Key Takeaways
- Netanyahu declared Israel is in a state of war after a surprise Hamas assault.
- More than 1,000 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory.
- The IDF launched a counterterrorist operation and mobilized reserve forces.
Tel Aviv: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that Israel is in fact in a state of war, and not in the format of a military operation since the morning attack by militants from the Gaza Strip.
“Citizens of Israel! We are at war. This is not an operation … but a war. This morning, Hamas launched a deadly surprise attack on Israel and its citizens. In the morning, I convened the heads of law enforcement agencies and instructed them to clear populated areas from terrorists who had infiltrated [Israel]. This operation is carried out during these hours. At the same time, I ordered a widespread mobilization of the reserves. The enemy will pay a price it has never known,” Netanyahu said in an address to the nation.
On Saturday morning, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said militants infiltrated Israel and fired more than 1,000 rockets from Gaza into its territory. Following the incident, the IDF declared a “counterterrorist” operation against Hamas. The military wing of the Hamas movement, the Al-Qassam Brigades, in turn, announced an operation against Israel. The number of people injured in Israel reportedly exceeded 200, while several people were killed.
