GAZA STRIP – The Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas has launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on Saturday, with its fighters entering communities in southern Israel near the Gaza Strip, killing residents and taking hostages.
Israel’s military retaliated with airstrikes in Gaza.
On Sunday, Israel’s military said there are still eight “points of engagement” with Hamas militants inside its territory, although it claims to have regained control of 22 locations in the country’s south.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the country is going into a “long and difficult war”, which he said had been “forced on us by a murderous attack by Hamas.”
In launching retaliatory strikes against targets in the Gaza Strip, Israel has advised people there to take shelter. The air strikes have killed more than 250 people, Palestinian officials said.
At least 250 Israelis have reportedly been killed, too, and dozens – perhaps as many as 100, according to the Israeli Embassy in the US – have been kidnapped, following Hamas’ ground, air and sea offensive.
Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has also become involved in the fighting, saying it was behind strikes on Mount Dov, a tract of land claimed by Israel, Lebanon and Syria.
Israel has responded by firing into Lebanon. (BBC)
