Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep concern on Saturday over the escalating situation in Israel as Hamas militants launched a sudden and severe attack. The Israel-Gaza conflict took an alarming turn as Hamas fired over 5,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel, effectively declaring war without warning. Reports from Israeli emergency services indicate that at least 22 people in Israel have tragically lost their lives, with hundreds more injured since the commencement of the Hamas attack, as per news agency Reuters.
Israel's Health Ministry has reported that a total of 545 individuals have been hospitalised since the onslaught began this morning.
In response to the escalating crisis, Prime Minister Modi posted on X, "Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour."
French President Emmanuel Macron also expressed his condemnation of the ongoing terrorist attacks in Israel, declaring, "I strongly condemn the current terrorist attacks against Israel. I express my full solidarity with the victims, their families, and loved ones."
The Consul General of Israel, Kobbi Shoshani, addressing the destruction of infrastructure and the loss of life, emphasised the paramount importance of preserving human lives amidst the turmoil, stating, "Of course, there is damage to the infrastructure and there is damage to buildings. But, the most important thing is human life...Dozens of innocent people have been killed...It's the last day of the Israeli holiday...That was something unacceptable. We will retaliate in a very, very severe way because the state of Israel and the Israeli spirit cannot do something else."
Regarding Hamas's unprovoked attack on Israel, former IDF Spokesperson Lt Col (Res.) Avital Leibovich remarked, "Well, there was no Israeli provocation whatsoever. This was an independent initiative... This is very tightly connected with the Iranian directive... Iran has been pouring millions into the areas of Palestinians, whether it's in the West Bank or Gaza, trying to create unrest in this entire region... We are still in a situation of defense, so the army and the other security apparatus are not stopping now and creating some sort of analysis of the situation, because we are still very deeply at the beginning of this war... We will have to wait until the end of this war."
Consul General Kobbi Shoshani echoed this sentiment, emphasising the gravity of the situation, "I haven't seen such an attack against the state of Israel since 1973...Right now our mission is first of all to bring peace to the southern part of Israel, to the citizens...This is something that is very sad and it's very, very sensitive...Definitely, such an attack is not something that you can do alone. You need the support of other terrorist organisations and countries. We know exactly what's going on...We are not searching for another war, and we don't have anything against the people of Gaza...Hamas declared the war, and Hamas will pay the price."
Hamas's surprise attack, which occurred at daybreak, claimed the lives of at least 22 Israelis, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a state of war and vowed that Israel would extract an unprecedented cost from its enemy. Israel's national rescue service confirmed the tragic loss of life and reported hundreds of injuries, making this operation the deadliest within Israeli territory in years.
Netanyahu addressed his nation, declaring, "We are at war, not in an operation or in rounds, but at war. This morning, Hamas launched a murderous surprise attack against the State of Israel and its citizens. We have been in this since the early morning hours... The enemy will pay an unprecedented price".
The Israel Defence Force (IDF) initiated operation 'Iron Swords' in response to Hamas's surprise attack. The operation, which includes air, land, and sea actions, features a barrage of rockets from the Gaza Strip and infiltrations into Israel's heavily fortified southern border, catching the nation off-guard during a major holiday.
IDF spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, reported that more than 2,200 rockets had been fired into Israel since 6:30 AM. Multiple sites within Israel witnessed clashes between Israeli troops and infiltrators, according to Hagari. Hamas's actions are purportedly in response to perceived aggression against the Al-Aqsa Mosque.