Israel Responds with Airstrikes and Vows to Inflict “Unprecedented Price”
Jerusalem, Israel — In an unprecedented early morning attack during a major Jewish holiday, dozens of Hamas militants, supported by a barrage of rockets, breached the blockaded Gaza Strip and infiltrated Israeli towns, resulting in dozens of casualties and abductions. A stunned Israel has declared that it is now at war with Hamas and has initiated airstrikes in Gaza, pledging to exact an “unprecedented price” in response.
The breadth of the assault was astonishing, with Hamas gunmen entering as many as 22 locations outside the Gaza Strip, including towns situated up to 15 miles (24 kilometers) from the Gaza border. In various areas, they roamed for hours, targeting civilians and soldiers as the Israeli military scrambled to respond. Gunfights persisted well into the night, with militants holding hostages in standoffs in two towns.
This attack has resulted in the deadliest day in Israel in decades, with at least 200 people killed and 1,100 wounded, according to Israel’s national rescue service. In the Gaza Strip, at least 198 people have been killed, and at least 1,610 wounded in Israeli strikes, as reported by the Palestinian Health Ministry. The situation is further complicated by Hamas fighters taking an unknown number of civilians and soldiers captive into Gaza, a sensitive issue for Israel.
Israel’s response has been swift, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring the country is at war. He announced a mass army mobilization and vowed to return fire with unprecedented force. The Israeli military’s airstrikes in Gaza have intensified, including the demolition of several residential buildings in giant explosions, while Hamas continued launching rockets into central Israel.
The strength, sophistication, and timing of the Saturday morning attack took Israel by surprise. Hamas fighters used explosives to breach the border fence and employed motorcycles, pickup trucks, paragliders, and speed boats along the coast to cross into Israel.
The abduction of Israeli civilians and soldiers by Hamas has presented a complex dilemma for Israel, which has a history of making lopsided exchanges to secure the release of captive Israelis. The shadowy leader of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif, asserted that the assault was in response to multiple grievances, including the 16-year blockade of Gaza, Israeli raids in the West Bank, violence at the Al Aqsa compound, settler attacks on Palestinians, and settlement expansion.
The timing of this Hamas incursion on Simchat Torah, a significant Jewish holiday, evoked painful memories of the 1973 Mideast war. This surprise attack was reminiscent of the Yom Kippur War 50 years ago when Egypt and Syria launched an attack on Israel.
The Israeli government’s handling of the situation has faced criticism, with political commentators questioning its readiness for such an attack. Israel’s response and whether it will launch a ground assault into densely populated Gaza remain critical concerns.
As tensions escalate, the conflict threatens to worsen an already dire situation, with Palestinians disillusioned by an ongoing occupation in the West Bank and the blockade of Gaza. The future remains uncertain as Israel and Hamas exchange fire, and the international community watches closely, hoping for a resolution to the violence.
Source: with agencies