Biden promises assistance to Israel and cautions those who oppose the Jewish State that global attention is focused on their actions.
President Biden restated America’s dedication to Israel as the Jewish State faced aggression from Hamas militants, emphasizing that there is no valid reason for acts of terrorism.
Mr. Biden, whose leadership on the global stage and approach to the Middle East are being challenged by an outbreak of war, stated that he has instructed his National Security team to establish communication with their Israeli counterparts in various capacities, such as military intelligence and diplomatic channels, in order to ensure that Israel is provided with necessary support.
“I cannot reword”
Mr. Biden did not try to dispel criticism that the president’s prisoner swap deal with known Hamas-backer Iran, which unfroze $6 billion in oil revenue for the country, helped to bankroll the militant group’s surprise attack. But gave a word of caution for Israel’s foes in the region, such as Iran which has vowed to wipe the Jewish State off the map.
“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.”
Similar to everyone else globally, Mr. Biden seemed surprised by the most lethal assault on Israel in many years.
SEE ALSO: Hamas attacked Israel and Netanyahu says his country is ‘at war.’ Follow live updates
On Saturday, Israeli rescue service Zaka reported that the Hamas militant group’s attack on Israel had resulted in the deaths of at least 200 individuals and left over 1,000 injured.
On a significant holiday, Israeli communities were attacked by Hamas militants who managed to infiltrate through various means such as sea, air, and land, leaving Israelis shocked and surprised.
The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that a minimum of 198 individuals in the Gaza Strip have lost their lives, while at least 1,610 have sustained injuries as a result of Israel’s response.
Hamas militants fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip in the surprise early morning attack during a major Jewish holiday Saturday, killing dozens and stunning the country. Israel said it is now at war with Hamas and launched airstrikes in Gaza, vowing to inflict an “unprecedented price.”
Hamas militants launched a widespread attack, infiltrating up to 22 areas beyond the Gaza Strip, reaching towns and communities as far as 15 miles (24 kilometers) from the Gaza border. They carried out shootings against both civilians and soldiers for an extended period of time, prompting Israel’s military to eventually react. Even after nightfall, clashes with firearms persisted in certain areas.
Following the onset of darkness, there was a significant escalation in airstrikes in Gaza. These airstrikes resulted in the destruction of multiple residential buildings through powerful explosions. Among the structures demolished was a 14-story tower that housed numerous apartments and served as offices for Hamas in the central area of Gaza City. Prior to the attack, Israelis issued a warning, and the exact number of casualties remained uncertain at that time. Subsequently, Hamas retaliated by launching a series of rocket attacks towards central Israel. This barrage targeted four cities, including Tel Aviv and a neighboring suburb, resulting in two individuals sustaining severe injuries.
Israel’s warnings of increased retaliation have heightened the potential for further escalation in the conflict. Previous clashes between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas leader resulted in extensive casualties and damage in Gaza, as well as continuous rocket attacks on Israeli towns. The current situation is even more precarious, as Israel’s far-right government is deeply affected by the breach in security, while Palestinians feel hopeless due to the ongoing occupation.
The Israelis were taken aback by the power, complexity, and timing of the attack that occurred on Saturday morning. Hamas militants employed explosives to breach the border fence surrounding the heavily restricted Mediterranean region. Subsequently, they made their way across using motorcycles, pickup trucks, paragliders, and speed boats along the coastline.
Bodies of dead Israeli civilians and Hamas militants were seen on the streets of Israeli towns. Associated Press photos showed an abducted elderly Israeli woman being brought back into Gaza on a golf cart by Hamas gunmen and another woman squeezed between two fighters on a motorcycle. Images on social media showed fighters parading what seemed to be captured Israeli military vehicles through Gaza streets and a dead Israeli soldier being dragged and trampled by a crowd of Palestinians.
“I cannot reword”
He stated that the enemy would face a price like never before, assuring that Israel would retaliate with a level of force unfamiliar to the enemy.
The shadowy leader of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif, said the assault was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, Israeli raids inside West Bank cities over the past year, violence at Al Aqsa — the disputed Jerusalem holy site sacred to Jews as the Temple Mount — increasing attacks by settlers on Palestinians and growth of settlements.
“I cannot reword”
The Hamas invasion on Simchat Torah, a typically joyful day when Jews finish reading the Torah scroll for the year, brought back painful recollections of the 1973 Middle East conflict, which occurred almost 50 years ago on the same day. During that war, Egypt and Syria launched an unexpected assault on Yom Kippur, the most sacred day in the Jewish calendar, with the intention of reclaiming territories occupied by Israel.
