Israel news: In a dramatic turn of events, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has officially declared a state of war in response to an unexpected assault by Palestinian militants from Gaza. This incident represents a major intensification of the enduring conflict between the two parties. Taking place on the 50th anniversary of the 1973 War, the attack involved the firing of approximately 2,200 rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory. Concomitantly, armed militants launched a ground assault in the southern region of Israel, infiltrating its borders.
The attack, claimed by Hamas, the Palestinian militant group governing Gaza, resulted in at least 22 casualties and over 250 injuries, according to Israel’s Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency rescue service. Hamas stated that it had captured several Israeli soldiers near the border after its fighters entered Israel via land, sea, and air, even using paragliders.
While Israel’s military has not confirmed reports of soldiers being captured, a video published by Reuters appeared to show Palestinian gunmen extracting an Israeli soldier from a tank near the Gaza fence. Furthermore, MDA reported that one of their ambulances had been taken into the Gaza Strip.
Hamas, under the banner of “Al-Aqsa Storm,” launched this operation in response to perceived provocations, including attacks on women, desecration of the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, and the ongoing blockade of Gaza. Israel, in retaliation, conducted strikes against multiple Hamas targets in Gaza and issued a call-up of thousands of reservists.
Prime Minister Netanyahu pledged that Hamas would face unprecedented consequences for its actions, emphasizing that Israel was now in a state of war. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) urged residents near Gaza to stay indoors or seek shelter.
This sudden and severe escalation took place early in the morning, catching many Israelis off-guard. Infiltration from Gaza into Israel is rare, as the area is closely monitored and secured by Israel’s military.
Reports emerged that infiltrators from Gaza entered Kibbutz Beeri and even took hostages in Netiv HaAsara, although Israeli authorities did not immediately confirm these details. Social media footage depicted masked gunmen in a pickup truck in the Israeli city of Sderot, with gunfire audible in the video.
Magen David Adom reported that one woman in her 60s was killed, with two people in critical condition, six in moderate condition, and seven sustaining minor injuries in the attacks across southern and lowland regions of Israel. MDA urged people to heed authorities’ instructions and seek shelter promptly when alarms sounded. A blood donation drive was also organized due to the urgent need for blood donations.
The rocket attacks triggered alarms across various locations, including as far north as Tel Aviv, east to Beer Sheva, and numerous areas in between. Social media footage showed the aftermath of a rocket strike in Ashkelon, where multiple vehicles burned near an apartment complex, releasing thick plumes of black smoke.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant conducted security assessments at Israel Defense Forces headquarters in Tel Aviv in response to the situation. Gaza, home to almost 2 million people, is one of the world’s most densely populated regions and remains isolated due to a longstanding Israeli blockade of its land, air, and sea access, dating back to 2007. Egypt controls the southern border crossing at Rafah, further restricting movement in and out of Gaza.
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