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| Israel attack: PM says Israel at war after 70 killed in attack from Gaza | Israel attack: PM says Israel at war after 70 killed in attack from Gaza |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Watch: Rockets launched from Gaza streak across sky | Watch: Rockets launched from Gaza streak across sky |
| Watch: Rockets launched from Gaza streak across sky | Watch: Rockets launched from Gaza streak across sky |
| At least 70 people have been killed in Israel after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched its biggest attack in years. | At least 70 people have been killed in Israel after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched its biggest attack in years. |
| Militants crossed into Israel from Gaza under the cover of heavy rocket fire - and have since taken dozens of Israelis captive. | Militants crossed into Israel from Gaza under the cover of heavy rocket fire - and have since taken dozens of Israelis captive. |
| Some hostages - both soldiers and civilians - were taken back to Gaza. | Some hostages - both soldiers and civilians - were taken back to Gaza. |
| Israel has responded with a wave of air strikes on targets in Gaza killing 198 people, Palestinian officials say. | Israel has responded with a wave of air strikes on targets in Gaza killing 198 people, Palestinian officials say. |
| Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was "at war" and vowed that Hamas, the militant group that rules Gaza, will "pay a price it has never known". | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was "at war" and vowed that Hamas, the militant group that rules Gaza, will "pay a price it has never known". |
| "This morning Hamas launched a murderous surprise attack against the state of Israel and its citizens," he said in a video address. | "This morning Hamas launched a murderous surprise attack against the state of Israel and its citizens," he said in a video address. |
| LIVE updates: Israel launches major strikes in Gaza after surprise Palestinian attack | LIVE updates: Israel launches major strikes in Gaza after surprise Palestinian attack |
| 'I have literally never been this frightened' | 'I have literally never been this frightened' |
| How did Israeli intelligence fail to stop major attack? | How did Israeli intelligence fail to stop major attack? |
| This is one of the most serious escalations in the Israel-Palestinian conflict in years. | This is one of the most serious escalations in the Israel-Palestinian conflict in years. |
| The attack by Hamas saw fighters cross the perimeter fence at just after dawn. At the same time, barrages of rockets were launched from Gaza - some reaching as far as the cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. | The attack by Hamas saw fighters cross the perimeter fence at just after dawn. At the same time, barrages of rockets were launched from Gaza - some reaching as far as the cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. |
| How the gunmen managed to penetrate one of the most heavily fortified borders in the world is unclear. | How the gunmen managed to penetrate one of the most heavily fortified borders in the world is unclear. |
| The Israeli military has said that dozens of fighter jets are carrying out air strikes on Hamas sites in Gaza, and it has hit 17 Hamas military compounds. It also said it has mobilised tens of thousands of reservists. | The Israeli military has said that dozens of fighter jets are carrying out air strikes on Hamas sites in Gaza, and it has hit 17 Hamas military compounds. It also said it has mobilised tens of thousands of reservists. |
| The Palestinian health ministry says 198 people have been killed in Israeli strikes. and another 1,610 have been wounded. Medical aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres said a nurse and an ambulance driver were killed in Israeli strikes on two hospitals in Gaza. | The Palestinian health ministry says 198 people have been killed in Israeli strikes. and another 1,610 have been wounded. Medical aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres said a nurse and an ambulance driver were killed in Israeli strikes on two hospitals in Gaza. |
| The rocket barrages from Gaza - the biggest attack by Hamas on Israel in years - began just after dawn on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath and the day of the festival of Simchat Torah. | The rocket barrages from Gaza - the biggest attack by Hamas on Israel in years - began just after dawn on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath and the day of the festival of Simchat Torah. |
| As sirens sounded across Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that "terrorists" had infiltrated Israeli territory "in a number of different locations". | |
| People in towns close to Gaza have been calling in to Israeli news stations saying they were trapped in their homes, as militants entered their towns and villages. | People in towns close to Gaza have been calling in to Israeli news stations saying they were trapped in their homes, as militants entered their towns and villages. |
| In the town of Sderot, only 1.6km (1 mile) from Gaza, footage posted online appeared to show a group of heavily armed Palestinian militants dressed in black fatigues driving around in a pick-up truck. In one video, the same militants seemed to be exchanging fire with Israeli forces on the street. | In the town of Sderot, only 1.6km (1 mile) from Gaza, footage posted online appeared to show a group of heavily armed Palestinian militants dressed in black fatigues driving around in a pick-up truck. In one video, the same militants seemed to be exchanging fire with Israeli forces on the street. |
| Watch: Video appears to show Palestinian gunmen in Sderot | Watch: Video appears to show Palestinian gunmen in Sderot |
| Watch: Video appears to show Palestinian gunmen in Sderot | Watch: Video appears to show Palestinian gunmen in Sderot |
| The BBC understands that dozens of hostages, both military and civilian, have been taken by Hamas - an unprecedented development. | The BBC understands that dozens of hostages, both military and civilian, have been taken by Hamas - an unprecedented development. |
| Some are thought to be being held in some of the small towns near the Gaza Strip, while others have been taken back into Gaza. | |
| Hamas claimed it has captured 53 "prisoners of war" including senior officers from Israel's army. | |
| A spokesperson for the IDF confirmed that "soldiers and civilians" had been abducted, and some soldiers had been killed - but denied reports that a top general has been kidnapped. | |
