
• · Roman Period (c. 63 BCE – 5th century CE): After its integration into the Roman Empire by General Pompey Magnus, Gaza flourished, witnessing significant growth and religious transformation under Saint Porphyrius.
• · Muslim Arab Conquest (637 CE): The Muslim general Amr ibn al-‘As took Gaza.
• · Umayyads Dynasty (661-750): The influential Umayyad clan from the Quraysh tribe held sway over the Caliphate, impacting regions including Gaza.
• · Abbasid Era (750-1258): Under the Abbasids, Gaza experienced changes in governance and influence.
• · Fatimids Control (985): By this time, the Fatimids had established agreements with the Seljuk Turks, controlling Gaza and its surrounding regions.
• · Crusaders’ Reign (1100): The Fatimids lost Gaza to the Crusaders, who captured the city and its territories.
• · Ayyubid and Mamluk Dynasties (12th – 16th centuries): Gaza underwent several shifts in power, first under the Ayyubids and later under the Mamluks, becoming a provincial capital.
• · Ottoman Era (1516-1917): Joining the Ottoman Empire, Gaza experienced prosperity, especially under the Ridwan dynasty.
• · British Mandate (1917-1948): Post World War I, Gaza saw significant development under British rule.
• · Egyptian Era (1948-1967): After the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Gaza became home to numerous Palestinian refugees and was governed by various entities, including the All-Palestine Government.
• · Israeli Occupation (1967-1994): Following the Six-Day War, Gaza became a focal point of resistance, especially during the First Intifada.
• · Palestinian Governance (1994-2023): Administered by the Palestinian Authority since 1994, Gaza has witnessed significant changes, especially after 2005 when Israel withdrew. Hamas’ subsequent takeover in 2007 led to several military conflicts with Israel.
• Israeli invasion (2023): After the Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel, the IDF started a brutal invasion of Gaza, dislocating over 1.1 million people and killing thousands.

🧩10 Quick Facts About the Hamas Oct. 7 Attack

1. Date of Hamas attack on Israel: Oct. 7, 2023, on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah.
2. 50 years and one day before the Hamas attack, on Oct. 6, 1973, Israel faced the surprise attack that started the Yom Kippur War.
3. Hamas fired over 3,000 rockets in the attack’s first hours.
4. 3,000 Hamas militants raided 20 Israeli communities and two music festivals.
5. 1,400 Israelis were brutally killed during the Hamas Oct. 7 attack.
6. Hamas took 240 Israeli civilians and military personnel hostage.
7. 1.1 million Gazans were relocated to the south of the strip due to Israeli retaliation.
8. Over 12,000 Gazan civilians were reported dead by Hamas.
9. Two major communication cuts and blackouts in Gaza.
10. On Nov. 1, hundreds of people entered the Rafah crossing from Gaza to Egypt for the first time since the Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
11. On Nov. 22, Israel and Hamas agreed on a 4-day truce to facilitate the return of 50 hostage Israeli women and children. Israel agreed to release 150 Palestinians from jail and to allow humanitarian help in the Gaza Strip.

🔥Take the Middle East Quiz

Now that you know the facts about the Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel, It’s time to dive deep into the Middle East with these 21 questions and multiple-choice answers about Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Irab, Egypt, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia.

Middle East Super Quiz

21 Quick Multiple-choice general knowledge questions about the Middle East, its conflicts, and culture. No time-limit. How smart are you today?

1 / 21

1. Can you pinpoint Islam’s third-holiest site, the Al-Aqsa Mosque’s geographical location?

Photo: أمين, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In Jerusalem, within the Old City.

In Mecca, right beside the Kaaba.

In Gaza, next to the Palestine Tower.

In Rome, sharing a yard with the Colosseum.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque is in the heart of the Old City of Jerusalem. This mosque has stood for centuries and has been a focal point in the longstanding and deeply rooted conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. The attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, involving a large-scale surprise terror attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians, were named Al-Aqsa Floods by the Gazan forces committing the atrocities. 1,400 Israelis were murdered by Hamas terrorists in their homes and at a music festival massacre, resulting in the evacuation of 1.1 million Gazans as the IDF retaliated.

