Shock continues to dominate the situation in Israel following the surprise attack launched by Palestinian factions early Saturday morning by land, sea, and air, utilizing over 5,000 rockets and an unprecedented tactic involving paragliders raining down on settlements. According to Israeli media, there are hundreds of wounded and dozens dead, along with around 35 captives, amid a complete absence of the Iron Dome and Israelis being asleep on Yom Kippur, which is a public holiday.
In the latest video of the ongoing clashes in southern towns, Al-Qassam Brigades released footage showing the vehicle used by its members to penetrate deep into Sderot and other towns. For the first time, Palestinian resistance has used paragliders to carry out this operation inside occupied Palestinian territory.
Videos circulating on social media depict violent clashes in the Sderot settlement north of the Gaza Strip, including scenes of Palestinians burning an Israeli tank near the border fence.
Israeli Channel 12 reported from the Israeli ambulance service that "at least 22 Israelis have been killed in the surprise attack launched by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) today." Israeli media stated that "there are currently seven points of conflict in the Gaza envelope, including Nahal Oz, Kfar Aza, Magen, Sufa, and Be'eri."
Israeli medical services reported at least 22 fatalities since morning.
A high-ranking Israeli officer, Nimrod Aloni, former Commanding Officer of the Gaza Division, has been captured by Hamas.
With the sound of alarms in southern and central Israel as well as Jerusalem, the Israeli army declared a state of war, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for an emergency meeting of security officials.
This attack marks an unprecedented incursion by Hamas militants into Israel from Gaza and is considered the most serious escalation since the ten-day war between Israel and Hamas in 2021. Israeli media reported gun battles between groups of Palestinian fighters and security forces in towns in southern Israel.
In Gaza, people rushed to buy supplies in anticipation of a conflict that may last for days. The commander of Al-Qassam Brigades, Mohammed Deif, announced the start of the operation in a broadcast through Hamas-affiliated media, calling on Palestinians everywhere to fight. He stated, "Today is the day of the great battle to end the last occupation on Earth," referring to the firing of five thousand rockets.
The army stated, "A number of terrorists infiltrated Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip," adding that residents of the area surrounding Gaza were advised to stay home.
Reports emerged of Israeli civilians being taken hostage, and Palestinian media indicated that fighters had captured several Israelis, posting footage that appeared to show a damaged Israeli tank.
A group representing reservists, who had declared their intention to refuse military training due to objections to judicial reforms, called on reservists to report for duty. The Islamic Jihad movement in Palestine stated that its fighters joined Hamas in the attack.
The attack came a day after Israel marked the 50th anniversary of the 1973 war, which brought the country to the brink of catastrophic defeat following the surprise assault by Syria and Egypt.
Prime Minister Netanyahu declared on Saturday that Israel is at war and not engaged in a military operation, pledging a response of unprecedented strength against Israel's enemies. He stated, "This morning, early, Hamas attacked Israel, and I directed that Israeli communities be cleared of aggressors." He added, "I ordered the recruitment of reserves, and we will respond with strength that Israel's enemies have never known before," calling on citizens to comply with instructions and expressing confidence in victory in this war.
Abu Ubaida, spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, urged people to mobilize at various axes to disturb the enemy, stating, "Create fear with your own hands so that the enemy collapses and pays the price for humiliation at checkpoints."
According to Israeli Channel 12, Hamas effectively controls settlements in the Gaza Strip. The Al-Qassam Brigades declared today that they controlled military positions of the Israeli army near the Gaza Strip borders.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas chaired an emergency leadership meeting that included civil and security officials. He emphasized the need to provide protection for the Palestinian people and asserted Palestinians' right to defend themselves against settler and occupying forces' terrorism, directing the provision of necessary support to bolster the resilience of the people in the face of crimes committed by the Israeli occupation and settler gangs.
Abbas will also head a meeting of the Palestinian leadership.
Social media circulated scenes showing members of Palestinian factions capturing Israeli prisoners from settlements and transporting them into the Gaza Strip on motorcycles. New footage from the streets of Gaza after seizing an Israeli military jeep showed hundreds of Palestinians accompanying it throughout the territory, amidst exuberant chants and overwhelming joy over the spoils of battle, which remain ongoing. Videos also displayed scenes of five Israeli soldiers being captured by Palestinian factions and paraded through the streets of Gaza surrounded by Palestinian youth gathered around the bus transporting them.
