Tel Aviv.- The Israeli Security Cabinet today announced the official declaration of a “state of war,” marking the launch of a major military operation against the Gaza Strip and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).
The news portal Walla He stressed that the decision to invoke the so-called Article 40 Aleph was made last night, although it was already reported this Sunday, for the first time since 1973, when the Yom Kippur War broke out in Arab countries is known as the October War.
Both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had declared the day before that the country was at war, but there was no legal confirmation.
The decision was endorsed after the operation by Hamas, whose armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, fired thousands of rockets into the country and then launched a ground offensive that caught the IDF and security agencies by surprise.
The movement explained that the campaign was in response to the systematic incursions of settlers into the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and the ongoing attacks on the Palestinian people.
After more than 24 hours of fighting, there are still areas in this country controlled by Palestinian militiamen, who have also captured dozens of Israelis, both civilians and military.
The Israeli Ministry of Health reported more than 600 dead and about two thousand wounded; Of these, the army admitted 44 deaths and the police 16.
Following the attack, Israel launched an air offensive against the coastal enclave, targeting buildings and mosques, resulting in thousands of displaced people and significant property damage.
Gaza health authorities reported that 313 people died there and more than 1,788 were injured, although the number is much higher as Israel reported killing more than “400 terrorists,” as it describes the militants.
The IDF announced a few hours ago a broad mobilization that appears to represent an impending large-scale offensive against the coastal enclave.
“We are flooding the south with troops,” military spokesman Gen. Daniel Hagari said in a statement.
An Israeli security source said this Walla that “there are no direct or indirect messages to Hamas. There is no mediation (…) the IDF is currently at war. This is a war.”
In response, Al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Obaida challenged Israel in the morning, recalling that it has in its possession numerous prisoners from that country.
Threatening Gaza is a losing game, said the Palestinian militiaman, referring to the head of government’s statement.
“… Netanyahu, your soldiers fled like locusts from the hundreds of al-Qassam fighters, leaving everything behind,” Obaida said, referring to Hamas’ offensive yesterday.
“What happens to our people in Gaza will happen to them,” he warned, referring to the prisoners.
Saleh al-Aruri, Hamas leader, said the day before that the possible offensive against the enclave would be fought by Palestinian militias.