Alok’s father films the interruption of the party after the Hamas attack in Israel
At least 260 bodies were found after Hamas attacked a rave in Israel, The Times of Israel newspaper reported this Sunday (8).
The video showed smoke in the sky and people moving at the electronic music event. “I’m still in shock! And the bombs don’t stop exploding…” Juarez wrote on a social network.
This Sunday, Alok posted on Instagram: “My father was hired to perform at an event that licensed the rights to use the festival’s name, as has happened in several other countries.” […] He is safely in a bunker awaiting orders to return to Brazil.”
Interviewees said there were jeeps with gunmen shooting at people trying to escape on foot or by car. One woman told Portal she had to pretend to be dead until Israeli army rescuers arrived.
A rescuer told public broadcaster Kan News that the rave was the target of a “massacre.” According to him, around 3,000 people were present at the event.
The dispute began after Hamas, an armed extremist group and one of the largest Islamic organizations in the Palestinian territories, carried out a surprise attack on Israeli territory this Saturday. 5,000 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip.
Hamas gunmen entered Israeli territory in the southern region of the country by land, air and sea. International agencies reported that they shot people who were on the streets in the region. There were also reports of dozens of Israelis being taken hostage from Gaza, including women and children.
This was considered one of the largest attacks Israel has suffered in recent years (see details later in this report). Faced with the Hamas offensive, the Israeli government began retaliatory measures.
“We are at war and we will win,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Our enemy will pay a price he has never known.” Also on Saturday, Israel launched bombing raids on the Gaza Strip. According to the Israeli Defense Forces, the targets were locations linked to Hamas, which controls the region.
The conflict between Israel and Palestine has been going on for decades. In its modern form, it dates back to 1947, when the United Nations (UN) proposed the creation of two states, one Jewish and one Arab, in Palestine under a British mandate.
The following year Israel was recognized as a state. Since then, there have been disputes over the territory and several agreements have attempted to establish peace in the region, but without success.
1 of 3 rockets are fired from the Gaza Strip, Sunday, October 8, 2023 Photo: AP Photo/Fatima Shbair Rockets are fired from the Gaza Strip, Sunday, October 8, 2023 Photo: AP Photo/Fatima Shbair 2 of 3 infographic explained the beginning of the conflict in Israel Photo: Arte/g1 Infographic explains the beginning of the conflict in Israel Photo: Arte/g1
What has happened so far
On Saturday, Hamas leaders announced they were launching a major operation to retake territory. A senior commander in the group even said that more than 5,000 rockets had been fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel.
Sirens were heard in several parts of Israel, including in major cities such as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The attacks hit buildings and vehicles and caused damage in several regions of the country.
After the offensive, the Israeli prime minister called an emergency meeting and launched Operation Iron Swords, promising a response to Hamas. The Israeli government urged citizens to follow safety instructions. It is recommended to stay near protected spaces.
Israel also received support from authorities in the United States and the European Union. President Joe Biden said Americans are ready to offer “all appropriate means of assistance.”
3 of 3 Palestinians take control of an Israeli tank after crossing the Israeli border into Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023. — Photo: Said Khatib/AFP Palestinians take control of an Israeli tank after crossing the Israeli border into Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, on October 7, 2023. — Photo: Said Khatib/AFP
Hamas is the largest of several Islamic militant groups in Palestine. The group is designated as terrorist by Israel, the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom, as well as other world powers.
The Arabic name is an acronym for “Islamic Resistance Movement,” which emerged in 1987 after the start of the first Palestinian intifada against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
At its founding, the Hamas charter defined historic Palestine, including what is now Israel’s territory, as an Islamic country and precluded any permanent peace with the Jewish state. The document also attacks Jews as a people, reinforcing accusations that the group is antiSemitic.
The map shows where Hamas attacks took place in Israel