Hamas troops attack into Israel has resulted in at least 198 deaths and 1,610 injuries.
Israeli attacks on Gaza: Following a barrage of thousands of rockets fired from the beleaguered region, the Palestinian organisation in control of the Gaza Strip launched the greatest offensive on Israel in years on Saturday, penetrating areas in the south of the nation.
Israel’s national rescue service, Magen David Adom, has confirmed at least 70 deaths, with hundreds of injured individuals currently receiving treatment in Israeli hospitals, including many in serious condition. According to local media, there have already been at least 100 fatalities.
According to Hamas, gunfights are happening throughout Israel in numerous locations.
Hamas initiated the attack, which began at 6:30 am local time (03:30 GMT) and involved fighters infiltrating Israel by land, sea, and air. Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned Hamas it made a “grave mistake” in carrying it out.
“Israeli citizens, we are at war. In a video message from Tel Aviv’s military HQ, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the enemy will pay an unimaginable price.
In reaction to the attack, Israel’s military conducted many airstrikes on Gaza. “Dozens of [Israeli military] fighter jets are striking a number of Hamas terrorist organisation targets in the Gaza Strip right now,” it claimed.
“Escalation in Gaza: Hamas Initiates ‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’ Amidst Fierce Clashes”
Senior Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif declared that the rocket launch was the beginning of “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” and he urged Palestinians all over the world to resist Israeli occupation.
Deif urged all Palestinians to confront Israel, saying, “We’ve decided to say enough is enough.” He declared in an audio message that “today is the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on Earth.”
Hamas would pay a “heavy price for its actions,” the Israeli military warned Israeli citizens living near the Gaza Strip, ordering them to remain inside their houses.
In the southern Israeli town of Sderot, Palestinian fighters reportedly opened fire on bystanders. Additionally, footage that has been circulating on social media purported to show uniformed Palestinians fighting in the border region.
Another video that circulated on social media purported to show a burning Israeli tank encircled by joyful Palestinians.
Israeli soldiers engaged in ground combat in various locations around the embattled Palestinian enclave, while Israeli planes initiated bombing operations in Gaza as part of the military’s “Operation Iron Swords” plan.
“We’re fighting right now. “According to Israel’s army spokesman Richard Hecht, Israeli forces are currently engage in ground combat in certain areas near the Gaza Strip.”
Loud explosions were heard by witnesses in Gaza.
Palestinians, according to Enas Keshta, a resident of Rafah in southern Gaza, are in for a “tough night” as long as Israeli attacks on the blockaded territory continue.
“This is not at all a nice scenario here in Gaza. We are not prepared, and tonight will be difficult for us, I can guarantee you, she said Al Jazeera. “Nowhere is secure.”
In Gaza, shock and dread are pervasive.
Munir Nasser, a grocery store owner in Gaza, declared, “We have been as surprised and terrified as the [occupation] since the operation] began.” “We haven’t seen footage of Palestinians breaching the barriers beyond the occupied towns and villages like this before.”
After months of fatal clashes in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and weeks of rising tensions along Israel’s tense border with Gaza, heavy combat between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian rebels has broken out.
Israeli forces have killed at least 247 Palestinians this year, in contrast to earlier Palestinian attacks that resulted in the deaths of 32 Israelis and two foreigners.
The UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Tor Wennesland, condemned the “heinous attacks targeting civilians” in Israeli towns and communities close to Gaza as part of the “multi-front assault against” them.
These incidents have resulted in the deaths and injuries of numerous Israelis, with many believed to have been abducted within the Gaza Strip. Wennesland said in a statement that these attacks on civilians are terrible and must end right once.
“I have serious concerns for the safety of every person. He stated, “I am maintaining close contact with all parties involved and have urged the highest level of caution and the safeguarding of individuals.”
“This is a precipice that is dangerous, and I urge everyone to back away from it.”
“Hamas Urges Continued Resistance, Hezbollah Monitors Gaza Developments”
Hamas urged “the resistance fighters in the West Bank” and “our Arab and Islamic nations” to continue the war in a statement published earlier on Saturday on the Telegram messaging app.
Exiled Hamas commander Saleh al-Arouri said that “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” was a reaction “to the crimes of the occupation” and that Palestinian fighters were defending their holy place in occupied East Jerusalem.
The 1982-founded Hezbollah movement in Lebanon claimed in a statement that it was “directly in contact with the leadership of the Palestinian resistance” and was closely monitoring the developments in Gaza. Hezbollah was created to oppose Israeli control of southern Lebanon.