Israel is in a state of war after dozens of gunmen from the Palestinian militant group Hamas infiltrated southern Israel in a surprise attack from the Gaza Strip in the early hours of Saturday.
This attack follows the launch of thousands of rockets from Gaza into Israel, with Hamas leader Mohammed Deif declaring, “we’ve decided to say enough is enough.”
The Israeli Defense Forces reported that a number of terrorists infiltrated Israeli territory from Gaza. Gun battles between Israeli and Palestinian forces are ongoing in various locations in southern Israel.
The rocket barrages from Gaza began on the Jewish Sabbath and the day of the festival of Simchat Torah. Israeli media reported that more than 2,500 projectiles had been launched towards Israel.
At least one Israeli has been killed by the infiltrating gunmen, while rocket fire has killed one person and wounded hundreds.
Hospitals in Israel are treating people injured in the surprise attacks.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared, “Citizens of Israel, we are at war, not an operation, not an escalation, a war.”
He ordered an extensive reserve mobilization and a retaliatory war with a strength and scope that the enemy had never known.
Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif called on Palestinians everywhere to fight, declaring it the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on Earth.
