#IsraelAttacked : Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Says We Are At War ; After Unprecedented Hamas Attack; 100 Israeli Killed, 900 Injured ; 200 Palestinians Killed In Retaliation

Picture : ANI/ X

A surprise attack by Hamas militants from Gaza at daybreak prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare “war” and asserted that his country would extract an “unprecedented price” from its enemy.

He further stated / assured  countrymen saying  “The enemy will receive a response they have never known before,” he further added.

“We are at war, not in an operation or in rounds, but at war. This morning, Hamas launched a murderous surprise attack against the State of Israel and its citizens. We have been in this since the early morning hours,” Netanyahu told his countrymen in a televised address.

Israel launched Operation Iron Swords to retaliate against the surprise attack launched by Hamas on Saturday. Israeli news outlets Haaretz and Times of Israel citing Israel defence minister Yoav Gallant said that Israel has launched the operation to eliminate and drive out Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah terrorists who have laid siege in Ashkelon and other southern Israeli cities that border the Gaza Strip.

Local media reports said that some 200 Israelis have been injured and several killed in the attacks since the morning, with some reports saying that as per Israel police estimates some 60 infiltrators have been located across 14 different locations.

Unconfirmed reports of people being taken hostages and also kidnapping of soldiers have been doing the rounds, but they remain unverified.

“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. The enemy will pay an unprecedented price,” Netanyahu warned as the Israeli army called for mobilisation of reservists.

“In the meantime, I call on the citizens of Israel to strictly adhere to the directives of the IDF and Home Front Command. We are at war, and we will win it,” Netanyahu asserted.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry said at least 100 Israelis murdered and more than 900 wounded in terror attacks by Hamas terrorists, making the operation the deadliest in Israeli territory in years.

“The fighting in southern Israel is still ongoing. Our security forces are securing areas which are under attack by Hamas terrorists who infiltrated Israeli communities and who have taken civilians captive,” the Foreign Ministry said on X, formerly known as Twitter.