Hamas's Biggest Attack On Israel In Years Kills At Least 70, PM Netanyahu Says Country 'At War': Top Points

Israel-Gaza Tension: A surprise barrage of rockets by the Hamas group from the Gaza Strip has escalated the tensions between it and Israel.

Israel-Gaza War: It was supposed to be a normal Saturday for the citizens of Israel, but it turned out to be one of the most horrendous days of their lives which began with the skies' never-ending roar without a halt. The Israel-Gaza conflict took a sudden severe turn after Hamas militants fired over 5,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip to Israel in an unannounced declaration of war. What followed was infiltration by Hamas group members into Israeli borders and reports of deaths due to rocket strikes. 

Hamas declared war on Israel with operation 'Al-Aqsa Flood', and Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) retaliated with operation 'Swords Of Iron'.

Top Points On Israel-Gaza War

• Israeli national rescue service informed that the death toll in the wide-ranging Hamas incursion rose to at least 70, reported news agency AP. The toll is expected to rise. The Health Ministry says 545 people have been hospitalised since the start of the massive attack this morning.
  
  


• Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, occupied West Bank said the Palestinian people have their right to defend themselves against the "terror of settlers and occupation troops", WAFA news agency quoted him as saying, as per AL Jazeera.

• Ghazi Hamad, Hamas spokesperson and former deputy foreign minister for the government in Gaza, told Al Jazeera that the Palestinian operation is also a message to Arab countries and that Israel is an enemy state. "I think it is [shameful] for them. I ask all Arab countries to disconnect and cut relationships with Israel, because it is not a state which believes in peace, or coexistence, or believes in being a good neighbour," Hamad said, adding "It is an enemy state and we have to stop them."

• The US embassy in Israel said that it is "closely monitoring" the security situation in the country. The EU, UK and Ukraine have condemned Hamas’s attacks and expressed their solidarity with Israel.

• German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin "firmly condemns the terrorist attacks from Gaza against Israel." Italy backed "Israel’s right to defend itself" against the "brutal attack" by Hamas. The government said it "condemned in the strongest terms the terror and the violence under way against innocent civilians."


• Israel has meanwhile launched operation 'Swords of Iron' and is targeting Hamas areas in the Gaza Strip. Speaking over the same, Ambassador of Israel to India, Naor Gilon said the attacks were launched when Israeli civilians were sleeping peacefully. Calling it a "cowardly action", Gilon said that it came during the sacred Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah. "Israel is currently fighting to repell coordinated, large and multi pronged palestinian terror attacks. These attacks which were launched early this morning by Hamas on our civilians, sleeping peacefully in their beds, in cities and villages of the south and central Israel are war crimes," he said in a statement.
  
  


• The IDF published footage of Air Force strikes on Hamas assets in the Gaza Strip. According to a military source, quoted Times of Israel, IAF jets have so far dropped more than 16 tons of munitions.

• Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu announced “We are at war” in his first public statement after the massive attack by the Hamas terror group. In a video posted by him on X (formerly Twitter), Netanyahu further said Israel will win the war. He said: “The enemy will pay a price like they have never known before." His strong statements came around five hours after the start of the assault by the Gaza-based terror group. 

• The Embassy of India in Israel issued an important advisory for Indian nationals in Israel on Saturday. It asked the citizens to avoid unnecessary movement and stay close to safety shelters. The Indian Embassy has asked the citizens to remain vigilant and follow all safety protocols issued by local authorities. The Indian Embassy in Israel took to X to caution the Indian nationals living in Israel and wrote, "IMPORTANT ADVISORY FOR INDIAN NATIONALS IN ISRAEL. For details visit- Israel Home Front Command website: https://oref.org.il/en".

• Ofir Libstein, the mayor of Israel's Sha'ar Hanegev region, has been killed by Hamas as per Jerusalem Post. Roz Rothstein, International CEO & co-founder of StandWithUs (org supporting Jews, and educating about Israel) says Libstein was killed when he went to fight the infiltrators.

• Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday called on Israelis and Palestinians to act with restraint and refrain from hostile acts that could exacerbate the situation, reported The Jerusalem Post. 

• Local airports in central and southern Israel have been closed for commercial and leisurely use, according to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, reported AL Jazeera. Ben Gurion Airport will remain operational and will act according to security instructions and guidelines, a report said.

• In a statement released on Hezbollah-backed Al Manar TV, the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah welcomed Hamas's strike on Israel, CNN reported. According to the statement, Hezbollah is in direct communication with Hamas leadership.

• According to Reuters, Mohammad Deif, a senior Hamas military commander, announced the start of the operation in a broadcast on Hamas media, calling on Palestinians everywhere to fight. "This is the day of the greatest battle end the last occupation on earth," he said, adding that 5,000 rockets had been launched, beginning operation 'Al-Aqsa Flood'.