2 / 21

2. What is a kibbutz?

Screenshot: Reuters – YouTube

An Israeli collective community, often agricultural.

A popular Israeli dessert known for its sweet and flaky layers.

A swift bird found in the Middle East, known for its resilience.

A secret underground tunnel network used during ancient wars.

A kibbutz is, traditionally, a collective community in Israel based on agriculture and known for its communal living ethos. The kibbutz concept aimed to create a society where all members contribute according to their ability and receive according to their needs, though most, if not all, kibbutzim are privatized today. The Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel brought global attention to the Kibbutzim Kfar Aza, Be’eri, Re’im, and other locations in southern Israel, where a brutal attack by Hamas militants resulted in a horrifying massacre of some 1,300 civilians in their homes, including children, with about 200 civilians kidnapped by the ISIS-inspired organization.

3 / 21

3. In a meeting with a publisher, Donald Trump revealed secret Pentagon plans to attack what country?

Screenshot: Fox News

Canada.

Russia.

North Korea.

Iran.

According to a recording first obtained by CNN, Former President Donald Trump showed a document titled “Plan of Attack” to a publisher and writer working on a memoir by his former chief of staff, Mark Meadows, in 2021. Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Defense Department, drew up the document. It contained options for attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities. The tape contradicted Trump’s recent statement that he was referring to news clippings when he mentioned the document in an interview with Fox News. Trump was indicted for mishandling classified documents and obstructing the government’s efforts to retrieve them on June 13, 2023.

4 / 21

4. What is Egypt’s beef with Netflix’s 2023 Cleopatra?

Screenshot: African Queens: Queen Cleopatra / Netflix

Netflix portrays Cleopatra as a man.

Netflix revealed that Cleopatra was actually an alien.

Netflix cast a Black actress to play the ancient Egyptian queen.

Netflix claims that Cleopatra was a secret agent for Rome.

Egyptian officials have complained that Netflix’s docudrama series “African Queens: Queen Cleopatra,” which depicts Cleopatra as a Black woman played by British actress Adele James, erases Egyptian identity and falsifies history. They argue that Cleopatra was of Greek origin and had light skin and Hellenistic features, as confirmed by statues and coins. A lawyer named Mahmoud El-Semiry has filed a lawsuit against Netflix and demanded its ban in Egypt. State-owned broadcaster Al Wathaeqya has announced plans to produce its own documentary about Cleopatra’s true story.

Fun fact: Gal Gadot’s Cleopatra is still in pre-production limbo. The film’s announcement has faced backlash from Egyptians who accused it of whitewashing, as Gadot is of Israeli and European descent. Gadot defended her casting by saying Cleopatra was Macedonian. The film is not to be confused with another Cleopatra project by Sony Pictures with director Denis Villeneuve, which has been in development for over a decade.

5 / 21

5. Why did Lebanon give the Barbie Movie a “thumbs down”?

Screenshot: Barbie / Warner Bros. Pictures

The film was suspected of promoting alien invasions.

The movie was believed to promote homosexuality and champion gender fluidity.

The movie had too much pink and clashed with the national flag.

The movie was believed to promote Christianity and champion feminist agenda.

Lebanon’s Culture Minister, Mohammad Mortada, announced in August 2023 that the Barbie movie would be banned. The reason? The film was perceived to “promote homosexuality and champion gender fluidity,” which was seen as contradicting religious values. The radical Shia Muslim armed group, Hezbollah, backed this move. But Lebanon wasn’t alone in its cinematic critique. Kuwait also announced its ban on the film in the same month, citing that the movie promotes “ideas and beliefs alien to Kuwaiti society.” Meanwhile, on the global stage, Barbie laughs all the way to the bank. In three weeks since its debut on July 21, 2023, the film, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, has raked in over $1 billion in box office ticket sales worldwide.

6 / 21

6. How old is Israel?

Screenshot: Face the Nation with Margaret Brenn – YouTube

25, just like Friends.

50, just like Sesame Street.

75, just like the Polaroid camera.

100, just like the NFL.

Israel declared independence on May 14, 1948, after the British mandate over Palestine ended. This year, according to the Hebrew calendar, Israel marks its 75th anniversary on April 26, 2023. However, the celebrations are overshadowed by a political crisis that has divided the country for months.

