The Israeli military has issued a warning about Hamas militants from Gaza who have infiltrated southern Israeli communities.
Al Jazeera reports that least 704 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank since October 7 while some 3,726 people have been injured.
An estimated 800 people in Israel have also been killed.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel is entering a “long and difficult war.”
Hundreds of gunmen entered southern Israel, targeting both soldiers and civilians and taking a significant number of hostages back to Gaza.
Israel has responded with airstrikes, which are ongoing, targeting operational infrastructure in Gaza.
Additionally, Israel carried out artillery strikes in southern Lebanon after mortar attacks from that region toward Israeli positions in the disputed Mount Dov/Shebaa Farms area.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah claimed responsibility for these attacks in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance.
Israeli citizens received text messages advising them to seek shelter in city centers or shelters.
Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that the war had been forced upon Israel by a murderous attack from Hamas and that the first stage would end once most of the militants in Israeli territory had been neutralized.
The Israeli government also announced plans to cut off electricity, fuel, and goods supplies to Gaza.
The situation began on the Jewish Sabbath and Simchat Torah festival when gunmen breached the Gaza perimeter fence, entering Israel via various means.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) reported that these gunmen numbered in the high hundreds, and over 3,000 rockets were fired into Israel throughout the day.
They attacked Israeli communities, IDF bases, and civilians indiscriminately. Videos emerged of Israeli civilians fleeing for their lives, and reports of abductions and casualties were widespread.
President Joe Biden expressed unwavering support for Israel, characterizing the situation as an attack orchestrated by a terrorist organization.
Hamas’s military wing claimed to have captured several Israelis, including senior military officers.
By the end of Saturday, casualties on both sides numbered in the thousands, prompting the Israeli military to announce an unprecedented response, with tens of thousands of reservists mobilized for a potential ground operation in Gaza.
Israeli airstrikes targeted buildings in Gaza City, including the Palestine Tower, which housed Hamas radio stations.
The Israeli military claimed it had warned occupants to evacuate before the attacks. Violence also erupted in the West Bank, with confrontations resulting in the deaths of several Palestinians.
Hamas’s military commander called on Palestinians to join their operation, aiming to end Israeli offenses.
Hamas leaders stated that the violence might expand to the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem. A Hamas spokesman acknowledged direct support from Iran for the attack.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a political rival of Hamas, asserted the Palestinian people’s right to defend themselves against settlers and occupation troops.
International condemnation of Hamas attacks was strong, with the UN Secretary-General expressing his dismay at attacks on civilians, and the UK’s Foreign Secretary condemning Hamas’s actions.
Saudi Arabia called for an immediate halt to the escalation and highlighted the dangers arising from continued occupation and the deprivation of Palestinian rights.
Source-BBC
