Original:
"The latest war between Israel and Hamas started on 7 October 2023, when Hamas killed more than 1,200 people in southern Israel, mostly civilians, with 251 taken hostage."

Re-edited version:
"The war between Israel and Hamas was triggered by Hamas's attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people - mostly civilians - were killed, and 251 others taken hostage."

The re-edited version is still misleading as it implies it was all Hamas who did the killing but I suppose it just about coverers their smelly arse.