“What happened today has never been seen in Israel. We will take mighty vengeance for this black day.”
Defence minister Yoav Gallant said the terror group had made a “grave mistake”, vowing that Israel would win the war.
Israeli confirmed civilians and soldiers are being held hostage in Gaza, but has not revealed how many.
It comes after shocking images showed young women and a grandmother with dementia being captured by gun-toting fanatics.
As many as 50 hostages were reportedly snatched, including civilians and soldiers.
It comes as…
- Hamas terrorists launched an all out attack on Israel from land, air and sea with 5,000 rockets fired
- 250 Israelis are confirmed dead, as 1,400 have been taken to hospital
- Palestinian authorities said 232 civilians died during Israel’s retaliatory air strikes this evening in the Gaza strip
- Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video address: “We are at war and we will win. Our enemy will pay a price, the type of which it has never known”.
- Reports emerged of kidnapped Israeli soldiers being being paraded on military vehicles
- Netanyahu mobilised the country’s army reserves following his declaration of war
- The Palestinian Islamic jihad joined forces with Hamas fighters in attacking Israel
Hamas launched the terrifying attack from land, air and sea in the early hours of Saturday, pummelling Israel citizens with over 5,000 rockets.
Israel’s high-tech security services were taken completely by surprise, and the $1bn Iron Dome missile defence system failed to stop the hail of rockets.
Experts called it an “embarrassing intelligence failure” as questions were asked how Hamas was able to build a huge arsenal despite a total blockade by Israel and its allies.
Chilling footage captured the moment paragliders, small boats and armed men in cars stormed into Israeli territory.
Video taken early this morning appeared to show Hamas militants stalking the streets of southern Israel with machine guns.
Other reports describe bodies of Israeli civilians lying in the street in pools of blood.
Militants were also filmed storming the Israeli border, tearing down barriers with motorcycles and tractors and taking control of military vehicles.
Israel declared “war” and launched a revenge operation dubbed Iron Swords, which included calling up reservists for action.
Following the terror groups’ brazen attacks across Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Sderot, Israel’s Major General Ghasan Alyan delivered a chilling warning.
He said: “Hamas has opened the gates of hell into the Gaza Strip” and that they would “bear the responsibility and pay for its deeds.”
In a video address posted on Twitter, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued his own chilling warning: “We are at war and we will win.
“Our enemy will pay a price, the type of which it has never known.”
News of the attack was met with jubilant scenes in the West Bank as hundreds took to the streets to celebrate the Hamas incursion, despite the threat of retaliatory airstrikes.
The shocking attack from Hamas militants has been condemned by the EU, Ukraine, Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
UK PM Rishi Sunak wrote on Twitter: “I am shocked by this morning‘s attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli citizens. Israel has an absolute right to defend itself.
“We’re in contact with Israeli authorities, and British nationals in Israel should follow travel advice.”
President Joe Biden also confirmed that he’d spoken with Netanyahu and offered his “unwavering” support.
He later said: “Israel has a right to defend itself and its people – full stop”.
“Let me say this as clearly as I can. This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage. The world is watching.”
But the massacre was openly praised by some, including Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khameneni who congratulated the Palestinian terrorists.
Another group, The Palestinian Islamic Jihad, said its fighters have joined Hamas in the shock attack on Israel.
A statement said: “Our cadres stand alongside their brothers in Hamas, shoulder to shoulder, until victory.”
Israeli PM Netanyahu said the country would reinforce it’s borders to deter others from “making the mistake of joining the war”.
Earlier today, Hamas military commander Mohammad Deif said more than 5,000 rockets had been launched.
He said: “This is the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on earth.”
Palestinians had been protesting attempts by settlers to forcibly evict a number of families from their homes at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Arabic and Jewish communities have engaged in fierce conflicts for decades over who can lay claim to the region.
Extreme violence previously erupted between Israel and Palestine in 2021 when protests turned into air strikes and rocket attacks.
The terrorist group said it would turn Israel “into hell” in retaliation before IDF forces hit 150 Hamas targets dropping 450 missiles in just 40 minutes on the Gaza Strip.
Hundreds died in the 11-day crisis in May 2021, prompting an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine goes back many decades.
In May 1948, tens of thousands of Holocaust survivors rebuilt their lives in the newly established State of Israel.
Arabs already living in the area didn’t accept this, so the two parties went to war in 1948 and later in 1967.
Israel still controls most of Gaza’s borders and coastal territory, deciding who can get in and out of Gaza, including goods.
Hamas – the largest of several militant Islamist groups in Palestine – refuses to recognise Israel as a country and wants Palestinians to be able to return to their old home.
