More than 200 Israelis were killed in a surprise attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, according to the Israeli army. In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to destroy Hamas’s hideouts in Gaza. The attack, which involved massive rocket barrages and ground, air, and sea offensives, resulted in at least 232 Palestinian deaths and nearly 1,700 injuries. Gun battles between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters took place in 22 locations across Israel. Netanyahu declared that Israel was at war and vowed to strike Hamas with full force. He also called on Gazans to leave before Israel launched its retaliatory attacks, warning that all Hamas strongholds would be turned to rubble.
US President Joe Biden expressed unwavering support for Israel and cautioned against other parties taking advantage of the situation. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Egypt, a key mediator between Israel and Hamas, about the urgent need to halt the fighting. As night fell, Israeli forces continued to engage in live gun battles in multiple locations. The Israeli army launched air strikes into Gaza, and Hamas militants fired rockets in retaliation. Hamas released images of kidnapped Israelis, and army spokesman Daniel Hagari confirmed the abductions. Hecht also mentioned a severe hostage situation in Negev desert communities. Hamas began its attack with thousands of rockets aimed at Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. They breached Gaza’s security barrier and targeted Israeli towns and military posts. Israeli media reported harrowing accounts of Israelis seeking shelter from militants’ gunfire and attempted break-ins. There were reports of multiple casualties in Israeli towns near Gaza. Palestinians celebrated their actions, with armed men gathering around a burning Israeli tank and driving a seized military vehicle back into Gaza to cheering crowds.
Israeli army Major General Ghasan Alyan described the attack as opening the “gates of hell.” Gaza’s interior ministry reported that residential towers with 100 apartments had been destroyed. Israel cut off power to Gaza, and army flares illuminated the night sky. The escalation followed months of heightened violence in the West Bank, tensions along Gaza’s border, and clashes at contested holy sites in Jerusalem. Before this attack, the death toll for the year included at least 247 Palestinians, 32 Israelis, and two foreigners. Hamas dubbed their attack “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” and called for resistance fighters in the West Bank, as well as in Arab and Islamic nations, to join the battle. Hamas claimed to have fired over 5,000 rockets, while Israel reported over 3,000 incoming rockets. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh expressed confidence in an impending victory.
The conflict caused widespread disruption in Israel, with air raid sirens, damaged buildings, canceled flights, and school closures. Gaza has been under Hamas control since 2007, leading to Israel’s blockade of the territory. Several wars have erupted between Israel and Hamas since then, with the last major exchange in May resulting in 34 Palestinian and one Israeli death. In response to the recent attack, hundreds of people fled their homes in northern Gaza, and violence erupted across the West Bank, including clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces and settlers. The international community condemned Hamas’s actions, while Iran’s supreme leader and Lebanese group Hezbollah praised the operation. The UN Middle East peace envoy called for de-escalation, warning of a dangerous situation at hand.