Israel’s Security Cabinet Declares Formal War as Fighting Rages On in Southern Towns

Tel Aviv, Israel — In a dramatic escalation of the conflict, the Israeli government officially declared war on Sunday and authorized “significant military steps” to retaliate against Hamas following the group’s audacious attack. The military continued its efforts to eliminate militants in southern towns while intensifying its airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. The casualty count has now surpassed 1,000 deaths and thousands of injuries on both sides of the conflict.

More than 24 hours after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion out of Gaza, Israeli forces were still engaged in combat with the remaining groups of militants who had taken refuge in several towns. The human toll in Israel, with over 700 reported casualties, is staggering and represents a level of devastation not witnessed in decades. In parallel, Gaza continues to bear the brunt of Israeli airstrikes, with over 300 reported deaths.

The formal declaration of war indicates that more intense fighting is looming on the horizon. The key question now is whether Israel will initiate a ground assault into Gaza, a move that has historically resulted in heightened casualties. Meanwhile, in northern Israel, an exchange of strikes with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group raised concerns about the conflict’s potential to expand into a wider regional war.

Efforts are underway to determine the number of civilians and soldiers taken captive by Hamas during the chaos and transported back to Gaza. The captives include women, children, and the elderly, as evidenced by videos and witnesses.

U.S. Secretary of State Andrew Blinken, speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” stated that as many as 1,000 Hamas fighters were involved in the assault, underscoring the meticulous planning behind the militant group’s actions. The fighters rampaged for hours, targeting civilians in towns, along highways, and even at a techno music festival in the desert near Gaza.

Israel has conducted over 800 airstrikes in Gaza thus far, including operations that devastated the town of Beit Hanoun in the northeast corner of the enclave. Israeli Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari revealed that warplanes unleashed tons of explosives on 120 targets, accusing Hamas of using the town as a staging ground for attacks. The impact on civilians remains unclear, but it is likely that most residents had evacuated the area before the bombardment.

Israel’s commitment to continuing these operations was evident, with Hagari stating, “We will continue to attack in this way, with this force, continuously, on all gathering places and routes used by Hamas.”

The toll on civilians on both sides of the conflict is already grave. In central Israel, citizens queued outside a police station to provide DNA samples and other information that could aid in the identification of missing family members. Israeli television broadcasted heartbreaking accounts from the relatives of captive or missing Israelis, who pleaded for assistance and information.

In Gaza, the 2.3 million residents, who have been under an Israeli-Egyptian blockade for 16 years, feared a further intensification of the onslaught. Israeli airstrikes have destroyed numerous residential buildings, displacing some 74,000 Gazans who have sought refuge in 64 shelters, a number expected to rise. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNWRA, reported that a school housing over 225 people was directly hit.

Several Israeli media outlets, citing rescue service officials, reported that at least 700 people have been killed in Israel, including 44 soldiers. The Gaza Health Ministry indicated that 313 people, including 20 children, lost their lives in the territory. Around 2,000 individuals have been wounded on each side. Israeli security forces reported the deaths of 400 militants and the capture of dozens more.

The exchange of fire with Hezbollah has added to concerns that the conflict could expand further. Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets and shells at three Israeli positions along the border, prompting the Israeli military to respond with armed drones. Two children on the Lebanese side were lightly injured by shattered glass, according to Marjayoun Hospital.

Hezbollah, believed to possess tens of thousands of rockets, has refrained from engaging in previous Israeli-Hamas confrontations since its 2006 war with Israel. However, if the destruction in Gaza escalates, Hezbollah may face mounting pressure to intervene.

Israel’s formal declaration of war, while largely symbolic, according to Yohanan Plesner, head of the Israel Democracy Institute, suggests that the government anticipates a more protracted, intense, and substantial phase of conflict. Israel has engaged in major military campaigns over the past four decades in Lebanon and Gaza, which it portrayed as wars but without formal declarations.

The Security Cabinet’s approval of “significant military steps” provides the military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a broad mandate, although the specific measures were not detailed. Netanyahu, in a televised address on Saturday, vowed that Hamas “will pay an unprecedented price” and warned that “this war will take time” and will be challenging.

As Israel grapples with this unprecedented security breach and its consequences, the region remains fraught with uncertainty, leaving many to contemplate the implications of this extraordinary event.

Source: Associated Press, with additional reporting from agencies