- Israel and Hamas engage in deadly conflict.
- Escalating violence leads to casualties.
- World leaders condemn attacks.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared, “We are at war, and we will prevail.” As Israel struck targets in Gaza in response to Hamas’s largest surprise attack in years.
Following the deadliest assault by Hamas in recent years, Israeli forces retaliated with at least 232 Palestinians losing their lives.
Local media outlets have reported that the death toll within Israel stands at 250.
Around 1,700 Israelis were injured, and Israeli officials confirmed that civilians and soldiers were held hostage since Saturday morning when thousands of rockets were initially launched from Gaza.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health has documented a minimum of 1,610 casualties among the injured in Gaza.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, declared that his nation is “at war” and “will prevail,” adding that the events of the previous twenty-four hours have “never been witnessed in Israel” and that the nation will “take mighty vengeance for this black day.”
According to the military, combat with Hamas continues in twenty-two locations throughout southern Israel.
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Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ political secretariat, asserts that his organisation is “approaching a decisive triumph and complete conquest on the Gaza front.”
Hamas fighters violated a border that is typically fortified.
Hamas fighters paragliding across the strongly guarded Israeli border was a rare incident and an intelligence failure.
On Saturday morning, as rockets targeted Tel Aviv, Ashkelon, Yavne, and Kfar Aviv, militants breached the frontier via foot and sea.
Security cameras showed them entering Sderot, Israel, one mile from Gaza, in pickup trucks and motorcycles.
In response to the incursion, the Israeli air force verified that several Hamas military compounds and operational command centres in the Gaza Strip were targeted by dozens of Israel Defence Forces (IDF) fighter aircraft.
The southern Gaza Strip home of Hamas leader Yehya Al-Sinwar was struck, but no one was hurt.
Late on Saturday, an IDF spokesman reported that Lieutenant Colonel Yonatan Steinberg, an IDF commander, was slain in an “encounter with a terrorist” in the vicinity of Kerem Shalom.
Taking Israelis captives
Israeli military failed to identify the number of casualties from Hamas militants abducting soldiers and civilians in Gaza.
Local news channel N12 reported that Hamas militants in Beeri Kibbutz, near Gaza, arrested 50 people.
A number of individuals, including an elderly Israeli woman, were captured on social media footage being paraded through Gaza. Additional recordings depicted corpses strewn about the streets.
Senior Hamas commander Saleh al-Arouri claimed that his group has enough detainees to force Israel to free all Palestinian inmates.
Soldiers died, but IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari rejected “fake news” that high-ranking commanders were held captive.
Destruction of structures and ignition of automobiles occurred in Israel, accompanied by the emission of smoke columns from tower blocks.
Border residents were instructed to stay indoors during central and southern air raid sirens.
Israel claims 3,500 Hamas missiles have been launched, 500 of which were fired at Tel Aviv on Saturday night. Mohammad Deif, the military commander of the organisation, estimates the figure at 5,000.
According to the Israeli police, four individuals sustained injuries in the assaults in Tel Aviv.
Convening an emergency meeting on Shabbat
In spite of the observance of Shabbat, Mr. Netanyahu assembled his security cabinet in Tel Aviv for a meeting where he outlined three objectives subsequent to announcing that his nation is engaged in armed conflict.
He stated, “Our primary objective is to expel the hostile forces that have infiltrated our territory and restore tranquilly and security to the besieged communities.”
“Concurrently, the second objective is to exact a tremendous price from the enemy, including within the Gaza Strip.” The third objective is to fortify alternative fronts in order to prevent inadvertent enlistment in this conflict.
Hamas, according to Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, “committed a grave error this morning by initiating hostilities against the State of Israel.”
In response, energy minister Israel Katz ordered “Operation Swords of Iron.” to cut Gaza’s power.
Violations in retaliation for the Al Aqsa mosque assaults
Hamas radio broadcast its commander, Mr. Deif, declare, “Today marks the climactic day of the most formidable conflict aimed at terminating the final occupation on our planet.”
The attack, according to him, marked the start of “Operation Al Aqsa Storm” and was carried out in retaliation for Israeli aggression in the West Bank, Gaza, and the vicinity of the Al Aqsa mosque complex in Jerusalem.
“The revolution is being reclaimed by the people today,” he stated in the recorded message. “We must set the earth on fire under the feet of the occupiers.”
In response, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas asserted that his nation’s citizens possess the legitimate capacity to protect themselves from the “threat of settlers and occupation troops.”
Palestinian Islamic Jihad said it was involved in the events, as Hamas had urged Lebanon’s armed factions.
World leaders “vehemently denounce the terrorist act.”
The attacks on Israel have been condemned by governments worldwide, including those of the United States, France, and Germany.
Brazil, the rotating UN Security Council president at the time, called an emergency meeting to discuss the substantial escalation.
In response to the violence, the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon is increasing its presence near the Israeli border.
At a White House press conference, US President Joe Biden stated that the United States “will never fail to have her [Israel’s] back.”
On Saturday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken “urged the Palestinian Authority to continue and intensify efforts to restore calm.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom stated, “I am astounded by the terrorist attacks on Israeli citizens this morning by Hamas. Israel possesses an inviolable right to self-defense. British tourists visiting Israel should consult Israeli authorities and follow travel recommendations.”
UK foreign minister James Cleverly added, “Hamas’ horrific attacks on Israeli civilians are condemned by the UK. The United Kingdom will consistently uphold Israel’s right to self-defense.
He categorically labelled the Palestinian movement “terrorists” and “not fighters nor militants,” whereas Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, categorically denounced the assaults as a “act of terror.”
Iran, meanwhile, has reportedly expressed support for the Palestinian assault, according to ISNA, one of its local news agencies.
It cited Iranian military commander Rahim Safavi as saying, “We extend our congratulations to the Palestinian fighters.” Safavi further stated, “We shall support the Palestinian fighters until the complete liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem.”
The attacks followed weeks of flare-ups along Israel’s border with Gaza and fighting in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