| The IDF said they were fighting Hamas in 22 locations - and militants had also entered into Israel by sea, at Zikim on the coast just north of Gaza. | |
| Footage is also circulating of Palestinians driving Israeli military vehicles in Gaza. | |
| Watch: Video purportedly shows captured Israeli tank in Gaza | Watch: Video purportedly shows captured Israeli tank in Gaza |
| Watch: Video purportedly shows captured Israeli tank in Gaza | Watch: Video purportedly shows captured Israeli tank in Gaza |
| More than 900 Israelis have been wounded in the Hamas attacks, Israel's health ministry says. The MDA ambulance service says about 70 people are dead. | More than 900 Israelis have been wounded in the Hamas attacks, Israel's health ministry says. The MDA ambulance service says about 70 people are dead. |
| The rocket barrages continued throughout Saturday morning, with thousands of projectiles launched towards Israel. Hospitals in the southern city of Ashkelon and central city of Beer Sheva are treating casualties. | The rocket barrages continued throughout Saturday morning, with thousands of projectiles launched towards Israel. Hospitals in the southern city of Ashkelon and central city of Beer Sheva are treating casualties. |
| Residents say they do not remember a situation like this for a long time, while streets in Tel Aviv have been locked down and are empty. | Residents say they do not remember a situation like this for a long time, while streets in Tel Aviv have been locked down and are empty. |
| "Restaurants, cafes, everything is locked down and there is a heavy feeling of surprise, of shock and of fear from what is still expected to happen," English author and journalist Gideon Levy told the BBC. | "Restaurants, cafes, everything is locked down and there is a heavy feeling of surprise, of shock and of fear from what is still expected to happen," English author and journalist Gideon Levy told the BBC. |
| "When the first rockets fell, I was still jogging in the park, the noise was terrible." | "When the first rockets fell, I was still jogging in the park, the noise was terrible." |
| The leader of one regional council in southern Israel, Ofir Liebstein, was killed in an exchange of fire with militants when he went to defend his community. | The leader of one regional council in southern Israel, Ofir Liebstein, was killed in an exchange of fire with militants when he went to defend his community. |
| "Citizens of Israel, we are at war, not an operation, not an escalation, a war," Prime Minister Netanyahu said in a statement. "I convened the heads of the security establishment and ordered - first of all - to clear out the communities that have been infiltrated by terrorists. This currently is being carried out. | "Citizens of Israel, we are at war, not an operation, not an escalation, a war," Prime Minister Netanyahu said in a statement. "I convened the heads of the security establishment and ordered - first of all - to clear out the communities that have been infiltrated by terrorists. This currently is being carried out. |
| "At the same time, I have ordered an extensive mobilization of reserves and that we return fire of a magnitude that the enemy has not known." | "At the same time, I have ordered an extensive mobilization of reserves and that we return fire of a magnitude that the enemy has not known." |
| As part of Israel's retaliatory strikes on Gaza, warplanes destroyed an 11-story tower in downtown Gaza City which houses Hamas radio stations in the rooftop. | |
| Israeli military drive on a road in southern Israel, as rockets are launched from the Gaza Strip | Israeli military drive on a road in southern Israel, as rockets are launched from the Gaza Strip |
| A senior Hamas military commander announced the start of the operation in a broadcast on Hamas media, calling on Palestinians everywhere to fight. | A senior Hamas military commander announced the start of the operation in a broadcast on Hamas media, calling on Palestinians everywhere to fight. |
| "This is the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on Earth," Mohammed Deif said. | "This is the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on Earth," Mohammed Deif said. |
| Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas - a political rival of Hamas - supported the right of the Palestinian people to defend themselves against the "terror of settlers and occupation troops". | Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas - a political rival of Hamas - supported the right of the Palestinian people to defend themselves against the "terror of settlers and occupation troops". |
| A major investigation has been launched as to how Israeli intelligence failed to see the well-coordinated Hamas attack coming, Israeli government officials have told the BBC. | A major investigation has been launched as to how Israeli intelligence failed to see the well-coordinated Hamas attack coming, Israeli government officials have told the BBC. |
| There has been strong international condemnation to the Hamas attacks, with UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly saying the UK "unequivocally condemns the horrific attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians" and "the UK will always support Israel's right to defend itself". | There has been strong international condemnation to the Hamas attacks, with UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly saying the UK "unequivocally condemns the horrific attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians" and "the UK will always support Israel's right to defend itself". |
| Nato condemned the "terrorist attacks" by Hamas against Israel, while the UN secretary general said he was "appalled by reports that civilians have been attacked and abducted from their own homes". | |
| European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described it as "terrorism in its most despicable form" - while the US said it "unequivocally condemns the unprovoked attacks" and "there is never any justification for terrorism". | |
| Iran has backed the Palestinian attack, saying it congratulated the fighters, while Qatar's foreign ministry said Israel alone was responsible for the ongoing escalation of violence. | Iran has backed the Palestinian attack, saying it congratulated the fighters, while Qatar's foreign ministry said Israel alone was responsible for the ongoing escalation of violence. |
| Additional reporting by Francesca Gillett. | |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Israel | Israel |
| Gaza | Gaza |