NEW YORK, BRONX (ORDO News) — Rocket fire on Israeli territory began early in the morning of October 7 from the Gaza Strip. Alarms have sounded continuously since 6:30 am in many localities across the country, including the Tel Aviv area and its environs. Hamas claims that 5 thousand rockets have already been fired into Israel. Israeli Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari said at least 2,200 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli army announced a “state of readiness for war,” and the country’s Defense Minister Yoav Galant approved the call for reservists into the army and ordered the introduction of a “special situation in the rear” within a radius of 80 km from the Gaza Strip, which includes the territory of Tel Aviv and its suburbs.
The Israeli army’s operation in Gaza was called “Iron Swords”.
At the same time, Palestine blamed Israel for the aggravation. In turn, Iran called the attack on Israel “a new page in the history of the Palestinian resistance.”
Where it all started
- The first message from the Israel Defense Forces Logistics Command about an air raid alert was received at about 06:30 (the time coincides with Moscow), then it was reported that sirens were activated in the area of the settlement of Yad Mordechai near the border with the Gaza Strip and in the Tel Aviv suburbs of Rishon Lezion and Bat Yam. Since then, alarms have been sounding continuously in several areas.
- Groups of Palestinian militants have already fired 5 thousand rockets into Israel, Al Arabiya TV channel reported, citing a statement by representatives of the Palestinian Hamas movement.
- At the same time, the official representative of the Israel Defense Forces, Daniel Hagari, announced at least 2.2 thousand rockets fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel.
- Residents of southern and central Israel were advised to stay close to shelters and follow the instructions of the military.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an emergency cabinet meeting at the Defense Ministry building complex in Tel Aviv.
- Tel Aviv authorities canceled all public events in the city and closed the city beaches.
- The scale of the current escalation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone exceeds previous ones; this is a large-scale escalation, noted Vladimir Fitin, head of the Center for the Near and Middle East of the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies.
- On the evening of October 7, air raid sirens sounded again after a break in the Tel Aviv area and in central Israel.
- Palestinian groups operating in the Gaza Strip again fired 150 rockets towards Tel Aviv, Al Hadath TV channel reports.
- The Israeli army said it had resumed attacks on Hamas targets in Gaza.
Dead and injured
- At least 200 Israelis were killed , and the number of injured exceeded 1,100, according to Kan radio.
- As a result of Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, 232 Palestinians were killed and 1,697 were injured, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said in a statement.
- A state of emergency has been declared in all hospitals in the West Bank .
- There are no reports of Russians among the victims, Russian diplomats are closely monitoring the situation, the press service of the Russian Embassy in Tel Aviv said.
State of readiness for war
- As stated by the Minister of Defense of the Jewish State, Yoav Galant, the Palestinian radical movement Hamas has declared war on Israel.
- In turn, the Israeli army declared a “state of readiness for war.” The Chief of General Staff is currently assessing the situation and approving plans for the continuation of army operations.
- Galant gave instructions to recruit reservists into the army.
- A “special security situation” has been introduced in the central part of Israel and in the south of the country within a radius of 0 to 80 km from the Gaza Strip. This status allows the IDF to provide security guidance to citizens and close necessary facilities.
- Israeli President Isaac Herzog stated that the Jewish state is in a difficult situation. He called on everyone to follow the IDF’s instructions and remain calm.
- Netanyahu stated that Israel is at war and will win. The prime minister also called Israel’s goal to cleanse its territory of enemies. In a conversation with US President Joe Biden, he spoke in favor of a military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
- Palestine proposed convening a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East.
- The UN Security Council meeting on the escalation in the region will take place on October 8.
- Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant told his American counterpart Lloyd Austin that the Jewish state is ready to expand the operation against terrorists from the Gaza Strip.
Attacks on the Gaza Strip
- The Israeli army began attacks on the Gaza Strip. The military operation was called “Iron Swords”.
- Dozens of Israeli fighter jets are striking Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. At least five people were killed in these strikes.
- The Israeli army confirmed the penetration of Palestinian militants into the country. In particular, dozens of armed Palestinians reportedly entered four settlements located on Israeli territory near the Gaza Strip.
- Hamas claims to have captured more than 35 Israeli soldiers and settlers.
- Supporters of the radical Palestinian group Islamic Jihad have announced they are joining Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, launched by the Palestinian Hamas movement. They also claim to have captured Israeli soldiers.
- The Israeli army confirmed the hostage taking.
- Representatives of Israel and Palestinian radical groups began negotiations on the fate of the captured hostages, Al-Arabiya TV channel reported.
