Israel Declares State of War, Announces Operation Swords of Iron After Surprise Attacks by Hamas
- The armed wing of Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, firing approximately 5 000 rockets
- In response, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a “state of readiness for war” and initiated Operation Swords of Iron
- At least 22 Israelis were killed and hundreds wounded in the conflict, with additional casualties reported from the Gaza border communities
- Netanyahu called for the mobilisation of reserve soldiers and vowed that the enemy would pay an unprecedented price
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GAZA - A significant escalation has occurred in the protracted conflict, pitting Israel against Palestine in the Gaza Strip.
Source: Getty Images
In an unprecedented move on Saturday, October 7, the armed wing of Hamas launched a barrage of approximately 5 000 rockets, coupled with a breach into Israel's southern territory.
In response, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared a "state of readiness for war" as they plan a counter-offensive.
“Citizens of Israel, we are at war. Not an operation, not a round [of fighting] - at war! This morning Hamas initiated a murderous surprise attack against the state of Israel and its citizens," Netanyahu said in a video message from military headquarters in Tel Aviv.
The Israeli Army has initiated Operation Swords of Iron against the Hamas group in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the attacks from the region, as reported by Al Jazeera.
At least 22 Israelis were killed and hundreds wounded, with additional casualties reported from the Gaza border communities, where there are gun battles between the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and Hamas fighters.
Netanyahu said the first action would be to clear the affected urban areas occupied by Hamas fighters who manage to penetrate Israel's defence positions.
What will Israel's response to the attack be?
The PM further stated that he had called for the mobilisation of their reserve soldiers to assist in the fightback across all fronts.
"In parallel, I am initiating an extensive mobilisation of the reserves to fight back on a scale and intensity that the enemy has so far not experienced. The enemy will pay an unprecedented price," he added.
Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has also vowed that they would emerge victorious from the "war".
Gallant said, as reported by The Times of Israel:
“Hamas made a grave mistake this morning and started a war against the State of Israel. IDF soldiers are fighting the enemy at all the infiltration sites."
Oil prices jump as Hamas attack on Israel fuels supply fears
In another story reported by Briefly News, oil prices rallied while the dollar and yen advanced on Monday after Hamas launched a shock attack on Israel at the weekend, sparking fresh concerns about tensions in the Middle East.
The crisis fanned concerns about supplies of crude from the region at a time when supply worries are already high owing to Saudi Arabia and Russia's output cuts.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
