Netanyahu’s Declaration: Israel at War as Gaza Conflict Escalates
Netanyahu’s Grim Warning Amidst Escalating Israel-Gaza Conflict
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, made a solemn declaration on Saturday that the nation was in the throes of war. This dire announcement followed a grave turn of events as Palestinian militants from Gaza launched a deadly barrage of rockets and sent armed individuals into Israeli territory, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two sides.
According to the Israeli military, these militants fired around 2,200 rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel. Simultaneously, they infiltrated Israeli territory using various means, including paragliders, by land, sea, and air. The explosions reverberated over Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and southern Israel, with some of them likely being the result of Israel intercepting incoming rockets. In response, Israelis sought refuge in underground shelters as air raid sirens wailed.
The Israeli military reported that Hamas had taken “hostages and prisoners of war,” although specific numbers were not provided.
By early afternoon, the toll in Israel stood at approximately 70 dead and hundreds injured, as per Israel’s rescue service, Magen David Adom (MDA).
In response, Israel initiated strikes on what it termed as Hamas targets in Gaza. The Palestinian health ministry reported nearly 200 Palestinians killed and 1,610 injured. However, details on where these deaths occurred and whether they included Hamas militants or Gaza civilians were not disclosed.
One particularly poignant moment captured on video showed the Palestine Tower, a high-rise building with two annexes in Gaza City, being struck by an explosion and collapsing.
In a video statement, Netanyahu emphasized that Israel was not merely engaged in an operation or isolated rounds of conflict but was, in fact, at war. He squarely laid blame on Hamas, the Palestinian militant movement governing Gaza, accusing them of launching a “murderous surprise attack” on Israel and its citizens.
This Saturday’s surprise assault was unprecedented in recent history due to its sheer scale and scope, and it occurred on the 50th anniversary of the 1973 War when Arab states launched an offensive against Israel on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht confirmed that Israeli forces were engaged in ground combat at multiple locations, including villages, army bases, and border crossings. When asked about whether the IDF had missed intelligence leading up to the attack, Hecht declined to respond.
Dubbed “Al-Aqsa Storm,” Hamas military commander Muhammad Al-Deif announced in a recorded message that his group had targeted enemy positions, airports, and military installations with a significant number of rockets. He stated that the assault on Israel was in response to attacks on women, the desecration of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, and the ongoing Gaza blockade.
The Hamas attacks followed a period of heightened tension in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, marked by frequent Israeli military raids in Palestinian towns and cities, which Israel claimed were necessary responses to increasing attacks by Palestinian militants against Israelis.
This crisis also unfolds during a time of deep political division in Israel. Months earlier, the government had enacted a controversial plan to reduce the power of the country’s courts, sparking a significant social and political crisis. This move had also strained relations with the military, as many reservists, who are the backbone of Israel’s army, had threatened not to respond to calls for mobilization in protest of the judicial system changes. As of Saturday, an IDF spokesperson had no information about reservists refusing to be called up in the face of the latest attacks.
Israel’s response to the air, sea, and ground assault has been multifaceted. Police have been deployed to multiple locations to address threats, with bomb squad technicians tasked with clearing missile debris and shrapnel sites.
Meanwhile, the IDF is engaged in active combat across 22 locations, with reports of hostage situations in two of them, Ofakim and Beeri. Residents in Israeli communities, such as Kibbutz Beeri and Kibbutz Nir Oz, have pleaded for assistance as they face incursions from Gaza-based assailants. These infiltrations into Israel from Gaza are a rare occurrence, given the region’s heavy military surveillance.
As the situation unfolds, the number of Israelis captured by Hamas remains unclear. Verified video footage showed some individuals being seized by militants. One video, located in the Gaza neighborhood of Shejaiya, depicted a woman being forcibly pulled from a vehicle and restrained in the back seat. Another video, from Be’eri in southern Israel, appeared to show Hamas militants taking multiple Israelis captive.
Magen David Adom (MDA) reported that its teams were responding to areas struck by rockets and reported “live firing incidents.” They urged people to seek shelter when alarm sirens sounded. Tragically, MDA disclosed that one of its personnel had lost their life, and four others were wounded in the attack. Furthermore, one of their ambulances had been taken into Gaza.
Zaki Heller, MDA’s spokesperson, appealed for blood donations and announced a special blood donation drive in Tel Aviv due to an urgent need.
Social media footage obtained by CNN displayed the aftermath of a rocket strike in Ashkelon, a southern coastal city in Israel, where cars burned near an apartment complex, and thick black smoke billowed into the sky.
Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant were conducting security assessments at IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv, according to an official statement.
Gaza, one of the world’s most densely populated areas, houses almost 2 million people within 140 square miles. Governed by Hamas, Gaza has been isolated from the rest of the world since 2007 due to an Israeli blockade encompassing land, air, and sea. Egypt controls Gaza’s southern border crossing at Rafah.
The international community swiftly responded to the escalating crisis. The White House issued a statement condemning “the unprovoked attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians.” The United States pledged unwavering support for Israel’s government and people, extending condolences for the Israeli lives lost in the attacks.
American diplomat Stephanie Hallett, stationed in Israel, condemned Hamas’ indiscriminate rocket fire and affirmed Israel’s right to self-defense.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for restraint among the parties involved, urging them to avoid impulsive actions that could escalate tensions. Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry engaged in intensive communication with international officials to seek a halt to the ongoing escalation.
Many European leaders took to social media to denounce the violence, with European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen condemning it unequivocally. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed full solidarity with the victims, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the Hamas attacks while expressing support for Israel’s stance.
By: M Z Hossain, Editor Sky Buzz Feed
