Netanyahu Declares Israel in State of War Following Unprecedented Hamas Attack That Claims At Least 22 Lives

The governing body of Hamas in the Gaza Strip launched a multi-pronged, unparalleled assault on Israel early Saturday morning, catching the nation unaware during a significant holiday. The attack involved thousands of rocket firings and the infiltration of Hamas militants through Israel’s highly fortified border by multiple means—air, land, and sea.

Six hours into the attack, ongoing armed confrontations were taking place within several Israeli localities, revealing an unexpected display of military capacity from Hamas and rattling the Israeli populace. Israel’s national emergency service reported a death toll of at least 22 individuals and hundreds more injured, marking it as the most fatal attack on Israel in recent history.

Beersheba’s Soroka Medical Center in southern Israel confirmed the treatment of approximately 280 casualties, 60 of whom were in critical condition. Meanwhile, there were no official figures regarding Gaza’s casualties, although reporters from Big Big News observed the funerals of 15 individuals and saw another eight bodies brought to a local hospital. The identity of these casualties—whether combatants or civilians—was not immediately clear.

Footage circulating on social media portrayed Hamas militants parading what appeared to be commandeered Israeli military vehicles and at least one deceased Israeli soldier being mistreated by an irate Palestinian crowd shouting religious slogans. Videos released by Hamas seemed to indicate the capture of at least three living Israelis. The Israeli military refrained from revealing details about casualties or abductions while combat operations against infiltrators were ongoing.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a televised statement, asserted, “We are at war,” mobilizing a large contingent of the country’s army reserves. “The enemy will incur an unprecedented cost,” he added, pledging an unprecedented level of counterattack by Israel.

The attack occurred on Simchat Torah, a festive Jewish holiday, echoing unsettlingly with the surprise attack launched against Israel during Yom Kippur in 1973. This historical parallel heightened criticisms of Netanyahu and his hawkish allies for their perceived failure to anticipate the well-coordinated Hamas offensive.

Israel’s emergency medical organization, Magen David Adom, disclosed at least 16 casualties, including a woman in her 60s who was fatally hit by a rocket from Gaza. Reports hinted at a significantly higher number of casualties on both sides, but official details were pending.

In retaliation, the Israeli military struck targets across Gaza, in response to the 2,500 rockets that triggered air raid alarms as far north as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Israeli forces were engaged in armed conflicts with Hamas militants who had managed to bypass Israel’s separation fence and also infiltrate the country through other innovative means like paragliders.

The motives behind Hamas’ abrupt attack, following weeks of escalated tensions along the Gaza border, remain unclear. Mohammed Deif, the enigmatic leader of Hamas’ military wing, announced the beginning of “Operation Al-Aqsa Storm,” calling on Palestinians to join the resistance.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant cautioned in a televised speech that Hamas had committed “a grave error,” assuring that “the state of Israel will prevail in this war.”

The attack added another layer of complexity to an already tense political landscape in Israel, marked by extensive public protests and military discontent over Netanyahu’s controversial plans to reform the judiciary. It raised further concerns over the military’s preparedness and its ability to deter its enemies.

Both Israeli and Palestinian health agencies urged for blood donations, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, a spokesperson for the Israeli army, confirmed the mobilization of reserve forces but declined to discuss how the army was caught by surprise.

Hamas’ exiled leader, Ismail Haniyeh, claimed that Palestinian militants were participating in a “historic operation” aimed at defending Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque and the numerous Palestinian prisoners in Israel. The attack forced millions of Israelis into secure locations, disrupting lives in cities and towns and causing road closures near Gaza.

The incident revealed cracks in the unity of Israel’s military reserves and threatened Netanyahu’s credibility as a security expert. It also jeopardized the stability of a nation already embroiled in low-intensity conflicts on multiple fronts and facing threats from militant groups like Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

Israel has been enforcing a blockade on Gaza since 2007, following Hamas’ seizure of the territory. This has led to multiple conflicts and has severely impacted Gaza’s economy. Israel justifies the blockade as a measure to prevent militant groups from arming themselves, while Palestinians view it as collective punishment.

The episode of rocket attacks occurs amidst escalating violence in the West Bank, where nearly 200 Palestinians have been killed this year in Israeli military operations. Tensions have also recently escalated in Gaza itself, marked by violent protests along the Israeli border, although these were halted in late September following international mediation efforts.

Reported by Adwan from Rafah, Gaza Strip, with contributions from Big Big News writer Isabel DeBre in Jerusalem.

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• Timeline of Recent Tensions in the Middle East
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• International Reactions to Israel-Hamas Conflicts