Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday prepared the Jewish state for a “long and difficult war” as his administration retaliated against a surprise attack by Hamas terrorists that killed 600 Israeli citizens.
“We are embarking on a long and difficult war. The war was imposed on us by a murderous attack by Hamas. The first phase ends today with the destruction of most of the enemy forces that have penetrated our territory,” Netanyahu declared.
“We will restore security to the citizens of Israel and we will win.”
Israel’s cabinet invoked Article 40 Aleph, marking the nation’s first formally declared war since 1973.
From the early hours of Saturday into Sunday, Hamas launched a barrage of thousands of rockets from the Gaza Strip toward Israel and launched a ground attack, marking what has been called the largest escalation in the region in more than five decades. .
The attack, which caught Israeli defense and intelligence forces by surprise, came about a day after the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, in which Israel fought Egypt, Syria and some other Arab nations.
So far, the death toll in Israel has risen to approximately 600 dead and 2,000 injured, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
Meanwhile, more than 313 Palestinians have died and 1,990 are missing, including 20 children dead and 121 injured, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of a “long and difficult” war with Hamas. AFP via Getty Images
There have also been reports of numerous Israelis being kidnapped by terrorists.
“Israel wakes up this morning to a terrible morning. There are many people murdered. They have kidnapped people in Gaza, not only soldiers but civilians, children and grandmothers,” Israel Defense Forces spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said in a statement, CNN reported.
“We have lost soldiers, we have lost commanders, we have lost many civilians.”
Netanyahu vowed “powerful revenge” for Hamas’ unprovoked terrorist attack. AP
Hecht did not reveal the exact number of hostages.
Hamas has used the hostages to warn Israel not to retaliate near the Gaza Strip.
The war has apparently escalated in recent hours with attacks from the north, believed to come from the Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah, near the Israel-Lebanon border.
Wow. Hezbollah claims responsibility for launching rockets and mortars at multiple Israeli positions in the north.
Israel has already responded by attacking Hezbollah sites.
– Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) October 8, 2023
Hezbollah, which has aligned itself with Hamas, effectively threatens to add a second front to the bloody war against Israel.
Netanyahu has promised “powerful revenge” and to emerge “victorious” from the outbreak of the conflict.
Israeli warplanes have bombed Gaza, hitting more than 426 targets, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
600 Israelis have been killed by Hamas terrorists and the number is expected to rise. AP
On Saturday night, the Israeli cabinet met to make “decisions aimed at bringing about the destruction of the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, in a manner that would negate their ability and desire to threaten and harm the citizens of Israel for many years. to come,” said the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.
The Hamas attack has drawn widespread international condemnation and threatens to increase tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbors.
Israel has an estimated population of just over 9.5 million people.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn