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| Israel and Hamas at war after surprise attacks from Gaza Strip | Israel and Hamas at war after surprise attacks from Gaza Strip |
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| Twenty-two Israelis confirmed dead so far and 545 injured, with death toll likely to rise, after aerial and ground attack | Twenty-two Israelis confirmed dead so far and 545 injured, with death toll likely to rise, after aerial and ground attack |
| Israel and Hamas are once again at war after the Palestinian militant group launched a large aerial and ground operation from the blockaded Gaza Strip, its biggest attack in years. | Israel and Hamas are once again at war after the Palestinian militant group launched a large aerial and ground operation from the blockaded Gaza Strip, its biggest attack in years. |
| Sirens sounded across Israel and as far north as the contested city of Jerusalem from about 7am on Saturday after volleys of what Hamas claimed were 5,000 rockets launched from the blockaded enclave. A ground infiltration by Hamas gunmen into Israeli towns and villages on the periphery – an unprecedented development in the 16 years since the Islamists took over the strip – is ongoing, with the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) saying seven villages and towns are under Hamas control. The Israeli army also put the number of projectiles at around 2,000. | |
| In response to the attacks, which appear to have caught the Israeli security services by surprise, Israel has declared a state of war. | In response to the attacks, which appear to have caught the Israeli security services by surprise, Israel has declared a state of war. |
| “Our enemy will pay a price the type of which it has never known,” Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said in a televised statement. “We are in a war and we will win it.” | “Our enemy will pay a price the type of which it has never known,” Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said in a televised statement. “We are in a war and we will win it.” |
| Unconfirmed initial reports and graphic pictures and video appeared to show that gunmen had opened fire in the border town of Sderot, killing several Israeli civilians and soldiers. One elderly woman was confirmed dead in a rocket attack, and another four people in Bedouin villages in Israel’s south killed by rocket fire. | Unconfirmed initial reports and graphic pictures and video appeared to show that gunmen had opened fire in the border town of Sderot, killing several Israeli civilians and soldiers. One elderly woman was confirmed dead in a rocket attack, and another four people in Bedouin villages in Israel’s south killed by rocket fire. |
| Twenty-two Israelis have been confirmed dead so far and 545 injured, with the death toll likely to rise. At least one person has been killed in Gaza in retaliatory Israeli airstrikes, and five Hamas militants killed inside Israel. | Twenty-two Israelis have been confirmed dead so far and 545 injured, with the death toll likely to rise. At least one person has been killed in Gaza in retaliatory Israeli airstrikes, and five Hamas militants killed inside Israel. |
| An unknown number of Israelis have been taken captive by fighters, with unverified social media footage showing elderly people and a young woman with her hands tied inside Gaza. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it was aware of the reports, but did not confirm details. | An unknown number of Israelis have been taken captive by fighters, with unverified social media footage showing elderly people and a young woman with her hands tied inside Gaza. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it was aware of the reports, but did not confirm details. |
| In a statement, Mohammed Deif, Hamas’s military commander in Gaza, announced the start of a new operation to free Jerusalem’s sensitive al-Aqsa mosque compound, which has had an increase in the number of Jewish visitors in the past few weeks owing to the Jewish high holidays. He said it this was only the first stage of Hamas’s renewed efforts against Israel. | In a statement, Mohammed Deif, Hamas’s military commander in Gaza, announced the start of a new operation to free Jerusalem’s sensitive al-Aqsa mosque compound, which has had an increase in the number of Jewish visitors in the past few weeks owing to the Jewish high holidays. He said it this was only the first stage of Hamas’s renewed efforts against Israel. |
| “We warned the enemy not to continue their aggression against the al-Aqsa mosque … The age of the enemy’s aggression without a response is over. I call on Palestinians everywhere in the West Bank and within the Green Line [Israeli territory] to launch an attack without restraint. Go to all the streets. I call on Muslims everywhere to launch an attack,” he said. | “We warned the enemy not to continue their aggression against the al-Aqsa mosque … The age of the enemy’s aggression without a response is over. I call on Palestinians everywhere in the West Bank and within the Green Line [Israeli territory] to launch an attack without restraint. Go to all the streets. I call on Muslims everywhere to launch an attack,” he said. |
