A surprise invasion has taken the war between Israel and long-time foes Palestine to a new level.
Israel was plunged into chaos Saturday after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a deadly land, air and sea attack in the country, with fighters infiltrating the southern border and firing a massive barrage of rockets from the Gaza strip.
A spokesperson for Israel Defense Forces said, at the time, over 200 Israelis were killed and more than 1,200 were injured.
Those numbers have potentially increased.
According to the Israeli military, Hamas fighters also captured a number of civilians and soldiers as hostages, with fighting ongoing in southern Israel many hours after the operation began.
Hamas incursion, stunning in its boldness and complexity, marked a major escalation of its conflict with the Israeli government.
The elusive leader of the group’s military wing, Mohammed Deif, said in a recorded message that “Enough is enough,” calling on Palestinians to join the fight.
He said, “This is the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on earth,” adding that 5,000 rockets had been launched and that it had taken a large number of hostages, including senior Israeli officers.
Israel’s security minister declared a state of civil emergency.
Under hashtags like #israel #istandwithisrael, #palestinevsisrael, and #HamasTerrorists, Social media users set up camps at either side of the divide, citing reasons for driving support for one or the other.
However, the militant groups treatment of non-Israelis’, and those caught in the crossfire of their wrath, seemed to whip up more support for Israel.
Isreal, did not sleep on the attacks and have promised to retaliate rocket for rocket, asking civilians in Gaza to exit.
The U.S and E.U have been blamed for equipping Iraq who seems to be fighting a proxy war, through Hamas, and Palestine who only recently got some money released to them.
While the number of Israeli hostages in Gaza remains unclear, Hamas officials today said that there is currently no chance of prisoner exchange with Israel.
Meanwhile, The European Commission said today, it was putting under review its full portfolio of development aid to Palestinians, worth 691 million euros ($728.66 million), and immediately suspending all payments.
Oliver Varhelyi, the European Commissioner for the EU’s neighbourhood, said in a post on social media platform X. “The scale of terror and brutality against Israel and its people is a turning point.
“There can be no business as usual.”
