Hamas militants fired thousands of rockets and sent scores of soldiers into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip in an unprecedented attack during a major Jewish holiday, killing hundreds and stunning the country. .PBS News reported Saturday the Israeli government said it was now at war with Hamas and launched airstrikes in Gaza, vowing to set a new precedent. .Hamas soldiers are fighting gun battles inside several Israeli communities near Gaza several hours after the attack began. Israel’s national rescue service said at least 250 people have been killed and hundreds wounded, making it the deadliest attack in years. .An unknown number of Israeli soldiers and civilians have been captured and taken into Gaza. .The Palestinian Health Authority said at least 198 people in Gaza have been killed and 1,610 wounded in Israel’s retaliation. .The strength, sophistication, and timing of the attack shocked Israelis, with images of Hamas soldiers bringing seized people into Gaza on motorcycles and parading around what appeared to be captured military vehicles through the streets. Videos on social media showed what appeared to be at least one dead soldier within Gaza being dragged and trampled by a crowd of Palestinians shouting “God is greatest.” .The attack threatened to bring about greater conflict, mirroring previous Hamas-Israel conflicts that led to widespread death and destruction and days of rocket fire on Israeli communities. .Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted in a televised address Israel is at war. .“Not an operation, not a round, but at war,” said Netanyahu. .“The enemy will pay an unprecedented price.”.Netanyahu said Israel would “return fire of a magnitude that the enemy has not known.”.Hamas military wing leader Mohammed Deif said the attack was because of the continued blockade in Gaza, Israeli raids inside West Bank cities over the past year, violence at Al-Aqsa Mosque, increasing attacks by settlers on Palestinians, and continued growth of settlements. Deif added it was the start of what he called Operation Al-Aqsa Storm. .“Enough is enough,” said Deif. .“Today the people are regaining their revolution.”.Netanyahu said at a meeting of top security officials the main priorities were to cleanse the area of enemies, make them suffer serious consequences, and fortify other areas so that the war would not worsen. .The serious incursion on Simchat Torah revived painful memories of the 1973 Mideast War 50 years to the day, where Israel’s enemies launched a surprise attack on Yom Kippur. .Comparisons to one of the most devastating moments in Israeli history sharpened criticism of Netanyahu and his allies, who had campaigned on more aggressive action against threats from Gaza. Political commentators chastised the government over its failure to anticipate what appeared to be a Hamas attack unseen in its level of planning and organization. .The Israeli military struck targets in Gaza over 2,500 rockets that sent air raid sirens wailing as far north as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem — some 80 kilometres away. It said Israeli forces were engaged in gunfights with militants who had infiltrated it in at least seven locations. .These militants had snuck across the separation fence and invaded Israel through the air with paragliders. .Israeli television broadcast footage of explosions tearing through the fence and followed with Palestinian militants riding in on motorcycles. Some might have entered on pickup trucks. .Videos released by Hamas appeared to show at least three Israelis captured alive. The Israeli military declined to give details about deaths or abductions as it continued to battle the infilitrators. .At least 561 people have been treated in Israeli hospitals, including at least 77 who were in critical condition. .The Hamas attack would likely have required months of planning. It comes at a time of heightened tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. .Israel was set on fire in 2021, yet some journalists in Canadian media poured gas on the flames by reporting vitriolic mistruths about the conflict. .READ MORE: SLOBODIAN: Beware the MSM lies on Israeli-Palestine conflict.Careless reports demonized the Israelis rushing to bomb shelters when Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad teamed up to start firing rockets into Israel. .On average, 400 to 500 rockets per day rained down on Israel, with 90% intercepted by the Iron Dome air defence system. Twelve Israelis were killed and 330 injured.
