Israel declared a state of war today after the Palestinian militias in the Gaza Strip, led by the Islamist movement Hamaswill launch a combined operation, launching more than a thousand rockets and infiltrating Israeli territory, in an unprecedented surprise attack.
“Citizens of Israel, we are at war. Not in an operation, not in rounds of combat, in a war,” warned the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahuafter a land, sea and air attack by Hamas, which surprised Israel.
A group of militiamen from Al Qasam Brigade, the armed wing of Hamas, infiltrated several border towns with the belt, where sharp clashes broke out with Israeli troops; They kidnapped soldiers and civilians, stole an Israeli military armored vehicle and even used backhoes to demolish part of the fence between Israel and Gaza.
“UNPRECEDENTED PRICE”
“I have ordered the evacuation of communities that have been infiltrated by terrorists. This is being carried out. I have also ordered a wide mobilization of reserves and to return fire with a strength that the enemy did not know. The enemy will pay an unprecedented price,” Netanyahu added after a meeting with the security establishment.
Armed conflicts and rockets have caused so far 22 dead in Israelaccording to the emergency services, which did not specify the number of soldiers and civilians, except 545 hospitalization; There are at least a dozen dead on the Strip, and there is no information on the number of injured.
These are provisional figures that will surely increase during the day.
The Palestinian attack began around 6:30 a.m. (3:30 GMT) and by noon, about sixty militants were still in at least 14 different locations in Israel carrying out the massive attack, which caught the country off guard and included the kidnapping of Israelis, according to Hamas.
This is an unprecedented aggression in Israel, not only because of its combined nature, but also because of the number of rockets launched –2,200 according to Israel but 5000 according to Hamas – and by the number of militants who managed to infiltrate Israeli territory, by land, sea and air, using paragliders.
Al Qasam Brigades They claimed to have abducted the bodies of several Israeli soldiers killed and wounded in clashes on the border; along with the detention of several Israeli civilians, captured during their land incursion into Israel, whose authorities have not commented on the matter.
Hamas militants also claim to have taken control of the Erez border crossing, as well as a prison in the nearby city of Ashkelon, where they freed Palestinian prisoners.
“The enemy still does not know the results of this battle,” Hamas military spokesman Abu Obeid warned in a televised intervention, calling on the rest of the Palestinians in the West Bank and Israel “to fight” so that “the Zionist enemy falls before resistance.”
ISRAELI AIR STRIKES
In response to this multiple attack, which included the firing of thousands of missiles, Israel responded with airstrikes on several Hamas facilities in Gaza, as the start of Operation Iron Swords, in response to a surprise attack by the Islamist group. which they appointed “Al Aqsa Storm” and which was joined by the Islamic Jihad.
“In the last few hours, dozens of Israeli warplanes attacked 17 military complexes and 4 operational command centers belonging to the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip,” the army reported, although a much stronger response from Israel is still expected. about the size and scope of the Palestinian aggression in the middle of Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest.
“We are fighting at several points around the Gaza Strip,” explained Israeli military spokesman Richard Hecht, including the Erez border crossing, kibbutzim near the Nahal Oz enclave, and Magen; as well as the Israeli military bases Zikim and Kfar Aza.
Hecht also confirmed that the army is recruiting thousands of reservists for what is expected to be an intense war, as Israel does not rule out conflict scenarios could multiply on the West Bank or northern border, with attacks from southern Lebanon, where Palestinian militias and Shiite Hezbollah militias operate. .
“Our troops are preparing their response and we are dealing tactically with the situation, while our air force attacks Gaza,” said a spokesman for the army, which has also reinforced battalions deployed around the Palestinian Strip.
Source: Panama America
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
