Gunmen from Hamas carried out a deadly rampage in Israeli towns on Saturday, killing at least 300 Israelis, and abducting several others. This marked the deadliest day of violence in Israel since the Yom Kippur war half a century ago. In response, Israel launched devastating retaliatory strikes, resulting in over 230 casualties in Gaza.
“We will take mighty vengeance for this wicked day,” PM Benjamin Netanyahu said. He characterised Hamas as an enemy that targets mothers, children, and the elderly in their homes, emphasising their brutality and disregard for human life.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden addressed the nation from the White House, affirming Israel’s right to self-defense while delivering a clear message to Iran and other nations with hostile intentions towards Israel.
“The world is watching,” he said. A senior Biden administration official told reporters that the United States was working with other governments to make sure the crisis does not spread and is contained to Gaza.
Retaliatory strikes by Israel on Gaza following a declaration of war by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu killed 230 people and injured over 1,600 in Gaza on Saturday. The Israeli forces began striking targets in the Gaza Strip in response to surprise rocket strikes by the Hamas group.
Hamas fired over 5,000 rockets in an unprecedented attack on Israel on Saturday as part of ‘Operation Al-Aqsa Storm’. Dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border with Israel in several locations by air, sea and land.
The rocket strikes have claimed at least 40 lives in Israel and more than 740 people were wounded, including dozens who are in critical condition. This marks the deadliest attack by the Hamas group, designated as a terrorist organisation by the United States, the European Union and other countries, on Israel in several years.
Israel has declared a state of national emergency as the military launched operation ‘Iron Swords’ in response to Hamas’s surprise attack – by air, land and sea – comprising a barrage of rockets from the Gaza Strip and infiltration into its heavily fortified border in the southern area that caught the country off-guard.
There are at least seven sites where Israeli troops were battling the infiltrators, IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters. Many Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) personnel, including special units, have been deployed to the area surrounding Gaza and are fighting in different centres to protect the residents of the south.
The leader of Hamas’ military wing Mohammed Deif earlier said that the armed group has launched a new military operation titled ‘Operation Al-Aqsa Storm’ against Israel. “We’ve decided to say enough is enough,” he said in a rare statement. He claimed that around 5,000 rockets were launched by the group toward Israel.
Videos of Hamas fighters parading what appeared to be stolen Israeli military vehicles through the streets and at least one dead Israeli soldier within Gaza being dragged and trampled by an angry crowd of Palestinians shouting “God is Great” surfaced on social media.
According to several reports, at least 53 Israelis have been taken hostage and soldiers, including Israel commander Nimrod Aloni have been kidnapped by Hamas fighters. The military declined to give details about casualties or kidnappings as it continued to battle the infiltrators.
