Fact check: There was a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas before Oct 7th

1. Summary of the results

The claim about a ceasefire existing before October 7th, 2023, is incorrect. Multiple sources confirm that the current conflict began with Hamas' October 7th attack, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and 250 hostages ^{[1] [2]}. The only documented ceasefire during this period was a brief weeklong truce in late November 2023, which expired on December 1st, 2023 ^{[1] [1]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial pieces of context are missing from the original statement:

• Prior to October 7th, Israeli authorities believed they had "closed down the issue of Palestine" and enjoyed favorable world opinion ^[3]
• The current conflict has been ongoing for more than 15 months since the October 7th attack ^{[4] [4]}
• Current ceasefire negotiations represent the first potential long-term pause in hostilities since the conflict began ^[5]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The statement appears to be part of a larger narrative that might attempt to:

• Misrepresent the timeline: By suggesting a pre-existing ceasefire, it could imply that Israel broke an agreement first, when in fact the conflict began with Hamas' attack ^{[1] [2]}
• Obscure the catalyst: The statement omits the significant impact of the October 7th attack, which fundamentally changed the regional dynamics and international perceptions ^[3]

This type of misinformation could benefit:

• Groups seeking to delegitimize Israel's military response
• Parties attempting to reframe the chronological sequence of events leading to the current conflict
• Organizations trying to shift responsibility for the initiation of hostilities

The evidence from multiple sources consistently shows that the conflict began with the October 7th attack, and any discussion of ceasefires must be understood within this context ^{[4] [5]}.