Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tells nation: ‘Citizens of Israel, we are at war’.
The Palestinian militant group Hamas has initiated its most significant offensive against Israel in years, with a multi-pronged assault. The attack included infiltrations into southern Israel and the firing of over 2,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 22 Israeli lives and hundreds of injuries, according to reports from local media and medical personnel.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, cautioned Hamas that it had committed a “grave mistake” by launching the attack, which commenced at 06:30 am local time (03:30 GMT) on a Saturday. The offensive featured rocket barrages from various locations within Gaza and Hamas fighters infiltrating the Israeli border by land, sea, and air. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a video message from military headquarters in Tel Aviv, declaring, “Citizens of Israel, we are at war.”
Mohammed Deif, a senior Hamas military leader, announced earlier that the rocket strikes marked the beginning of “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” and called upon Palestinians worldwide to resist Israeli occupation. He urged all Palestinians to confront Israel, emphasizing, “This is the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on Earth.” Israel’s military advised residents near the Gaza Strip to remain in their homes and warned that Hamas would face severe consequences for its actions.
Reports from Israeli media indicated that Palestinian fighters had fired upon civilians in the town of Sderot in southern Israel. Footage circulating on social media depicted uniformed Palestinians involved in confrontations in the border region. Another video on social media seemed to show a burning Israeli tank surrounded by jubilant Palestinians.
By late Saturday morning, Israeli warplanes had launched airstrikes on Gaza locations as part of what the military termed “Operation Iron Swords.” Israeli troops were engaged in ground combat in multiple areas around the besieged Palestinian enclave. Israel’s army spokesperson, Richard Hecht, informed reporters, “Right now, we’re fighting. We’re fighting in certain locations around the Gaza Strip … our forces are now fighting on the ground.”
Witnesses in Gaza reported hearing loud explosions, with at least one person reportedly killed in the initial wave of Israeli airstrikes, as per media accounts. This escalation in hostilities comes after weeks of mounting tensions along Israel’s volatile border with Gaza and months of deadly clashes in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Since the beginning of the year, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of at least 247 Palestinians, while 32 Israelis and two foreign nationals have lost their lives in Palestinian attacks.
The United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, condemned the “heinous attacks targeting civilians” during the “multi-front assault against” Israeli cities and towns near Gaza. He expressed deep concern for the well-being of all civilians and called for maximum restraint from all sides.
I vehemently condemn the multi-front assault against Israeli towns & cities near #Gaza, & barrage of rockets reaching across central #Israel by Hamas militants. These are heinous attacks targeting civilians & must stop immediately.
— Tor Wennesland (@TWennesland) October 7, 2023
🔗https://t.co/S8Dyvjxo6k
My full statement👇 pic.twitter.com/fz2aJWUsGW
In a statement posted on the Telegram messaging app, Hamas called on “resistance fighters in the West Bank” and “our Arab and Islamic nations” to join in the ongoing conflict. Saleh al-Arouri, an exiled Hamas leader, framed “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” as a response to “the crimes of the occupation,” with Palestinian fighters defending their sacred site in occupied East Jerusalem.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement, established in 1982 to combat the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon, closely monitored the events in Gaza and maintained “direct contact with the leadership of the Palestinian resistance,” according to a statement released by the group.