What’s Israel’s political crisis?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces widespread opposition and protests over his attempt to overhaul the judiciary and his alliance with far-right and religious parties. Opposition leader Yair Lapid has boycotted the main state ceremony for Independence Day, and some bereaved families have asked politicians to stay away from military cemeteries on Memorial Day.

7 / 21

7. What did Israel’s Finance Minister say after a terror attack that sparked international fury?

Screenshot: The Marker Labels – YouTube

He said he would donate his salary to the victims’ families.

He said that he would resign from his post and join the army.

He said he would erase the Palestinian village where the attack occurred.

He said he would invite the Palestinian president to a fistfight.

Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who is also the leader of the far-right Religious Zionism party, made this shocking statement after a gunman killed two Israeli brothers in the West Bank village of Huwara on February 26, 2023, and just after 400 Israeli settlers executed violent revenge on the village. He also said the state should do it, not civilians. Smotrich later retracted his statement but did not apologize and accused the world of ignoring Palestinian violence.

How did the international community react?

The international community, including the US State Department, the UN human rights chief, and the Palestinian Authority, widely condemned his remarks. Smotrich is scheduled to visit Washington to speak at the annual Israel Bonds conference from March 12 to 14. During his visit, he may face a cold reception from the US administration and the Jewish community.

Is there a legal reform in Israel?

Smotrich is also a supporter of a controversial legal reform that would limit the power of the Israeli Supreme Court and the attorney general. This would allow the parliament to override the court’s rulings. The reform could save Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from his corruption trial and prevent the court from interfering with the government’s policies on settlements, security, and immigration. And yes, that’s scary. By March 7, 2023, hundreds of Israeli reservists, including three dozen reservist fighter pilots, have signed letters promising not to serve if the overhaul passes.

8 / 21

8. How long has Recep Tayyip Erdogan ruled Turkey?

Screenshot: Al Jazeera English – YouTube

15 years and counting.

Two decades and counting.

25 years and counting.

Three decades and counting.

Turkey’s presidential election saw an unprecedented runoff on May 28, 2023. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the man who’s been at the helm for two decades and counting, won 52.1% of the votes. His victory means continuing his populist politics. Erdogan’s rule has been marked by a painful cost-of-living crisis, limited freedom of speech, and recent earthquakes.

9 / 21

9. Who built the main building of Gaziantep Castle in Turkey?

Photo: Mxcil, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Roman Empire.

The Byzantine emperor Justinian I.

The Ottoman Empire.

The United Nations.

The Romans built Gaziantep Castle in the second and third centuries. The Byzantines strengthened and expanded it during Justinian’s reign.

What happened to Gaziantep Castle?

Screenshot: Ihlas News Agency – YouTube

Two earthquakes hit Turkey on Feb. 6, 2023, destroying Gaziantep Castle. Over 50,000 people were killed in buildings across Turkey and Syria as a 7.8-magnitude earthquake shook the countries, followed by another 7.7-quake later that day.

10 / 21

10. How many migrant workers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka died in Qatar between 2010 – when it was awarded the World Cup – and 2021?

Screenshot: FIFA World Cup 2022 – YouTube

6,500.

200.

36.

3.

According to the Guardian, 6,500 migrants from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka died in Qatar between 2010, when it was awarded the World Cup, and 2021.

Is that an official number?

Qatari officials admitted three workers died during World Cup 2022 preparations. On the other hand, human rights advocate Fair Square calls that number a “wilful attempt to mislead” because it only includes just 1% of Qatar’s construction projects. Human Rights Watch reports that Qatari authorities have failed to investigate the causes of thousands of migrant workers’ deaths, many labeled as the result of ‘natural causes.’

11 / 21

11. Where is Sharm el-Sheikh?

Marc Ryckaert (MJJR), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Qatar.

Saudi Arabia.

Egypt.

Turkey.

2022’s UN climate conference was hosted at the Egyptian coastal resort of Sharm el-Sheikh from Nov. 6-18. A sponsorship agreement between the conference and Coca-Cola, described as the “world’s top plastic polluter,” has angered environmentalists.

