Hamas attacks against Israel, “we are at war”, announces Benjamin Netanyahu

2023-10-07 11:26:02

October 7, 2023
Today at
10:02

Update
has
October 7, 2023
13:26

The armed wing of Palestinian Hamas fired hundreds of rockets on Saturday morning from the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army responded with airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. “We are at war and we will win,” declared Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

the armed wing of Hamas announced on Saturday morning that it had launched a offensive against Israel. For its part, the Israeli army reports the infiltration from the Gaza Strip of a “still undetermined number of terrorists” on their territory.

At least 22 Israelis reportedly killed in surprise attackaccording to the Israeli ambulance service, quoted by Israeli media N12 News – which also reports hundreds of injuries.

Rocket fire

THE rocket fire from several locations in the Gaza Strip began before 6:30 a.m. local time and continued into the early morning. There armed branch of Hamas, the armed Islamist movement which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007announced that it had launched the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation against Israel and launched more than 5,000 rockets.

A man runs in the street after rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon.
©REUTERS

“We decided to end all crimes of occupation (Israel),” Al-Aqsa Brigades military wing said. The Israeli military said Hamas was behind a “combined attack, including“rocket fire and infiltration of terrorists into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip”.
A woman in her sixties was killed and 15 other people were injured in southern Israel, announced Magen David Adom, the Israeli equivalent of the Red Cross.

“We are at war”

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced retaliation for the attack by Palestinian Hamas against his country. “Our enemy will pay an unprecedented price“, a Netanyahu said in video message. “We are at war and we will win”, he added.

Hostage taking

The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, denounced on Saturday the taking of civilians hostage in violation of international law and demanded their release. “The news of civilians being held hostage at home or in Gaza is appalling. It goes against international law. The hostages must be released immediately,” he said on X (formerly Twitter).

Hamas’ military wing released a video showing at least three men in civilian clothes detained by armed men with blurred faces, claiming they were “enemies” captured during his dawn offensive against Israel

Israeli response

In response to Hamas strikes, Israel launched Operation Iron Swords and began bombing Gaza. Israeli Air Force carries out airstrikes in Gaza, says spokespersonwith several “dozens (of its) combat planes”.

Smoke billows from a residential building after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City.
©AFP

“A war against the State of Israel”

The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas “made a grave mistake this morning and launched a war against the State of Israel. IDF troops are fighting the enemy everywhere. I call on all Israeli citizens to follow the security instructions. The State of Israel will win this war.” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Saturday.

International reactions

“Belgium strongly condemns “the attacks against Israeli civilians”, declared Hadja Lahbib, Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hadja Lahbib on the X platform, following in the footsteps of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the European Union – among others. “Violence and terror perpetuate suffering and hinder the path to dialogue. Our thoughts are with all those affected. We are monitoring the situation closely,” wrote Minister Belg.

Belgium strongly condemns the massive rocket attacks against Israeli civilians. Violence and terror only perpetuate suffering and hinder the path to dialogue. Our thoughts are with everyone affected. We are monitoring the situation closely.

— Hadja Lahbib (@hadjalahbib) October 7, 2023

The president of the European Council, Charles Michel, also said he condemned the violence. Attacks on Israel ‘serve terror and violence against innocent civilians’, did he declare. “My thoughts are with all the victims. The EU stands in solidarity with the Israeli people at this horrible time.”

I unequivocally condemn the attack carried out by Hamas terrorists against Israel.

It is terrorism in its most despicable form.

Israel has the right to defend itself against such heinous attacks.

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 7, 2023