Israel declared a 'state of war' and launched air strikes on Gaza strip after a surprise rocket attack by Palestine's Hamas militants on October 7 (BT)
On the morning of October 7, horrifying footage started circulating on social media showing unidentified individuals dressed in black assaulting civilians on the streets of Israel. It was later confirmed to be an attack orchestrated by the Islamic militant organisation, Hamas. The videos depicted heinous acts including stripping of women, parading them naked, getting killed on streets and stuffed in vehicles and more.
Prior to this incident, Hamas militants from Palestine initiated rocket attacks on Israel. Subsequently, in light of these distressing events, Israel declared a ‘state of war’ and launched air strikes on the Gaza Strip, following an unexpected rocket attack by Hamas militants. The group asserted that this was merely their “initial strike”. According to the Times of Israel, six individuals, including a mayor, have lost their lives, and over 300 have sustained injuries.
In the aftermath, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the nation is now officially in a state of war. He said, “We are at war and we will win it”.
“We are at war, not an operation. Hamas has launched a murderous surprise attack against the State of Israel and its citizens. I ordered first of all to cleanse the settlements of the terrorists who had infiltrated and ordered a large-scale mobilisation of reserves. The enemy will pay a price they have never known,” he said.
Notably, amidst the war-like situation, the Indian embassy has issued an advisory for Indian citizens.
The officials asked Indians in Israel to remain vigilant and to observe safety protocols.
“In view of the current situation in Israel, all Indian nationals in Israel are requested to remain vigilant, and observe sfety protocols as advised by local authorities. Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary movement and stay close to safety shelters. For additional information, please see the Israeli Home Front Command website (https://www.oref.org.il/en) or their preparedness brochure. In case of emergency, please contact us at +97235226748, or leave a message at cons1.telaviva@mea.gov.in. The Embassy personnel remain at your disposal for any further guidance,” the government said in its statement.
The recent escalation in conflict comes after months of escalating violence in the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, particularly with increased casualties in the occupied West Bank. Since 2007, Israel has maintained a blockade over Gaza, a territory controlled by Hamas, an Islamic militant group opposed to Israel. This period has seen four separate wars between these bitter adversaries.
In response to the situation, Israel has advised its citizens to stay indoors and launched a counteroffensive named ‘Operation Iron Swords’ against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which the group governs. The Israeli Air Force has initiated an attack involving numerous fighter jets, targeting the Palestinian militant faction Hamas in various locations within the Gaza Strip.
An Israeli army spokesperson informed the media, “This was a coordinated ground assault involving paragliders, sea operations, and ground forces. Currently, we are engaged in combat. Our forces are presently engaging on the ground in specific locations around the Gaza Strip.”
According to reports from Israeli media, Hamas fighters infiltrated Israel either by land using captured Israeli military vehicles or by air with the aid of parachutes. Combat was reported in several areas of southern Israel.
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