After the major attack by radical Islamist Hamas, Israel is preparing for “a long and difficult war”. There will be “no breathing room” until Israel wins, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday. The state of war now declared allows for “long-range military measures”. Tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers are fighting internally against Palestinian militants who are still hiding in several locations.
“We are beginning a long and difficult war, forced on us by a murderous attack by Hamas,” Netanyahu said. After Saturday morning’s major attack, which apparently surprised Israel and its secret services, the army launched the “Iron Swords” offensive. Army units were concentrated around the Gaza Strip. Many observers expect an invasion soon.
More targets attacked in the Gaza Strip
Israel’s air force attacked other targets in the Gaza Strip on Saturday night, following major attacks by Palestinian militants. O Islamic Hamas I had Israel yesterday morning surprised by massive rocket attacks. Hamas also continued bombings on Sunday night. According to the military, northern Israel shot from Lebanon he was. The Israeli army then shelled Lebanese territory, the military said. The person responsible for this is Shiite Hezbollah, whose militia has been massively expanding positions in southern Lebanon for years. Hezbollah is armed by Iran.
Netanyahu announced a harsh reaction. “We will turn all the places where Hamas is organized and hides into islands of rubble,” Netanyahu said. In the morning, hours after a security cabinet meeting, his office said that Israel had to prepare for a “long and difficult war” to define. The aim is to destroy the military and governmental capabilities of Islamic Hamas and Islamic Jihad “so that they will no longer be able and willing to threaten and attack the citizens of Israel for many years to come.” Imports of electricity, fuel and goods into the Gaza Strip have been halted.
Netanyahu urged residents of the Gaza Strip: “Escape from there now, because we will act everywhere and with all our strength.” Israel will take revenge. “This war will take time,” said the Israeli prime minister. “There are still challenging days ahead.”
Hundreds dead on both sides
Until now came to Israel According to the media, at least 700 people died and around 2,000 were injured. According to Palestinian authorities, at least 422 people died and around 2,300 were injured.
Lebanon attacks
Apparently, the Lebanese people are behind the bombings of Lebanon Hezbollah militia. He announced on Sunday that he attacked the Israeli-occupied area of Sheeba Farms, on the border with Lebanon, with rockets and artillery, and expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people. On Saturday, Hezbollah said it was in contact with Palestinian leaders.
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Israeli tanks take up positions in northern Israel on Sunday.
© Image: APA/AFP/JALAA MAREY
Israel has claimed Sheeba Farms, a 15-square-kilometer area on the border with Lebanon, since 1967. Syria and Lebanon consider the area to be Lebanese. The Hezbollah militia in Lebanon maintains good relations with the Palestinian militant Hamas. Pro-Iranian Hezbollah congratulated Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, on Saturday for its major attack. Both Hamas and Hezbollah deny Israel’s right to exist.
Impressions of Israel and the Gaza Strip
Israel is evacuating cities in the border area with the Gaza Strip
The Israeli army is evacuating Israeli cities in the border area due to the war with Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, and other extremist organizations. Thousands of people were expected to be moved to other locations in Israel, Israeli army spokesman Richard Hecht said on Sunday. The army has declared the area around the coastal strip as a restricted area.
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Attackers still in the country
There are still eight spots in the south of the country where possible attackers are being searched, Hecht said. The Gaza Strip barrier has been breached in 29 locations and is now fully under control. Potential new attackers are attacked at these points from the air.
Aerial view of burning cars in Ashkelon, Israel
© Image: Portal/ILAN ROSENBERG
Kidnapped civilians and soldiers
Backed by a hail of thousands of rockets, Hamas fighters from the blockaded Gaza Strip entered nearby Israeli towns on Saturday. They killed several people and kidnapped an unknown number of soldiers and civilians, including, according to media reports, children, to the Gaza Strip. The Israeli embassy in the United States said in a social media post that 100 Israeli civilians and soldiers were believed to have been kidnapped.
Support from Iran?
Several Israeli cities, including the coastal metropolis Tel Aviv, have been targeted by heavy rocket attacks. Meanwhile, Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad told the BBC that the group received direct support from Iran for the attack. Iran pledged to “support Palestinian fighters until the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem”. Hamas is classified as a terrorist organization by the EU, US and Israel.
Talks about forming an emergency government
Meanwhile, in Israel, at night, there was talk about forming an emergency government. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has offered two opposition leaders, Jair Lapid and Benny Gantz, to join an emergency government, a spokesman for Netanyahu’s Likud party said. Lapid had already signaled his willingness to do so. However, according to media reports, a meeting between Lapid and Gantz would have failed to reach an agreement.