A surprise attack by Hamas militants from Gaza at daybreak killed at least 22 Israelis on Saturday even as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared “war” and said his country would extract an “unprecedented price” from its enemy. Israel’s national rescue service said at least 22 people were killed and hundreds of others wounded in the Hamas military incursion, making the operation the deadliest in Israeli territory in years.
IDF Operation “Iron Swords”
In the early hours of the morning in Israel, an unprecedented barrage of rockets and missiles was launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel, triggering continuous sirens that persisted for hours. Furthermore, a significant number of Hamas and potentially Jihad militants breached Israeli territory, engaging in confrontations with both civilians and Israeli security personnel.
At least 22 have died and nearly 300 people have been injured as terrorists infiltrated a number of southern towns. Hamas and other terrorist groups fired between 2,000-5,000 rockets towards Israel from the blockaded Palestinian area of Gaza Strip on Saturday morning and dozens of terrorists entered southern Israeli cities, laying siege and taking control of several key locations, including a police station.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has officially confirmed that numerous terrorists infiltrated Israeli territory on this, amidst the intense rocket attacks spanning from the central to the southern regions. As a precaution, residents of the Gaza Strip have been instructed to remain within their homes. These militants have been reported in several settlements within the Gaza Strip. In Sderot, a group of terrorists in a van managed to penetrate the city. Additionally, there are reports from Palestinian sources regarding the possible abduction of an IDF soldier into the Gaza Strip.
The IDF has issued a statement, declaring, “Hamas carried out a coordinated operation, involving rocket fire and terrorist infiltration into Israeli territory, around an hour ago. The IDF is resolute in safeguarding the residents of the State of Israel, and the terrorist organization Hamas will bear a substantial cost for its actions. The public is urged to adhere to the Home Front Command’s instructions to seek shelter in secure areas, while Gaza Strip residents are advised to remain in their homes.”
The Prime Minister’s Office has issued a statement acknowledging that “Prime Minister Netanyahu is briefed on the situation. The Prime Minister will convene a meeting with senior security officials in the hours ahead.” Social media platforms are currently circulating unconfirmed footage showing terrorists inside Gaza alongside IDF jeeps. It is crucial for anyone within Israel to listen to official IDF and government instructions. Galant has declared a state of emergency in the country, extending to the Gush Dan area, and has announced that Israel is actively preparing for an extended period of conflict, necessitating the extensive mobilization of reserves to assume critical positions.
