In a brazen act of aggression, Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists launched a series of rocket barrages from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of at least 100 Israelis.
The Islamist movement Hamas has claimed responsibility for the attack, which has plunged the region into chaos and sparked a fierce military response from Israel.
Mohammad Deif, a senior Hamas military commander, announced the start of the operation and called on Palestinians everywhere to join in attacking Israelis. "This is the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on earth," Deif declared in a broadcast on Hamas media, revealing that 5,000 rockets had been launched.
Israeli media outlets reported that at least 100 people have been killed in the wide-ranging assault, while Gaza health officials claim that 198 Palestinians have died in Israeli air strikes carried out in response to the Hamas attack. Hospitals are currently treating 561 wounded individuals, including 77 in critical condition, according to the Associated Press.
In a video message released early Saturday morning, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared, "Citizens of Israel, we are at war not in an operation, not in rounds at war." The gravity of the situation was underscored by the deployment of ambulance crews to areas surrounding the Gaza Strip, as sirens blared across Israel. Soroka Medical Center in Beer Sheva, the largest town in southern Israel, is currently treating 140 wounded individuals, including 20 in serious and critical condition. Among the victims are civilians. Another hospital in Ashkelon is attending to 94 victims with varying degrees of injuries.
Gunmen were reported to have opened fire on passersby in the southern Israeli town of Sderot, and footage of the fighting appeared to show attacks taking place in city streets. The Israeli military issued a statement acknowledging that "a number of terrorists have infiltrated into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip." As a result, residents in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip have been urged to remain in their homes. "The Israeli Defense Forces will defend Israeli civilians, and the Hamas terrorist organization will pay a heavy price for its actions," the military warned.
Netanyahu's office announced that he would be convening with top security officials in the coming hours to address the ongoing operation. Meanwhile, the sound of rocket launches could be heard in Gaza, with residents reporting armed clashes along the separation fence with Israel near the southern town of Khan Younis. Witnesses claimed to have witnessed significant movement of armed fighters in the area.
The international community has swiftly condemned the Hamas attack and expressed strong support for Israel. Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, "unequivocally" condemned the attacks, emphasizing that they were unprovoked and stating, "There is never any justification for terrorism." Watson extended condolences for the Israeli lives lost and confirmed that National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan had been in contact with his Israeli counterpart.
Stephanie L. Hallett, the U.S. Charg dAffaires a.i. at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, expressed her dismay at the "images coming out of southern Israel of dead and wounded civilians at the hands of terrorists from Gaza," adding that the United States stands with Israel.
European leaders have also voiced their condemnation of the Hamas attack and their support for Israel. Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Unions executive commission, described the attack as "terrorism in its most despicable form" and affirmed Israel's right to defend itself.
German Chancellor Olaf Sholz expressed deep shock at the rocket fire and rising violence, condemning the attacks by Hamas and standing beside Israel. French President Emmanuel Macron firmly condemned the "terrorist attacks" against Israel and expressed solidarity with the victims and their families. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, likewise, expressed shock at the attacks and affirmed Israel's right to defend itself.
In response to the Hamas attack, dozens of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) fighter jets were seen delivering strikes on multiple targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip. Israel's defense establishment, based on assessments, has declared a "special security situation" within a 0-80 km radius from the Gaza Strip. This designation enables the IDF to provide safety instructions to civilians and close relevant sites in order to ensure their protection.
The fighting between Israel and Gaza, which erupted on Saturday, is expected to continue for several days. The situation remains highly volatile, with both sides engaged in a deadly conflict that shows no signs of abating.
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