- The President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas , said that Palestinians have the right to defend themselves against Israeli attacks and settler terror.
- Israel reported attacks on 21 Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
- As the Palestinian ambassador in Moscow Abdel Hafiz Nofal said, responsibility for the escalation of the conflict lies solely with Israel. He stressed that the escalation must be stopped on a new basis, the peace process is possible on the principle of two states.
- The Palestinian Foreign Ministry cited Israeli provocations and the silence of the world community as the reason for the escalation.
Iran’s position
- The Israeli President believes Iran is behind the Hamas attack. He noted that the attack coincided with the celebration in Israel of two major Jewish holidays at once – Shemini Atzeret (Eighth Day – a festive gathering) and Simchat Torah (Joy of the Torah), which follow the week-long Sukkot and complete the so-called series of autumn Jewish holidays.
- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani Chafi called the Hamas attack on Israel “a new page in the history of the Palestinian resistance.” According to him, the Hamas movement has demonstrated “the ability to use the element of surprise and conduct combined operations against the occupiers.”
Russia‘s reaction
- Russia is in contact with Israel, Palestine and the Arab countries and calls on the parties to the conflict to cease fire, the special representative of the Russian President for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry Mikhail Bogdanov said.
- The Russian Federation regards the large-scale escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as a consequence of non-compliance with UN Security Council resolutions and the West’s blocking of the work of the Middle East quartet, according to a commentary by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. It also states that Palestine and Israel must begin the negotiation process, Russia calls on both sides to renounce violence and cease fire.
- Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said that the United States is a key player in the conflict between Israel and Palestine, but instead of actively working on a Middle East settlement, it is engaged in inciting new conflicts.
International reaction
- The EU condemned the Hamas attacks.
- NATO condemned the attacks on Israel.
- The UN called on Israel and Hamas to retreat “from the edge of the abyss.”
- German Foreign Minister Annalena Bärbock condemned the operation launched by Palestinian radicals on Israeli territory. According to her, Israel “has the right, in accordance with international law, to protect itself from terrorism.”
- Consultations between the cabinets of the Czech Republic and Israel, which were supposed to take place in the format of a joint meeting of the governments of both countries on Monday, October 9, in Prague, have been cancelled.
- Hungary regarded the rocket attack on Israel as a terrorist attack.
- Israeli Ambassador to Moscow Alexander Ben Zvi said that the response to Hamas’ actions will be both military and political.
- Minsk called on the parties to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to de-escalate.
- Egypt has announced contacts with Israel and the Palestinians to reduce tensions.
- Sunak noted Israel’s right to self-defense after the Hamas attack.
- Macron condemned the attack by Palestinian militants on Israel.
- The speaker of the Georgian parliament said that the people of the country support brotherly Israel. The country’s Foreign Ministry also condemned the attack by Palestinian militants.
- Erdogan called for a reduction in tensions between Israel and Palestine.
- Saudi Arabia called for stopping the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
- The United States condemned the shelling of the territory of the Jewish state. Washington also announced its intention to provide Israel with everything necessary for defense.
- Thailand condemned the attack by Palestinian radicals on Israeli territory.
- Qatar blamed Israel for the escalation of the conflict with Palestine.
- Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic condemned the attack by Palestinian militants on Israel.
- The UAE called for the protection of civilians in Israel and Palestine.
- Malta requested a UNSC meeting after the attack on Israel.
- Japan‘s Foreign Ministry condemned Hamas’ attacks on Israel and called on all parties to show restraint.
- Iraq considers the Hamas attack to be a result of Israeli policies towards the Palestinians.
- India expressed solidarity with Israel after the attack.
- Canada condemned the attacks on Israel.
- Kuwait accused Israel of ongoing violations of Palestinian rights.
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for diplomacy to avoid escalation in the Middle East.
- The Lebanese Shiite party Hezbollah said it is in direct contact with Palestinian headquarters in the Gaza Strip and other areas.
- Biden promised Netanyahu the necessary support in light of the attacks.
- The Omani Foreign Ministry called the Hamas attack on Israel a result of the occupation of Palestine.
- Pakistan called for stabilization of the situation in the Middle East.
- The head of the European Council, Charles Michel, announced the EU’s readiness to help restart the political process in the Middle East.
- Israel’s permanent representative to the UN, Gilad Erdan, said that responsibility for the escalation lies with Hamas.
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News agencies contributed to this report, edited and published by ORDO News editors.
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