Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories have been at loggerheads since the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched the biggest attack on the Jewish state in 50 years. Hundreds of people were killed in the surprise attack on the morning of the Jewish holiday and Israel declared a state of war.
Israeli officials have said that at least 250 Israelis have been killed in Hamas attacks. Israel’s Health Ministry said more than 1,590 Israelis were injured.
At least 230 Palestinians have been killed and 1,610 injured in Israeli attacks in Gaza since the Hamas attack.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the country is “beginning a long and difficult war” and warned Gazans to “get out now” and reduce Hamas strongholds to “rubble”. expressed his determination. Netanyahu said the “first phase” of the retaliation was over, and Israel had countered the majority of Hamas militants inside its territory. They vowed to continue the offensive “without reservation or reprieve”.
Israel will also cut off electricity, fuel and supplies to Gaza, according to a statement from Netanyahu’s office on Saturday night.
US President Joe Biden strongly condemned Hamas’ attacks against Israel in a speech on Saturday, saying: “America stands with Israel.” He had earlier issued a statement calling the attacks “horrific” and a “horrific attack”.
Hamas militants entered Israeli territory on Saturday morning, appearing to occupy various communities in the south of the country. Fighting is still going on in some areas.
According to Israeli officials, Hamas has fired thousands of rockets towards Israel. Hamas military commander Mohammad Def said 5,000 had been fired, but an Israeli military spokesman said 2,500 had been fired.
Israel declared war on Gaza after the attack, launching retaliatory airstrikes and sending the region’s already devastated medical infrastructure into chaos.
Israeli civilians and soldiers are being held hostage in Gaza, an Israel Defense Forces spokesman confirmed. The spokesman declined to say the number of hostages.
Netanyahu has offered a unity government after declaring martial law. The move would bring Netanyahu and opposition Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid together during the national emergency.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told US Secretary of State Anthony Blanken that “injustice” to Palestinians is leading to an “explosion” of the conflict with Israel. The agency also reported that Abbas received a phone call from his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, in which Abbas “stressed that the current tensions in the region are the result of political deadlock” and “the denial of the Palestinian people’s legitimate right to self-determination.” . .
The meeting of the United Nations Security Council is going to be held on Sunday. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the Hamas attack and called for “all diplomatic efforts to avoid a wider provocation”, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
The White House said US and Israeli officials were discussing Israel’s defense needs and that military aid could be announced “as soon as tomorrow”.
Egypt is in talks with Saudi Arabia and Jordan to reduce Palestinian-Israeli violence, Egypt’s foreign ministry said on Saturday.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi spoke by phone with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, calling for international action to de-escalate tensions in Gaza and create “a real political horizon for ending the occupation”. Discussed the need, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Jordan. said in a statement.
Saudi Arabia, which has been negotiating with the United States to normalize relations with Israel, called on both sides to exercise restraint.
British Prime Minister Rishi Singh said his government stood in “total solidarity” with Israel against the “cowardly and despicable” attack.
A senior official said the US had nothing to suggest Iran was involved in Hamas’ “specific” attacks on Israel. The official also denied that Iran had any specific warning or indication before the attack.
UN peacekeepers have been deployed along the Lebanon-Israel border to “help maintain stability and prevent tensions”.
The Metropolitan Police in London said it was aware of “several incidents” related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in parts of London, it said in a statement. As a result, the force has increased patrols in different parts of London.