2023-10-08 10:13:46
Clashes between Israel and the Islamist movement Hamas have already left more than 600 dead and thousands injured on both sides on Saturday, and continue this Sunday. Hamas attacked by surprise the day before, firing thousands of rockets from the Gaza Strip – Palestinian territory under Hamas control – and infiltrating hundreds of fighters into Israeli territory, where it also captured several civilians and soldiers.
“We are on the verge of a great victory,” said Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Describing Gaza as a “city of evil”, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for his part, vowed to use “all the power” of the army to avenge “a black day”. “What happened today is unprecedented in Israel,” he admitted during a televised speech.
What happened on Saturday?
Hostilities began at dawn on Saturday with a barrage of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip towards neighboring Israeli towns and as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The commander of the Al-Qassam brigades, Mohammad Deif, announced that he had launched an operation called “Al-Aqsa Flood” against Israel and had fired more than “5,000 rockets” to “put an end to all the crimes of the occupation “.
Taking advantage of the element of surprise, Hamas fighters aboard vehicles, boats and even motorized paragliders made use of the imposing security barrier erected by Israel around the Gaza Strip, attacking military positions or civilians in the street.
The Israeli army, for its part, counted more than 3,000 rocket attacks. It launched Operation “Steel Sabres” on Saturday morning and carried out airstrikes on the Palestinian enclave, destroying, among other things, the three buildings of more than ten floors of the “Palestine Tower”.
Doctors Without Borders said a strike hit a hospital in the enclave, causing several deaths. Several buildings were hit on both sides and collapsed.
A mosque destroyed in Israeli strikes in the southern Gaza Strip, October 8, 2023. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
Are the fights still going on this Sunday?
And the fighting continues this Sunday. During the night, Israeli army airstrikes continued on the Gaza Strip from where shooting continued into Israel. The fighting also continued on the ground.
The siege of the police station in the town of Sderot, bordering Gaza, where armed Hamas men were holed up ended on Sunday morning, the police announced in a press release. The police “neutralized ten armed terrorists who were in the police station”.
Fighter jets recently attacked a military infrastructure at the home of the head of the intelligence department of the terrorist organization Hamas.
At this time, the IDF continues its attacks throughout the Gaza Strip pic.twitter.com/GlxAdbcrsp
— Israel Defense Forces (@idfonline) October 8, 2023
The Israeli army also announced this Sunday morning that it had struck a Lebanese “Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure” in the border area using a drone. An attack came after Hezbollah said it had fired “a large number of shells and guided missiles” at the contested sector of Chebaa Farms, on the border of the two countries.
“The first phase is being completed (…) with the elimination of the vast majority of enemy forces which have infiltrated our territory”, said Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement before dawn about the Hamas offensive. However, he warned the Israelis this Sunday that they were “embarked in a long and difficult war”
Israelis taken hostage
In addition to the strikes, hostage-taking took place on Saturday, which angered the international community. The Ezzedine al-Qassam brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, claimed in a video to have “captured several enemy soldiers”. And the al-Quds Brigades, the military branch of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, also declared that they were detaining “many soldiers” from Israel. There are at least 150 according to the Israeli ambassador to France, who gave an assessment on France Info in the morning.
“The news of civilians being held hostage at home or in Gaza is appalling,” declared Josep Borrell Fontelles, high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs, Saturday. “This is contrary to international law. The hostages must be released immediately.” “All detained persons are protected by the Geneva Conventions, whether they fight or not,” recalls for its part the Red Cross. They “must be treated with humanity and dignity. »
Israelis searching for their untraceable loved ones are repeatedly questioned on Israeli radio and television. Some explain having seen them on videos of Hamas hostages in Gaza circulating on social networks. The media also listed this Sunday morning the names of Israelis killed on Saturday and identified, including children and adolescents.
Tears in my eyes.
A young Israeli from the south of the country live on TV, crying: “I saw a photo of my father kidnapped by Hamas, in Gaza. My mother doesn’t answer me. My grandmother doesn’t answer me. That Don’t stop shooting, come and save us.” #israel pic.twitter.com/R4TLTFwuht
— Julien Bahloul (@julienbahloul) October 7, 2023
How many victims?
The fighting, the deadliest in decades, left at least 300 dead and more than 1,590 injured on the Israeli side, according to the authorities. The army accused Hamas of having “massacred civilians” even in their homes. The latter counted 313 deaths in the Gaza Strip. These assessments remain provisional.
The conflict is causing significant disruption in the country. Roads have been blocked, many flights canceled at Tel Aviv airport and schools will remain closed on Sunday, the start of the week in Israel. Residents of areas where fighting is ongoing are urged to stay at home.
International condemnations
This outbreak of violence has been condemned by many governments around the world. US President Joe Biden assured Israel of his “unwavering support” on Saturday, Emmanuel Macron “condemned the attacks carried out from Gaza against Israel, its soldiers and its population. France stands in solidarity with Israel and the Israelis, committed to their security and their right to defend themselves. »
The United States and Israel held an “in-depth discussion” on Saturday about the Jewish state’s military aid needs, according to a senior White House official. The UN announced that it had convened an emergency meeting of the Security Council on the Middle East on Sunday evening.
Iran, for its part, applauded the offensive. “We support this proud operation,” announced Revolutionary Guards General Yahya Rahim-Safavi, quoted by the ISNA agency.
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