12 / 21

12. In July 2022, Joe Biden visited Saudi Arabia. Which middle eastern country did Vladimir Putin visit in the same week?

Photo: The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The United Arab Emirates.

Yemen.

Israel.

Iran.

President Joe Biden, on July 16, 2022, capped a four-day trip to Israel and Saudi Arabia – where he met with leaders of the Arab world on his first trip to the Middle East since taking office. Three days later, on July 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran.

13 / 21

13. Where is the Houthi movement based?

Screenshot: Rise of the Houthis / BBC News on YouTube

The United Arab Emirates.

Afghanistan.

Yemen.

Turkey.

Yemen’s Houthis are A clan-based militia government that emerged from the city of Saada in north Yemen in the 1990s.

What do the Houthis want?

Known for their trademark slogan, “God is great, death to the US, death to Israel, curse the Jews, and victory for Islam,” Houthi fighters launched missile and drone attacks into the United Arab Emirates on Jan. 31, 2022. The Houthis aim to persuade the UAE to stop backing militias loyal to Yemen’s official government. The blocked attack occurred when Israel’s president, Isaac “Boujie” Herzog, visited the UAE.

14 / 21

14. Who scored the most goals in the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup?

Screenshot: AlNassr’s Championship Ceremony – YouTube

Cristiano Ronaldo.

Sadio Mane.

Marcelo Brozovic.

Sheikh Ali.

Cristiano Ronaldo danced, dazzled, and delivered by scoring a whopping six goals in the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup. In the August 12, 2023, final, his team, Al-Nassr, clinched their first-ever Arab Club Champions Cup title. This was Ronaldo’s first trophy with Al-Nassr.

15 / 21

15. The city of Memphis, Tennessee, is named after which country’s Memphis?

Screenshot: Reuters on YouTube

Egypt.

Israel.

Denmark.

The UK.

Memphis, Egypt, was the ancient capital of the Lower Egypt district of mḥw (“north”). Its ruins – 20 km (12 mi) south of Giza (just outside Cairo) – include the Saqqara site, which contains ancient burial grounds of Egyptian royalty, serving as the necropolis for ancient Memphis.

How many new mummies were found in 2022?

On May 30, 2022, Egypt displayed 250 painted sarcophagi with well-preserved mummies inside and 150 bronze statues of ancient deities and bronze vessels used in rituals of Isis, the goddess of fertility, all dating back 2,500 years. Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities displayed the artifacts at the feet of the Step Pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara. The relics will be transferred for a permanent exhibit at the new Grand Egyptian Museum, still under construction near the famed Giza Pyramids. Take a look.

16 / 21

16. Where Does the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate of 2023 Reside?

Screenshot: Stanford Iranian Studies Program – YouTube

In the United States, preaching peace in the Middle East.

In a luxurious villa in Tehran, promoting peace.

In an Iranian prison, advocating for human rights.

Sipping tea in a safe house in London.

Narges Mohammadi, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023, is imprisoned in Iran. Her relentless pursuit of human rights and unyielding criticism of the Iranian regime has earned her international acclaim and authorities’ wrath. Mohammadi is often likened to Nelson Mandela for her unwavering resistance and activism even behind bars.

17 / 21

17. Who was Mahsa Amini?

Image: Reuters on YouTube

The 22-year-old killed by Iran’s morality police.

The 17-year-old shot by Afghanistan’s Taliban.

The 17-year-old Palestinian arrested by the IDF.

The 16-year-old killed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.

Mahsa Amini, 22, was stopped by Iran’s morality police at a train station in Tehran and accused of not following the country’s hijab rules. Three days later, on Sept. 16, 2022, she was killed. Protests in Iran erupted in the weeks following. On Oct. 11, the Norway-based rights group Hengaw reported heavy casualties in Sanandaj, Amini’s hometown, where protests have been particularly intense.

18 / 21

18. What is the largest religious minority in Iran?

Image: Emblems of Belief – National Cemetery Administration (va.gov), Public domain

The Baháʼí community.

The Jewish community.

Christians.

Zoroastrians.

While the Constitution of Iran specifies Zoroastrians, Jews, and Christians as the only recognized religious minorities, the Baháʼí Faith is the largest religious minority in Iran. About 350,000 members of the Baha’i faith live in the Muslim country.

