‘We stand firmly with the Government and people of Israel’: White House condemns Hamas offensive

The White House said Saturday that it “unequivocally condemns” the Hamas attacks. “We stand firmly with the Government and people of Israel and extend our condolences for the Israeli lives lost in these attacks," said Adrienne Watson, spokeswoman for the National Security Council. “The US unequivocally condemns the unprovoked attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians. There is never any justification for terrorism.” Watson said Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, has spoken with his Israeli counterpart, Tzachi Hanegbi. The U.S. and Israel are remaining in close touch, Watson said. Palestinian terror group Hamas on Saturday Morning launched an aerial attack on Israel. The militia, which operates from Gaza, claimed to have fired over 5,000 rockets into Israel. Soon afterwards Hamas terrorists, boarded on pickup trucks dashed through the forcer fences into southern Israel. Israel responded by declaring a state of war and launching the mission ‘Swords of Iron’. The Israeli Air Force launched strikes on Gaza, where the Hamas operates from. This comes on the 50th anniversary of the 1973 war between Israel and Egypt-Syria. The war is also called the Yom Kippur War, as it started on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur when Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel. The conflict that drew over two weeks saw a comprehensive victory for Israel.