Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel from Gaza on Saturday, killing at least 22 people and wounding hundreds more. The attack, the deadliest in Israeli territory in years, has prompted Israel to launch a military operation against Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to extract an “unprecedented price” from Hamas, saying that the country is at war with the militant group. The Israeli military has said that it has launched an operation called “Iron Swords” in response to the Hamas attack. The operation is reportedly involving air, land, and sea forces. Hamas has claimed that it has fired thousands of rockets into Israel since the attack began on Saturday morning. The group says that the attack is in response to “aggression against the Al-Aqsa Mosque”. Israel’s Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant, has said that the IDF is fighting against Hamas at every location. He has called on all Israeli citizens to follow security instructions. The head of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif, has warned Israel that the attack is only the “first stage” of Hamas’ renewed efforts against Israel. He has urged Arabs in Jerusalem and inside Israel to join the “revolution” and “set the earth on fire under the feet of the occupiers.” The Israeli military has issued instructions to the residents of towns near the Gaza Strip to remain in their homes, and the rest of the public to remain near bomb shelters. The unprecedented attack has led to internal unity in Israel, with protest leaders calling off ongoing demonstrations against the government’s judicial overhaul plan and protesting soldiers, who were boycotting army duty, deciding to report for duty.