Are Baha’is spying for Israel?

Iran’s intelligence ministry arrested several members of the Baha’i faith on spying charges on Aug. 1, 2022. Iran said the suspects were linked to the Baha’i center in Israel, where the religious group’s international headquarters are. In 2013, Iran’s top leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei published a fatwa (a religious decree) that bans all dealings with members of the Baha’i sect.

19 / 21

19. Which of these is right next to Iran’s southern port city of Bushehr?

Image: Flag_of_Iran: VariousBlankMap-FlatWorld6: Frank Bennett, derivative work: Beao, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Iran’s parliament.

Iran’s nuclear power plant.

The ruined city Persepolis.

The 17th-century Shah Mosque.

Bushehr is twelve kilometers from the site of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant built in cooperation with Russia.

Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant News Fact:

Iran’s sole nuclear power plant has undergone an unexplained temporary emergency shutdown on Saturday, June 19, 2021 – the first time Iran has reported an emergency shutdown of the plant. In March, nuclear official Mahmoud Jafari said the plant could stop working since Iran cannot procure parts and equipment from Russia due to banking sanctions imposed by the U.S. in 2018.

20 / 21

20. What’s mansaf?

Photo: Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

An Arab dish made of meat, rice, and fried vegetables and served flipped upside down.

A traditional Arab dish made of lamb cooked in dried yogurt and served with rice or bulgur (burghul).

A Levantine dish consisting of meat cut into thin slices, stacked and roasted on a vertical rotisserie.

A traditional Middle Eastern dessert made a pastry called kataifi, and typically layered with cheese.

Mansaf is a traditional Arab dish made of lamb cooked in a sauce of fermented, dried yogurt and served with rice or bulgur (burghul). It’s considered the national dish of Jordan, traditionally eaten by hand from a large communal platter.

What’s “mansaf in a cup”?

According to a New York Times June 26, 2022, report, in early 2020, Jordan’s capital Amman saw the first shop of “Our Mansaf in a Cup,” offering takeout servings at the bargain price of one dinar, about $1.40. Three more branches followed, but imitators soon appeared in Amman and other cities – forcing the original to shut down and replacing lamb with beef while creating a “gastronomic beef.”

21 / 21

21. What is a keffiyeh?

Photo: Michael Plutchok, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A religious veil for Muslim women.

A traditional Arabian headdress.

A type of headwear based on cloth winding.

A wide-brim hat.

The keffiyeh is a traditional Arabian headdress, which originated in Yemen and is worn throughout the Middle East region. The black and white chequered Palestinian keffiyeh became a symbol of Palestinian nationalism during the Arab Revolt of the 1930s.

Louis Vuitton’s Keffiyeh Trouble:

Screenshot: Diet Prada ™ on Instagram

Louis Vuitton is facing Pro-Palestinian backlash for selling a blue and white “monogram keffiyeh stole” for $705, saying on its website that it’s “inspired by the classic Keffiyeh and enriched with House signatures.” The product has since been removed from the website. Blue and white are the flag colors of Israel (and also Greece, Scotland, Argentina, and Finland).

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Sources

Our facts about the Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel were cross-checked with the world’s leading news outlets.

• The New York Times: Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: First Departures Begin From Gaza
• The New York Times: Israel and Hamas Agree to Cease-Fire for Release of Hostages
• The Guardian: Families, festivalgoers, soldiers and foreigners: victims of the Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel
• The Guardian: How Iran uses proxy forces across the region to strike Israel and the US
• The Guardian: What are Israel’s aims in launching the Gaza ground invasion?
• The Washington Post: How Hamas broke through Israel’s border defenses during Oct. 7 attack
• CNN: Israel is at war with Hamas. Here’s what to know
• BBC News: Why did it take Israel so long to deal with the Hamas Oct. 7 attack from Gaza?
• AP News: Foreign passport holders enter Rafah crossing
• AP News: Israeli video compilation shows the savagery and ease of the Hamas Oct. 7 attack
• Reuters: Explainer: What do we know about Israeli hostages in Gaza after the Hamas Oct. 7 Attack?