Israel’s Defence Minister Orders “Complete Siege” on Gaza Strip After Hamas Attack Dubbed “Israel’s 9/11”
Israel has initiated a “complete siege” on the Gaza Strip following an unprecedented incursion into Israel by Hamas fighters. The attack has been likened to “Israel’s 9/11” by the country’s United Nations ambassador. To retaliate against Hamas for Saturday’s surprise attack, Israel’s security cabinet has formally declared a state of war and authorized “significant military steps.” The death toll has risen to over 1,100 people, with thousands wounded on both sides.
Israel’s military is currently conducting operations in the country’s south to locate Hamas fighters and secure breaches in the border fence. Meanwhile, Gaza is being bombarded from the air. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has announced that electricity and the entry of food and fuel into Gaza will be cut off.
While the Israeli military has regained control of border communities captured by Hamas fighters, Palestinian militants continue to launch rockets, triggering air raid sirens in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Israel and Egypt have implemented blockades on Gaza since 2007, seeking to remove Hamas from power in the region.
The situation has caused a wave of concern around the world, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warning of the potential for a larger Middle East conflict, and the United States shifting military assets into the eastern Mediterranean as a “deterrence posture.”
A former deputy national security advisor for Israel, Chuck Freilich, has referred to the Hamas attack as an “earthquake” and a “battle for national survival.” He describes it as one of the worst developments in Israel’s history, noting that this is the first time since the War of Independence in 1948 that Israeli territory has been occupied. Questions have also been raised regarding a potential intelligence failure, as it remains unclear how the attack went undetected.
As the situation continues to unfold, various individuals and organizations, including former federal justice minister Irwin Cotler and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, have reported that Canadians may be among those abducted or missing in Israel.
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