New decision by Netanyahu. He ratified a special clause
Authorities in Israel have approved a state of war. In response to the Hamas attack, the government has decided to "take significant military actions".
On Saturday evening, the Israeli Security Cabinet made the decision to activate Art. 40 of the Basic Law, which means the official start of war- this was conveyed in a statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.
Hamas Attack. Conflict in the Middle East
The Hamas attack on Israel began on Saturday around 12:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
The fighters used explosives to break through the border fence surrounding the Palestinian enclave, and then crossed the coast on motorcycles, pickup trucks, paragliders, and motorboats.
Armed Hamas militants stormed into 22 places in Israel, including cities and kibbutzim located 15 miles from the border. In some places, they drove around in pick-ups for hours, shooting at civilians and soldiers, while the Israeli army gathered forces to launch a counterattack.
The Palestinian armed group, Islamic Jihad, has joined Hamas. They have reported the capture of several Israeli soldiers as hostages.
The leader of Hamas's armed wing, Mohammed Deif, stated that the attack was a response to the 16-year blockade of the Gaza Strip, Israeli air strikes on West Bank cities in 2022, the expansion of settlements in Palestinian territories, and violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
During the night, Israeli retaliatory air raids on the Gaza Strip intensified. As a result of the explosions, several residential buildings were leveled to the ground, including a 14-story tower in the center of Gaza, in which there were dozens of apartments in addition to the Hamas office.
Shortly after, Hamas rocket fire hit four cities in central Israel, including Tel Aviv, where two people were seriously injured.
Associated Press assesses that "the strength, sophistication, and time of Saturday morning's attack shocked Israelis".
The Israeli government has undertaken a "series of operational decisions aimed at destroying the military and governmental potential of Hamas and Palestinian Islamists", including halting the supply of electricity, fuel and goods to the Gaza Strip.
Hamas attacked. Did Israel's intelligence fail?
Political commentators in Israel harshly criticize the government, military, and intelligence for not anticipating the biggest attack on Israel in 50 years.
When asked by reporters how Hamas managed to surprise the army, the spokesperson of the Israeli army, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht, replied: "That's a good question".
U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the "horrifying attack by Hamas terrorists from the Gaza Strip on Israel". As stated in a White House statement, he spoke with Netanyahu and said that Israel "has the right to defend itself and its people".
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas - originating from the Fatah party, rival to Hamas - declared after Hamas initiated an attack on Israel, that Palestinians have the right to defend themselves against the "terror of settlers and occupying forces".
Source: WP/Twitter/PAP
