The largest attack on Israel was carried out by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on Saturday morning, October 7.I
t was a surprise assault carried out as a number of armed men entered various Israeli towns while a heavy barrage of rockets were being fired from the Gaza Strip.
At the time of publication, warning sirens were blaring throughout central and southern Israel, including in Jerusalem.
According to the emergency service of the nation, at least 40 people have died since Hamas attacked Israel unexpectedly.
The Israeli Health Ministry reports that a total of 779 more people have suffered injuries.
The Iranian-backed Hamas made a “grave mistake” by declaring war on Israel, according to Israel’s military, which then responded by launching airstrikes into Gaza.
Hamas has “launched a war against the State of Israel,” according to Israeli Defense Minister Gallant.
Israeli “troops are fighting against the enemy at every location,” he claimed.
The Israeli military claimed that its personnel were in Gaza but provided no further information.
According to a statement from the military, “a number of terrorists have infiltrated into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip.” The military also added that people in the region surrounding the Gaza Strip had been advised to stay in their homes.
As one of the most serious escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in decades, the attack represented an unprecedented entry into Israel from Gaza of an undetermined number of Hamas gunmen.
Gunfights between Palestinian fighter bands and security forces were reported by Israeli media in towns in the south of the country.
According to Israel’s police chief, there are “21 active scenes” in the south of the country.
In Gaza, people hurried to buy supplies because they expected days of fighting.
Many people left their homes and went to shelters.
In a broadcast on Hamas media, Mohammad Deif, the military chief of Hamas, declared the start of the operation and urged Palestinians all over the world to fight.
He declared, “This is the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on earth,” noting the launch of 5,000 rockets.
A woman named Dorin claimed that militants had broken into her home and attempted to open the bomb shelter where she was hiding in a phone interview with Israel N12 News from the kibbutz of Nir Oz, close to Gaza.
She pleaded for help, saying, “They just came in again.”.
“A lot of homes have been damaged, dot.
The door is being held closed by my husband.
Bullets are being fired by them in rounds.
“.
Palestinian media claimed that several Israelis had been kidnapped by fighters, and Hamas media broadcast video that appeared to show an Israeli tank being destroyed.
In a speech he gave this morning, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that war was raging in the nation. His office announced that he would meet with senior security officers soon.
According to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad organization, its fighters are participating in the assault alongside Hamas.
According to a post by Islamic Jihad’s armed wing spokesman Abu Hamza on Telegram, “We are a part of this battle, and our fighters are side by side with their brothers in the Qassam Brigades until victory is achieved.”.
The assault happened a day after Israel celebrated the 50th anniversary of the war in 1973 that nearly resulted in a catastrophic loss when Syria and Egypt launched an unexpected attack.
