On the morning of Saturday, October 7, tensions between Israel and the Gaza Strip reached a boiling point. The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas announced the commencement of the Al-Aqsa Storm military operation, launching a massive rocket assault on both Israeli military and civilian installations. In a countermove, Israeli authorities initiated Operation Iron Swords in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that Israel was not merely conducting a military operation but was engaged in a full-fledged “war.”
The conflict was ignited by Hamas’s announcement of the Al-Aqsa Storm operation. Activists from the movement infiltrated Israel’s border regions, even employing hang gliders to land on Israeli soil. Clashes erupted in the southern regions between the Israeli army and Hamas militants. At the time of reporting, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had not yet regained control over the attacked border areas. The Israeli army notably lost control of the Erez checkpoint, according to Al-Jazeera. The IDF also announced its state of “war preparedness” and launched a counter-terrorism operation named “Iron Swords” in the Gaza Strip. Israel reported attacks against 17 military targets in the Gaza Strip and four Hamas headquarters. An emergency state was declared throughout Israel, and Defense Minister Yoav Galant approved the conscription of reservists into the army.
Hamas linked the initiation of its operation to Israel’s alleged “desecration” of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Israeli Defense Minister declared that Hamas had effectively declared war on Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also stated that Israel was in a state of “war” and not merely an operational format. He ordered the mobilization of reservists and vowed that the enemy would “pay the price.”
The human toll has been devastating. Over 200 people have been killed in this recent missile attack, according to The Hindustan Times. Israel’s Health Ministry reported that 545 people were hospitalized during the fighting. In Palestine, five people were reported dead during Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, with several others injured.
The international community has been closely monitoring the situation. The European Union expressed its solidarity with Israel, condemning the Hamas attacks. German Foreign Minister Annalena Bärbock stated that Israel has the right to protect itself from terrorism, in accordance with international law. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for restraint and is in touch with the escalating conflict with Israel and Palestine, as well as with Arab countries, according to InterFax.
The situation remains fluid, with both sides suffering significant losses. The international community is calling for restraint, but the path to de-escalation remains uncertain. The Israel-Gaza conflict has long been a complex geopolitical issue, and the current escalation has only intensified the challenges facing both parties and the international community at large.