| Islamic Jihad, another faction in Gaza, said in a statement on Telegram several hours later that they had joined the fighting. There are fears of a regional conflagration if the violence spreads to the occupied West Bank, which is on lockdown, to the northern front with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, or intra-communal violence on the streets of Israel, as seen in 2021. | Islamic Jihad, another faction in Gaza, said in a statement on Telegram several hours later that they had joined the fighting. There are fears of a regional conflagration if the violence spreads to the occupied West Bank, which is on lockdown, to the northern front with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, or intra-communal violence on the streets of Israel, as seen in 2021. |
| Both Hezbollah, and its backers in Iran itself, issued statements of support for Hamas’s operation. | Both Hezbollah, and its backers in Iran itself, issued statements of support for Hamas’s operation. |
| The military said in a statement: “A number of terrorists have infiltrated into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip,” adding that residents in the area surrounding the strip had been told to stay in their homes. | The military said in a statement: “A number of terrorists have infiltrated into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip,” adding that residents in the area surrounding the strip had been told to stay in their homes. |
| “The Israel Defence Forces will defend Israeli civilians and the Hamas terrorist organisation will pay heavy price for its actions,” it said. | “The Israel Defence Forces will defend Israeli civilians and the Hamas terrorist organisation will pay heavy price for its actions,” it said. |
| The office of Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said he would meet top security officials in the coming hours, and reservist soldiers had been mobilised. The Israeli military said its forces were operating inside Gaza but gave no details. | The office of Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said he would meet top security officials in the coming hours, and reservist soldiers had been mobilised. The Israeli military said its forces were operating inside Gaza but gave no details. |
| Saturday’s dramatic developments are the most serious flare-up in the volatile region since Israel and Hamas fought a 10-day battle in 2021, and so far appear to be on a more dangerous scale. | Saturday’s dramatic developments are the most serious flare-up in the volatile region since Israel and Hamas fought a 10-day battle in 2021, and so far appear to be on a more dangerous scale. |
| Shaike Shaked, 70, from Netiv Hahasara, said: “We are locked in the security room and don’t know what is happening outside. We can hear explosions … We are nervous and alert. It is clear that this will lead to a war in Gaza.” | Shaike Shaked, 70, from Netiv Hahasara, said: “We are locked in the security room and don’t know what is happening outside. We can hear explosions … We are nervous and alert. It is clear that this will lead to a war in Gaza.” |
| Since the Islamist group seized control of the strip – which is about 25 miles (41km) long and between 3.7 and 7.5 miles wide (6-12km) – in 2007, there have been four wars and several smaller conflagrations against the area’s rulers and its other active factions that have exacted a devastating toll on Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. | Since the Islamist group seized control of the strip – which is about 25 miles (41km) long and between 3.7 and 7.5 miles wide (6-12km) – in 2007, there have been four wars and several smaller conflagrations against the area’s rulers and its other active factions that have exacted a devastating toll on Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. |
| People in Gaza also have next to no freedom of movement, and healthcare, electricity, sanitation and other crucial infrastructure have all but collapsed since Israel imposed the blockade. | People in Gaza also have next to no freedom of movement, and healthcare, electricity, sanitation and other crucial infrastructure have all but collapsed since Israel imposed the blockade. |
| Inside the strip on Saturday morning, civilians reported significant movement of armed factions, as people braced for what is likely to be a major new escalation. | Inside the strip on Saturday morning, civilians reported significant movement of armed factions, as people braced for what is likely to be a major new escalation. |
| Mona Awda, a 31-year-old from Gaza City, said: “I was helping my children to go to school, all of a sudden explosions happened. My children were freaked out. I told them to stay at home and not go to school … We are surprised and worried about what’s next, wondering when and how long this will last.” | Mona Awda, a 31-year-old from Gaza City, said: “I was helping my children to go to school, all of a sudden explosions happened. My children were freaked out. I told them to stay at home and not go to school … We are surprised and worried about what’s next, wondering when and how long this will last.” |
| The violence follows the most deadly period in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank in 20 years, and widespread fears of a new intifada, or Palestinian uprising. | The violence follows the most deadly period in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank in 20 years, and widespread fears of a new intifada, or Palestinian uprising. |