Israel-Palestine War: Malta calls for urgent UNSC meeting following Hamas attacks

Malta has asked the United Nations Security Council to meet behind closed doors following the attacks on Israel, diplomats said on Saturday.The meeting could be scheduled for Sunday. Saturday’s surprise attacks were carried out by Palestinian extremist group Hamas who launched over 5,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip. So far, at least 200 people have died in the attacks. The Israel Defence Force (IDF) has launched ‘Operation Swords of Iron’ in retaliation to Hamas’ ‘Operation Al-Aqsa Storm’. Hospitals in Israel have been overwhelmed with over 900 critically wounded people. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip carried out what appeared to be an unprecedented infiltration into southern Israel, prompting Israel to order residents across the region to remain indoors. The infiltration took place as militants fired dozens of rockets into Israel. Soon after the Hamas attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a video statement announced that ‘Israel is at war’. “Citizens of Israel, we are at war. Not an operation, not an escalation — at war,” he said. Chaos and fear have ensued among citizens with many claiming that assailants from Gaza have been trying to break into their homes. Many Israeli citizens have also been reportedly abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip forcefully. Earlier today, the IDF released footage of Israeli air strikes on Hamas assets in the Gaza Strip. “Dozens of Air Force fighter jets attacked targets of the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip a short time ago,” it said in a statement. IDF Spokesman, Brigadier General Daniel Hagari said, “At these times, the IDF is flooding the south and surrounding settlements with many operational forces – operational commanders are arriving to manage the fighting in all the centers; at the same time, we have started a wide reserve mobilization for all formations in the IDF.” The attacks have drawn strong condemnation from across the world with countries like US and India standing in solidarity with Israel.