Hamas militants infiltrated Israel in a surprise attack on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of over 200 people and leaving more than 1,000 wounded, according to the Israeli army.
The army has accused Hamas of breaking into homes and massacring civilians during the assault that began at dawn.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the attack as a “black day” for Israel and vowed to retaliate with full force against the Palestinian militant group.
He announced that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) would use all available resources to destroy Hamas’s capabilities.
“We’ll strike them to the bitter end and avenge with force this black day they brought on Israel and its people,” Netanyahu stated.
The attack by Hamas involved sending hundreds of militants into Israel under the cover of a massive rocket barrage.
Gun battles continued throughout the night as Hamas launched thousands of rockets from Gaza and sent fighters to target Israeli soldiers and civilians.
This combined ground, air, and sea offensive marks a significant escalation in the long-standing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Netanyahu addressed the nation, declaring, “We are at war.” The IDF responded by launching strikes on targets in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the destruction of several residential tower blocks.