Criticism of Netanyahu and his far-right allies intensified as they were compared to one of the most traumatic events in Israeli history. They had campaigned for a more forceful approach to dealing with threats from Gaza. Political analysts strongly criticized the government for not foreseeing a highly organized and coordinated Hamas attack.
Reporters inquired about how Hamas had successfully surprised the army, to which Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, a spokesperson for the Israeli army, responded, “That is an excellent question.”
Israel has faced a challenging situation with the abduction of its civilians and soldiers. Throughout its history, Israel has often engaged in imbalanced exchanges in order to secure the release of captured Israelis.
The exact quantity of individuals involved was not immediately available. Hamas released videos indicating that at least three Israelis were taken as captives, and AP photos displayed at least three civilians being brought into Gaza, including two women.
Israeli TV broadcasted footage of a partially undressed young man being escorted on foot while in a chokehold. The report also mentioned that individuals affected by dementia, along with workers from Thailand and the Philippines, were among those being held against their will.
The Israeli military has verified that certain Israelis have been captured. Abu Obeida, a spokesperson for Hamas’ military division, stated that the group is currently holding numerous Israeli soldiers captive in secure locations and tunnels within the Gaza Strip. If this statement is accurate, it could potentially lead to intricate negotiations regarding a potential exchange with Israel, as Israel currently detains thousands of Palestinians in its correctional facilities.
The incursion by Hamas into southern Israel resulted in the presence of deceased civilians in the areas where they had come across the progressing armed individuals.
On the road outside the town of Sderot, a bloodied woman slumped dead in the seat of her car. Inside the town, bodies of at least six people gunned down at a bus shelter were laid out on stretchers on the street, their bags set nearby on the curb. Elsewhere, a woman knelt in the street and embraced a dead family member whose body was stretched out next to a pink motorcycle that lay on its side. The rider’s hand with a glove and a foot in a racing boot extended out from under the sheet.
Terrified residents in the kibbutz of Nahal Oz, located merely 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) away from the Gaza Strip, sought shelter indoors. They reported hearing ongoing gunfire reverberating through the buildings as the firefights persisted.
Mirjam Reijnen, a 42-year-old volunteer firefighter and mother of three in Nahal Oz, expressed that while rockets may provide a sense of safety due to the presence of the Iron Dome and safe rooms, the fear of terrorists freely roaming in communities is a distinct and unsettling concern.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant issued a televised statement, cautioning that Hamas had committed a significant error and assuring that “Israel will emerge victorious in this conflict.”
The Israeli military spokesperson stated that four divisions of troops and tanks were being deployed to the Gaza border, in addition to the 31 battalions already present in the area. The main concern now is whether Israel will initiate a ground attack on Gaza, which is home to over 2 million people, and has historically resulted in increased casualties.
Hamas expressed readiness for a potentially extended conflict, stating that they are prepared for various scenarios, including a full-scale war. Saleh al-Arouri, the deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, emphasized their commitment to taking any necessary actions to ensure the dignity and freedom of their people.
According to a statement from the White House, Mr. Biden expressed his condemnation of the “shocking attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza.” He had a conversation with Mr. Netanyahu and affirmed Israel’s “right to protect itself and its citizens.”
Saudi Arabia, which has been in talks with the U.S. about normalizing relations with Israel, released a statement calling on both sides to exercise restraint. The kingdom said it had repeatedly warned about “the dangers of the situation exploding as a result of the continued occupation (and) the Palestinian people being deprived of their legitimate rights.”
Hezbollah, the militant group in Lebanon, commended Hamas and hailed the attack as a retaliation against “Israeli offenses.” The group stated that it was in communication with Hamas regarding the operation.
The attack comes at a time of historic division within Israel over Netanyahu’s proposal to overhaul the judiciary. Mass protests over the plan have sent hundreds of thousands of Israeli demonstrators into the streets and prompted hundreds of military reservists to avoid volunteer duty — turmoil that has raised fears over the military’s battlefield readiness and concerns about its deterrence over its enemies.
It is happening during a period of increasing conflicts between Israel and the Palestinians, as the peace negotiations have been non-existent for a long time. In the past year, the Israeli government, which leans towards the right, has escalated the building of settlements in the West Bank, resulting in the displacement of numerous Palestinians due to violence from Israeli settlers. Additionally, tensions have risen surrounding a significant holy site in Jerusalem.
Since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, Israel has imposed a blockade on the territory. The two adversaries have engaged in four conflicts since that time.
This article partially relies on reports from wire services.
