The Hamas Attack on Israel (at War)
A chronicle of today's events that may have a significant impact on the Middle East.
This is a special edition of Inshallah, a newsletter that brings you the top stories from the Middle East every week.
WARNING: Claims, videos, and images may be unverified due to the rapidly changing events and the contexts in which they occurred. This content contains graphic images.
Palestinian militants belonging to Hamas entered Israel this morning through an unprecedented military operation involving air and land, catching Israeli authorities by surprise and unprepared.
The so-called Operation Al-Aqsa Flood (although some translations refer to it as Operation Al-Aqsa Storm) started early this morning with thousands of missile strikes launched from the Gaza Strip toward the Israeli border. These strikes targeted dozens of Israeli villages and towns along the Gaza border.
What represents a game changer in the yearslong military confrontation between Hamas and Israel is that Palestinian militants have entered territories controlled by Israel, conducting raids inside Israeli settlements, killing and taking hostages.
The Hamas attack on Israel occurred during a significant Jewish holiday and, coincidentally (or not?), aligned with the 50th anniversary of the start of the 1973 Yom Kippur War (also known as the October War or Fourth Arab-Israeli War), in which Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, intending to retake Israeli-occupied territories.
Before diving into the events, it's worth explaining the reason behind this attack.
Tensions between Palestinians and Israelis rose in the last few days as Israeli settlers stormed the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem multiple times in the last few weeks.
Al-Aqsa is the third holiest site in Islam and has been at the center of confrontations, tensions, and escalations between Israelis and Palestinians, leading to armed conflicts over the years.
A statement by the political chief of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, confirmed the recent Israeli actions at the Al-Aqsa mosque as one of the reasons behind the attack, with him reportedly stating that the Palestinian resistance was engaged in a 'heroic fight' to defend the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
While this can be considered the official reason for today's attack, other factors can be found in the consequences of the long-term Israeli occupation of territories and the ongoing aftermath of the occupation.
For instance, in his statement, Haniyeh mentioned Palestinian prisoners. This likely refers to the hunger strikes of Palestinian prisoners that occurred in the last few weeks due to deteriorating conditions within Israeli prisons.
The Attack
Palestinian militants entered Israel early this morning from the north and south of the Gaza Strip using pickups and paramotors. Meanwhile, rockets were fired as far north as Tel Aviv. Hamas claimed that 5,000 rockets had been fired at Israel, while Israel said 2,200.
At least 70 people have been killed, and hundreds have been injured.
Palestinian militants stormed different Israeli settlements along Gaza's borders, and unverified videos show settlers running away.
https://twitter.com/Rimas_Hamada/status/1710588071144820851
Unverified online footage shows pickups entering Israel settlements with paramotors (powered paragliders).
https://twitter.com/Mawteeni/status/1710561378191188242
Palestinian militants have kidnapped and transported several soldiers to the Gaza Strip using motorcycles…
…and jeep vehicles.
In some footage, it is clear that these individuals are Israeli soldiers, while in others, this cannot be verified, and they may be civilians.
https://twitter.com/fouadkhreiss/status/1710551099461996833
Purportedly, Palestinian militants have used drones to attack Israeli soldiers, according to this unverified video below.
https://twitter.com/sa5rmiami/status/1710617336732913709
Palestinian militants allegedly seized military equipment and vehicles from an Israeli army base.
https://twitter.com/balochi5252/status/1710582979737592304
Tanks have been damaged, and Israeli tankers were captured during the attack.
https://twitter.com/Omar_Madaniah/status/1710604002222629021
Videos and images circulating online confirm the deaths of civilians. Furthermore, some videos show pickup trucks entering the Gaza Strip's territory, cheered on by the population as they transport individuals who appear to be dead, some of whom have been subject to beating and spitting.
Israel 'at War'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the state is at war in response to Hamas's attack.
"We are at war," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address, declaring a mass army mobilization. "Not an 'operation,' not a 'round,' but at war."
https://twitter.com/dwnews/status/1710616817654239436
The Israeli military operation has three goals, as stated by Netanyauh.
"Our first objective is to clear out the hostile forces that infiltrated our territory and restore security and quiet to the communities that have been attacked. The second objective, at the same time, is to exact an immense price from the enemy within the Gaza Strip as well. The third objective is reinforcing other fronts so that nobody should mistakenly join this war," he said.
https://twitter.com/netanyahu/status/1710631847879717236
Netanyahu's words were followed by a raid on the Gaza Strip under the operation code-named 'Operation Iron Swords.'
Israel's military responded to Hamas's attack by launching air strikes on Gaza.
https://twitter.com/WAFANewsEnglish/status/1710685483011879257
Dozens of Israeli Defense Forces fighter jets have stricken various targets belonging to the Hamas, according to Israeli officials.
In response to the Israeli airstrike, hundreds of residents in Gaza began fleeing their homes, particularly those near the border with Israel.
Men, women, and children were observed carrying blankets and food as they evacuated, with many heading to the northeastern part of the territory.
As reported by the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza, Israel's response to a large-scale Hamas attack on Israel has resulted in the deaths of at least 198 people and injuries to at least 1,610 individuals in the Gaza territory.
https://twitter.com/Roaastudies/status/1710573248696521092
International Reactions
Today's events prompted global reactions.
Tor Wennesland, the U.N. Middle East peace envoy, voiced concern, urging all parties to step back from the dangerous situation. Volker Tuerk, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, highlighted the impact on Israeli civilians and emphasized the protection of civilians during conflicts.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the Palestinian people's right to self-defense against what he called the "terror of settlers and occupation troops."
The White House condemned the attacks unequivocally and expressed support for Israel.
Iranian leaders congratulated the Palestinian fighters and expressed support for their cause.
While the European Union and its member states' leaders unequivocally condemn the attacks by Hamas, gulf countries, such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, urged maximum restraint and an immediate ceasefire to prevent further repercussions.
This story is still ongoing, and events may evolve rapidly.
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About me
My name is Dario Sabaghi, and I am a freelance journalist interested in international news focusing on the MENA region.
Check out my work at dariosabaghi.com.
You can follow me on Twitter: @DarioSabaghi
Errors and editing mistakes may occasionally occur. I appreciate your feedback and take all complaints seriously. Please contact me on Twitter to report any issues, and I will do my best to rectify them promptly.
Cover photo | Reuters - NBC News