The missiles were fired from the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by the radical Palestinian group Hamas. Initially, one person was reported dead and dozens injured. These are just the first reports, the next ones will be more and more dramatic.
Israel immediately retaliated. “We are in a war and we will win it,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday. “Our enemy will pay a price he never knew,” he declared.
The country’s defense minister, Jove Gallant, announced that he was calling for reservists “according to the needs of the military” and declared that Hamas had “launched a war against the State of Israel”. An Israeli military spokesman said on Saturday that Palestinian forces had infiltrated Israeli territory by sea, land and air using paragliders. He also said that “approximately 2,200 rockets were fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip.”
Hamas rocket attack on Israel
Mohammed Taif, the head of Hamas’s armed wing, explained that the attack, dubbed Al-Aqsa Storm, was a response to the 16-year siege of the Gaza Strip, Israeli airstrikes on West Bank cities in 2022, and settlement expansion in Palestine. Areas and violence at the Al Masjid site – Aqsa in Jerusalem.
Daif survives various attempts by the Israelis and is wheelchair-bound after losing an eye. His last photo was taken 20 years ago.
As of noon Saturday, the Israeli Health Ministry said 545 people had been hospitalized since the Hamas offensive began on Saturday. By Saturday evening, at least 100 people were reported dead, but the number was rising rapidly as many of the injured were in serious or critical condition. By Sunday evening, it was reported that the number of victims had already crossed 700 and was still rising.
Bombing of the Gaza Strip
The Israeli armed forces bombed the Gaza Strip in response to an unprecedented attack on Israel by Hamas militants that began Saturday morning.
– Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that Israel would reach out to Hamas militants wherever they hide, and appealed to the people of Gaza to leave the areas where the militants are staying.
Palestinian officials have reported 370 casualties on their side so far; There may be more, as the Israeli military launched a massive airstrike in the Gaza Strip on Sunday afternoon and reported the deaths of several hundred Hamas fighters.
Killing of innocent civilians
Hamas militants have gone door-to-door killing innocent civilians, with some photos too gruesome to publish, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said on Saturday. This entire Israeli family was killed yesterday by Hamas fighters in their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Bodies of the dead littered the streets of the city of Chederot in Israel’s southern district after a Hamas attack, a scene hard to describe, a Channel 12 reporter reported. Mayor Alon Davidi appealed to residents not to open their doors to anyone and to stay at home. and close their windows. We are still searching the area, he said. According to him, the nation of Israel has yet to “see” what happened in his city. He added that there were “inhuman acts” against innocent people.
The sad fate of the festival participants
The most tragic events occurred near Kibbutz Reim, adjacent to the Gaza Strip. From Friday to Saturday night, thousands of 20-40 year olds had fun there. It is a trance music festival celebrating the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
The festival site was one of the first sites to be attacked by Hamas militants during their attack on Israel.
Initial reports said that the crowd had been fired upon, but the number of casualties was not specified.
On Sunday evening, the Jerusalem Post wrote about the massacre by Hamas terrorists at the festival. They are said to have killed 260 people there, and the number may rise.
One of the first and most tragic images that reached us from Israel was of Hamas terrorists killing a young woman and mutilating her body. “Teenage Girl Mutilated, Kidnapped and Killed by Hamas Terrorists Identified by Leg Tattoo,” we read on social media. 30-year-old German citizen Shani Luk came to a music festival near the border with the Gaza Strip.
The world reacts. “Israel has the right to defend itself. Period.”
“The world is seeing horrifying images. Thousands of rockets are falling on Israeli cities. Hamas terrorists are killing not only Israeli soldiers, but civilians in the streets and in their homes. Israel has the right to defend itself. Period,” wrote US President Joe. Biden Saturday evening on the X website (formerly Twitter).
– The US will move a strike group closer to Israel. This includes the aircraft carrier Ford and its auxiliaries – US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. He added that the US would urgently provide Israel with additional equipment and resources, including ammunition.
“I unequivocally condemn the attack by Hamas terrorists against Israel. It is terrorism in its worst form,” European Commission President Ursula van der Leyen said.
Pope Francis has called for an end to attacks on Israel. During a meeting with the faithful for the Angelus prayer on Sunday, he said terrorism and war will not lead to any solution. He prayed for peace in Israel and Palestine. Addressing thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope said he was following with concern and pain the situation in Israel that has “exploded into violence” and was praying for the victims and their families.
“I spoke with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and expressed our solidarity with Israel. I condemned the Hamas attack, especially the acts of violence against civilians. I pledged Polish support for measures to restore security. Israel’s right to protect the lives of its citizens.” – President Andrzej Duda said.
As a sign of solidarity with the victims, the Germans lit up the Brandenburg Gate in the colors of the Israeli flag.
— Today the whole world saw terrible news from Israel – how terrorists mock women and men, mercilessly take hostages even the elderly… My condolences to all the relatives and friends who were killed! I wish all the injured a speedy recovery. Let’s remember that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who comes from a family of Ukrainian Jews, said in his evening speech that when a terrorist attack like this happens, everyone who values life should show solidarity.
Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi praised Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel in a phone conversation with Palestinian Authority President Ismail Haniyeh, CNN reported. According to Iran’s IRNA news agency, Raisi discussed the situation in the “occupied lands” with Haneje.
Raisi later said that Iran “supports the legitimate defense of the Palestinian people” and appealed to the governments of Muslim countries to support the matter. He praised the efforts of the “resistance movement” (i.e. Hamas and Islamic Jihad) in the Gaza Strip and in countries such as Syria, Lebanon and Iraq.
Where can you find more information about Saturday’s events in Israel and Gaza? Here are the most important articles we prepared for you in recent hours:
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