Israel found itself in the midst of the deadliest attack it has faced in decades, prompting a formal declaration of war on Hamas. The death toll in this escalating conflict surged above 1,000 as Hamas launched a massive surprise assault from Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a shocked and grieving nation, preparing them for what he described as a "long and difficult" war. The conflict escalated dramatically when Hamas fired a barrage of rockets at Israel, followed by waves of fighters who targeted civilians and took over 100 hostages.
The situation has sharply heightened tensions in the Middle East, resulting in over 600 casualties on the Israeli side. This marks the highest loss of life for Israel since the 1973 Arab-Israeli war when it faced an attack from a coalition led by Egypt and Syria.
Jonathan Panikoff, director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative, remarked, "Israel was caught flat-footed by the unprecedented attack," drawing parallels to 9/11, leaving many Israelis struggling to comprehend the situation.
In Gaza, Israeli air strikes hit around 800 targets, leading to at least 413 reported deaths and thousands wounded across the war zone.
The United States pledged additional support for Israel in the face of this "unprecedented terrorist assault by Hamas." US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced rapid assistance to the Israel Defense Forces, including munitions. The USS Gerald R. Ford and accompanying warships were directed to the eastern Mediterranean, with the augmentation of fighter aircraft squadrons in the region.
The conflict has also drawn international attention, with reports of nationals from various countries being killed, abducted, or missing in the fighting.
As tens of thousands of Israeli forces were deployed to confront Hamas fighters in the south, gun battles raged on, and Israeli hostages were rescued while areas near Gaza were evacuated.
Military spokesman Daniel Hagari emphasized, "The enemy is still on the ground," as Israel reinforced its military presence near the Gaza Strip. Hagari pledged to eliminate terrorists from Israel.
The situation has led to dozens of airlines canceling flights to Tel Aviv. Israeli jets carried out intense airstrikes on Gaza targets shortly after the security cabinet's decision to put the country officially at war, allowing significant military activities.
While some countries have condemned the Palestinian attacks, others have called for de-escalation in the conflict, highlighting the urgent need for peace amid this devastating violence.
