Israeli soldiers engaged in a fierce battle with Hamas fighters on the streets of southern Israel, while also launching retaliatory strikes that resulted in the destruction of buildings in Gaza. Simultaneously, a brief exchange of strikes with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group raised concerns about a wider conflict. The surprise attack from Gaza, in which Hamas militants broke through Israel’s security barrier and rampaged through nearby communities, left more than 600 people dead in Israel and over 300 dead in Gaza. The militants also took hostages, including women, children, and the elderly, possibly as bargaining chips for the release of Palestinian prisoners. The shocking death toll, the capture of hostages, and the slow response from Israel highlighted a significant intelligence failure and shattered the perception that Israel had full control over the territory it occupies. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country was at war and promised to exact a heavy price from its enemies, while Hamas leaders expressed readiness for further escalation. The situation raised questions about the possibility of a ground assault into Gaza, which has historically led to a higher number of casualties. However, Netanyahu acknowledged that this war would be challenging and time-consuming. The violence had a devastating impact on both sides, with numerous civilian casualties and injuries. The uncertainty surrounding the fate of captive or missing Israelis caused distress among their relatives, while residents in Gaza fled their homes to avoid Israeli airstrikes. The violence extended beyond Israel’s borders, with a shooting incident in Egypt targeting Israeli tourists and an exchange of rockets and shells between Hezbollah and Israeli positions along the northern border. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari stated that while the situation at the northern border had calmed, fighting and hostage situations were ongoing in the south. The Israeli military aimed to evacuate civilians from every community near the Gaza frontier and eliminate every terrorist within Israeli territory. Meanwhile, Hamas claimed to have sent forces and equipment into multiple locations within Israel, but no reports of senior members being captured, killed, or injured were confirmed. The surprise attack by Hamas was the deadliest Israel had experienced in decades. Using a variety of means, including explosives, motorcycles, pickup trucks, paragliders, and speed boats, Hamas militants breached the Gaza border fence and launched rockets at Israeli cities. Israel retaliated by striking 426 targets in Gaza and causing substantial destruction, including the collapse of residential buildings. The death toll in Gaza reached 313, with 20 children among the fatalities, and close to 2,000 people wounded. Tens of thousands of Palestinians sought refuge in UN schools further inside Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed to destroy Hamas’ capabilities, calling on Gaza residents to leave. As a result, Israel cut off electricity and essential supplies to Gaza, plunging the population into darkness. Hamas declared that it was prepared for a long battle, and there were reports of a substantial number of Israelis being abducted during the attack. Israel sought assistance from Egypt to ensure the safety of the hostages, and Egypt’s intelligence chief contacted Hamas and the more radical Islamic Jihad group.
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