On Islamist Movement Hamas’s launch of attack on Israel, Consul Gen of Israel, Kobbi Shoshani says, “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made it very clear that we are at war. We are at war against a terror organization that started 6:30 in the morning, against war against the State of Israel, in such a brutal way against innocent people. We are at war. We will act as if we are in a wall.”
“I strongly condemn the current terrorist attacks against Israel. I express my full solidarity with the victims, their families and loved ones,” tweets French President Emmanuel Macron.
Social media videos purported to show uniformed Palestinian militants inside the Israeli border town of Sderot, AP reported.
An enraged throng stomped what seemed to be the lifeless body of an Israeli soldier in Gaza, yelling “God is Great.”
Another video surfaced showing Palestinian terrorists pulling a living Israeli soldier away on a motorbike.
The Hamas onslaught on Israel has been ongoing for approximately five hours, with sirens blaring as far north as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
After missiles were fired from Gaza, sirens began to sound early Saturday morning. They were still audible as of 12:30 p.m. local time, CNN reported.
In a statement released on Hezbollah-backed Al Manar TV on Saturday morning, the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah welcomed Hamas’s strike on Israel, CNN reported.
According to the statement, Hezbollah is in direct communication with Hamas leadership.
Hezbollah is a Shia militant and political party in Lebanon that has participated in multiple confrontations with Israel. The gang also has significant links to Iran.
According to Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue agency, at least 22 persons were murdered in a surprise strike launched by the terrorist organization Hamas on Saturday morning, CNN reported.
MDA reported more than 250 casualties, including the 22 persons who perished.
MDA did not specify the number of persons killed or injured.
“Sorry to see what’s happening in Israel. I hope there can be peace one day,” Elon Musk on the Israel situation.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has shared a video on X, formerly Twitter. He says, “We are at war”.
“The UK unequivocally condemns the horrific attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians. The UK will always support Israel’s right to defend itself,” Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said.
Dozens of fighter jets of the Israeli Air Force are now attacking targets of the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip in several locations, more details to follow.
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On Hamas terrorists’ attack on Israel, former Spokesperson of Israel Defence Forces, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus says “This is a very severe day in Israel. An unprecedented and unprovoked attack against Israeli civilians by hundreds of Hamas terrorists from Gaza into Israel. They have been butchering, executing and abducting Israeli civilians from their homes. We have reports of Israeli civilians being held in Gaza, and there are also many other unconfirmed reports of Israeli casualties. More than 1,000 rockets have already fired at 80% of populated Israel, including our capital Jerusalem and Tel Aviv…And as we speak, Israel has started its very first stage of retaliating against military targets belonging to Hamas in Gaza. I think that the Israeli response will beat a level not seen before, not by Hamas, and not by any of the other Iranian proxies. I wouldn’t rule out that this time, Israel will expand the response and not confine it only to the current area of operations, which is the Gaza Strip, but that we may see attacks or retaliations by Israel that are not confined by the geographical area of operations.”
According to Times of Israel, nearly 200 were wounded in the ongoing Hamas attack, according to statements from various hospitals. At least two dozen are seriously or critically wounded while six people have been confirmed killed.
Ofir Libstein, the mayor of Israel’s Sha’ar Hanegev region, has been killed by Hamas as per Jerusalem Post. Roz Rothstein, International CEO & co-founder of StandWithUs (org supporting Jews, educating about Israel) says Libstein was killed when he went to fight the infiltrators.
Israeli ambassador to the US calls “the free world to unequivocally condemn” the attacks by Hamas and support Israel’s “right to self-defence”.
“This offensive was launched while Israelis were celebrating a religious Jewish holiday,” Michael Herzog said on social media platform X.
Hamas claims that they kidnapped five Israel Defence Forces soldiers on Saturday morning amidst rocket fire into Israel.
Local airports in central and southern Israel have been closed for commercial and leisurely use, according to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, reported AL Jazeera. Ben Gurion airport will remain operational and will act according to security instructions and guidelines, a report said.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says it has launched operation “Iron Swords” in response to Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel. IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari says more than 2,200 rockets fired into Israel since 6:30 this morning. As per Times of Israel, Hagari says the Hamas terrorists infiltrated from land, sea and air.
The toll in the Hamas rocket fire from the Gaza Strip into Israel climbed to 4, The Times of Israel reported. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant says the Hamas terror group has made a “grave mistake” for launching a surprise attack on Israel with rocket attacks and infiltrating into towns on the border with the Gaza Strip.
The office of Yair Lapid, Israeli opposition leader, says that “Israel is in an emergency” and Lapid would back “harsh military response” to Hamas’s attacks.
According to Al Jazeera, Lapid has received a security update from the prime minister’s military secretary, Avi Gil, as to local media reports.
Palestinian media reported that a number of Israelis have been taken captive by fighters and Hamas media circulated video footage apparently showing a destroyed Israeli tank, as per Reuters.
Israeli Army has started attacking targets in Gaza. It said the Army has begun an operation aimed at Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he would meet top security officials in the coming hours, reported Reuters.
The Israeli army in a post X, says, “Israelis across the country – on Shabbat and the holiday of Simchat Torah – woke up to sirens sounding and Hamas firing rockets at them from Gaza this morning. We will defend ourselves.”
Israel-Hamas War: The leader of Hamas’s military wing has said the group has launched a new operation against Israel. According to Al Jazeera, Mohammed Deif said that 5,000 rockets had been fired into Israel early Saturday to begin “Operation Al-Aqsa Storm”.
“We’ve decided to say enough is enough,” Deif said as he urged all Palestinians to confront Israel.
Israel-Hamas War: Israeli Army has meanwhile asked the residents in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip to stay in their homes.
Israel-Hamas War: One woman killed in Israel from Gaza rocket fire, reports AFP.
Background
Israel Gaza Attack Live: Hello and welcome to live blog on Israel’s Gaza attack. Follow this space for all the live and latest updates on the Israel-Hamas war.
In a big development, the Israeli military said it has begun striking targets in the Gaza Strip after over 5,000 rockets were fired from there towards Israel. The military said that a “number of terrorists have infiltrated” Israel from the Gaza Strip after dozens of rockets were fired from the blockaded enclave, as per AFP. Israel Ambassador to India Naor Gilon said: “#Israel is under a combined attack from Gaza during the Jewish holiday. Both by rockets and ground infiltration of Hamas terrorists. The situation is not simple but Israel will prevail.”
According to Reuters, Mohammad Deif, a senior Hamas military commander, announced the start of the operation in a broadcast on Hamas media, calling on Palestinians everywhere to fight. “This is the day of the greatest battle end the last occupation on earth,” he said, adding that 5,000 rockets had been launched.
According to AFP, the sounds of at least three explosions could be heard as Israel deployed anti-rocket defenses. One woman was killed in the attack while sirens have been sound in Jerusalem after rocket fire from Gaza.
According to Al Jazeera, the rocket fire began from multiple locations in Gaza starting at 06:30am local time (03:30 GMT). Israel’s rescue agency said a 70-year-old woman was critically hurt when a rocket hit a building in southern Israel. A 20-year-old man was moderately injured by rocket shrapnel, it said, as quoted by Al Jazeera.
A report from Reuters mentioned that the Israeli military said defence forces would defend Israeli civilians and the Hamas terrorist organisation would pay a heavy price for its actions. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he would meet top security officials in the coming hours.
In Gaza, loud sounds of launches could be heard and residents reported armed clashes along the separation fence with Israel, near the southern town of Khan Younis. They claimed to see significant movement of armed fighters.
