The UN Security Council (UNSC) will have a closed-door session on the Middle East crisis on Sunday at 3 p.m. (US local time).
The Hamas terror group conducted a surprise attack on southern and central Israel on Saturday, causing massive disruption in the Middle East.
According to the most recent developments, more than 200 people have been murdered, at least 1,100 have been injured, and some Israelis are being held as hostages in Gaza.
A barrage of rocket fire from Gaza into Israel began around 6:30 a.m. (local time), striking various cities including Tel Aviv, Rehovot, Gedera, and Ashkelon.
Following this, many Hamas militants entered Israel from the Gaza Strip and took over Israeli towns.
The operation dubbed ‘Al-Aqsa Storm’ by Hamas military leader Muhammad Al-Deif, was launched in reaction to attacks on women, the desecration of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, and the continuous siege of Gaza.
Following the attack by Palestinian militants, dead were strewn in the streets of the southern city of Sderot, according to some horrific videos. Cars had been shot at and set on fire.
Ofir Liebstein, the Israeli mayor and leader of the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council, was also murdered in the fatal rocket fire.
The Israel Defense Forces also announced readiness for war in reaction to the fatal attacks.
“Operation Swords of Iron was undertaken by Israel, targeting a number of sites in the Gaza Strip”, said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He stated that Israel’s response to the Hamas incursion would exact a huge price on the Palestinian organization.
The Israeli air force then launched airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, targeting 17 Hamas military installations and four operational command centers.
In his initial reaction to the attacks, Netanyahu stated that Israel is at war and would win.
Through a video, Netanyahu noted yesterday, “We are at war, not in an operation or in rounds, but at war. This morning, Hamas launched a murderous surprise attack against the State of Israel and its citizens. We have been in this since the early morning hours”.
“I convened the heads of the security establishment and ordered, first of all, to clear out the communities that have been infiltrated by terrorists. This currently is being carried out”, Netanyahu continued.
Following this, Netanyahu issued another strongly worded statement about the Hamas missile launch, emphasizing that the country’s priority is to restore security and extract an immense price from the enemy.
In his address to Israel’s Security Cabinet, Netanyahu urged citizens to band together in order to achieve victory in the battle.
During the meeting, Netanyahu stated, “Since this morning, the State of Israel has been at war. Our first objective is to clear out the hostile forces that infiltrated our territory and restore security and quiet to the communities that have been attacked”.
He went on to say, “The second objective, at the same time, is to exact an immense price from the enemy, within the Gaza Strip as well. The third objective is to reinforce other fronts so that nobody should mistakenly join this war”.
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