Israel is at ‘war’: How conflict with Gaza escalated after Hamas attack

Israel has announced Operation “Swords of Iron” against Islamist group Hamas after its militants infiltrated the country and fired a barrage of rockets from the Gaza Strip early today (7 October). Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, saying its armed wing fired 5,000 rockets into Israel. Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has declared in a message to Israelis, “We are at war, and we will win”. “The enemy will pay a price it has never known,” The Guardian quoted him as saying. The latest attack that surprised the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) comes on the last day of the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
"Citizens of Israel,
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. pic.twitter.com/C7YQUviItR

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 7, 2023

What is going on? Dozens of gunmen from Hamas have entered southern Israel from Gaza. As per Associated Press (AP), purported videos on social media show Palestinian gunmen in uniform inside the Israeli border town of Sderot. Another footage showed Hamas militants driving into Gaza in what is being claimed to be a captured Israeli military tank, Reuters reported. An unverified footage showed Palestinian militants dragging an Israeli soldier on a motorcycle, as per the AP report.

This comes as Islamist militant group Hamas launched the biggest attack on Israel in years.

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The Hamas’ military wing leader, Mohammed Deif, announced the beginning of “Operation Al-Aqsa Storm” in a recorded video today. He claimed the Palestinian militant group had “targeted the enemy positions, airports and military positions with 5,000 rockets”, as per CNN. Calling on Palestinians from east Jerusalem to northern Israel to join the fight, Deif said, “Enough is enough… Today the people are regaining their revolution, reported AP. As per CNN, the Hamas military commander said the operation was in retaliation to attacks on women, the “desecration” of the al-Aqsa mosque and the “siege” on Gaza. According to AP, sirens could be heard in Israel’s Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as numerous rockets were set off from Gaza for over two hours in the early morning. At least 22 persons have died and several others have been injured across the country in today’s militant attacks, reported CNN. [caption id=“attachment_13216402” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] People are seen near a damaged car on a road, as rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, southern Israel on 7 October. Reuters[/caption] The Hamas militants have infiltrated several southern towns near the Gaza border, reported The Times of Israel. Confirming the infiltration bid, the Israeli military said earlier, “In the last hour, the Hamas terrorist organisation had begun a massive shooting of rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory, and terrorists infiltrated into Israeli territory in a number of different locations”. ‘Israel will win’ Israel’s defense minister Yoav Gallant vowed that “Israel will win” the “war” started by the Hamas militant group. He said Hamas “made a grave mistake” by launching rocket strikes at southern and central Israel. “Hamas has made a grave mistake this morning and launched a war against the State of Israel. IDF troops are fighting against the enemy at every location. I call on all of Israel’s citizens to follow security instructions. The State of Israel will win this war,” Gallant was quoted as saying by CNN. Israeli president Isaac Herzog said the country “is facing a very difficult moment” but it can “overcome all those who wish us harm.” The IDF has declared a “state of war alert”. “The Israel Defence Forces will defend Israeli civilians and the Hamas terrorist organisation will pay heavy price for its actions,” The Guardian quoted the military as saying.

⚔️Swords of Iron⚔️

The IDF is initiating a large-scale operation to defend Israeli civilians against the combined attack launched against Israel by Hamas this morning. pic.twitter.com/O2fuWjFvNb

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 7, 2023

IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that over 2,200 rockets have been fired into Israel, adding that Hamas militants infiltrated the country from land, sea and air using paragliders, according to The Times of Israel. IDF spokesman Lt Col Richard Hecht said that the military would summon thousands of reservists. The defence forces also said its fighter jets are striking “a number of” targets” in Gaza. Years-old conflict The conflict between Israel and Gaza, ruled by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, goes years back. Today’s attacks are the largest flare-up since May 2021 when Israel and Hamas fought a 10-day war. This was the fourth big war between Hamas and Israel since 2008. Last August, Israelis attacked sites in the Gaza Strip, leading to a rise in tensions. Gaza, an isolated coastal enclave, has been largely cut off from the world due to the Israeli blockade of its land, air and sea since 2007 when Hamas took over Gaza. Egypt is in control of Gaza’s southern border crossing, Rafah. Israel has imposed severe curbs on the freedom of civilians as well as controls the importation of basic goods into the narrow coastal Gaza Strip, noted CNN.  Palestinians in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank accuse Israel’s restrictions for their suffering. Israel has justified its actions by saying it is safeguarding itself from Palestinian violence, reported BBC. Today’s attack comes after weeks of increased rift along Israel’s border with Gaza, and heavy fighting in the West Bank. Tensions have remained high between the conflicting sides, with the Israeli military killing nearly 200 Palestinians in the West Bank this year. Although Israel has said its raids are directed at militants, many stone-pelting protesters and civilians have also been killed. More than 30 people have died in the Palestinian attacks on Israeli targets. With inputs from agencies