Israel-Gaza conflict Updates: Over 200 killed, dozens held hostages, says Army

The Spokesman for the Israel Defense Force Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari has announced that the Nation of Israel is officially in a State of War.

The French foreign ministry on Saturday condemned "in the strongest possible terms the ongoing terrorist attacks against Israel and its population" after the firing of hundreds of rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip. France "expresses its full solidarity with Israel and the victims of these attacks. It reaffirms its absolute rejection of terrorism and its commitment to Israel's security", the ministry added.

AFP

Britain "unequivocally condemns" a surprise attack by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on Israel on Saturday, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said.

"The UK unequivocally condemns the horrific attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians. The UK will always support Israel’s right to defend itself," Cleverly said in a post on social media.

Reuters

Italy said Saturday it backed "Israel's right to defend itself" against the "brutal attack" underway after hundreds of rockets were fired on its territory from Gaza. The government said it "condemns in the strongest terms the terror and the violence underway against innocent civilians", adding: "We back the right of Israel to defend itself".

AFP

Israeli army spokeperson Richard Hecht said that Israeli forces are fighting Palestinian fighters on the ground in several locations around the Gaza Strip.

He said, “It was a combined ground raid which happened through paragliders, through the sea and through the ground. Right now we’re fighting. We’re fighting in certain locations around the Gaza Strip… our forces are now fighting on the ground.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement saying, “We are at war and we will win.”

Israel-Gaza conflict LIVE: The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas launched its biggest assault on Israel in years early on Saturday, firing a barrage of rockets from Gaza and sending fighters across the border.

Israel said it was on a war footing and began its own strikes against Hamas targets in Gaza, with Israeli media reporting gunbattles between bands of Palestinian fighters and security forces in southern Israel.

A timeline of their conflict which begins with Israel's 2005 withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, details the major flare-ups in the conflict between Israel and Palestinian groups in the crowded coastal enclave, which is home to 2.3 million people

France on Saturday condemned the “terrorist attacks” against Israel launched by Hamas from Gaza that has resulted in multiple deaths and widespread devastation.

Hamas launched a surprise attack as part of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” against Israeli occupation, that combined more than 5,000 rocket strikes and infiltration into southern towns, the group said.

Over the four hours of attack, more than 2,200 rockets have been fired into Israel while in retaliation, Israeli forces have carried at least two air strikes against Hamas targets in Gaza.

israel-Gaza conflict LIVE updates: The head of the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council, Ofir Liebstein, was killed during fighting with Hamas terrorists this morning, lTimes of Israel reported citing local authorities.

“Ofir was killed when he went to defend a town during the terrorist attack,” the council says. The deputy head of the council, Yossi Keren, is currently filling his place.

Earlier today, a massive rocket strike was launched on Israel by Hamas, combined with widespread infiltration into southern towns as part of its new operation "Al-Aqsa Flood” against Israeli occupation.

Israel-Gaza conflict LIVE: In response to the barrages of rockets launched by Hamas from Gaza at Israel, the country has launched air strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza. Many local Gazans reportedly began fleeing as homes in the border areas as the tensions escalated.

Hamas earlier launched a massive surprise attack on Israel, combining unprecented rocket attacks and infiltration in its southern towns.

Over the four hours since the conflict began, more than 2,200 rockets have been fired into Israel from Gaza, killing at least four people and injuring dozens.

Israel-Gaza conflict LIVE: Israel's army carried out at least two air strikes on the Gaza Strip Saturday, an AFP journalist reported, after barrages of rockets were fired from the Palestinian territory into Israel.

More than 5,000 rockets had been fired so far from the Gaza Strip, the armed wing of Hamas which controls the blockaded coastal enclave said. Medics said the rocket fire killed at least one Israeli, a woman in her 60s.

Some reports suggested that Hamas group has captured abot 35 Israeli soldiers and civilians and taken them to Gaza Strip amid escalation.

Israel-Gaza conflict LIVE updates: Israel has been under surprise rocket attack from Hamas for over 3 hours. Earlier on Saturday, the Hamas militant group announced a new operation against Israel – an unprecedented infiltration into southern towns while launching over 5,000 rockets as part of the operation, they termed “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood”.

Palestinian media reported that many Israeli soldiers have been held captive by the Hamas. Reuters reported that while senior sources said the government was aware of the situation, but provided no further details.

As per the local media, the death toll in Israel due to the attack stands at four while several are reported to be injured.

Reports of gunbattles from Israeli towns also emerged as Hamas were seen roaming in streets, local residents told the media.

Israel-Gaza conflict LIVE updates: Hundreds of residents in the Gaza Strip fled their homes to move away from the border with Israel after Hamas launched massive rocket attack on Israel on Saturday.

Men, women and children were seen carrying blankets and food items as they left their homes, mostly in the northeastern part of the Palestinian territory, the reporter said.

Hamas have started what they declared “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” against Israeli occupation. Over 5,000 rockets are being fired in Israeli towns as part of the operation, the group said.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Saturday that the Hamas terror group has made a “grave mistake” for launching a surprise attack on Israel. Earlier, the militant group launched over 5,000 rockets on Israeli towns in a new operation.

“Hamas made a grave mistake this morning and started a war against the State of Israel. IDF soldiers are fighting the enemy at all the infiltration sites,” Gallant says in remarks provided by his office, the Times of Israel reported.

“The State of Israel will win this war,” he adds.

Israel-Gaza conflict LIVE updates: Palestinian media also reported that a number of Israelis had been taken captive by fighters and Hamas media circulated video footage apparently showing a destroyed Israeli tank, a report by news agency Reuters said.

• The Israeli military was aware of reports of captives, a security source said, but provided no further details.
• Netanyahu's office said he would meet top security officials in the coming hours and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant authorised the call-up of reservists.

Israel-Gaza conflict: The Israel Defense Forces shutters roads near the border with the Gaza Strip amid Hamas’s surprise attack, reports local media.

The closures include Route 4 from the Zikim junction to Netiv Ha’asara; Route 34 from the Yad Mordechai junction to Nir Am; and Route 232 from Mefalsim to Sa’ad and Nir Yitzhak to Kerem Shalom.

All routes used by farmers in the area as also closed off by the army.

Israel Gaza conflict LIVE: The Israeli military says it is striking targets in the Gaza Strip as air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem after the Hamas militant group announced a new operation against Israel.

The sounds of at least three explosions could be heard as Israel deployed anti-rocket defenses.

The attack on Jerusalem is considered a major escalation by Israel.

Earlier, the leader of Hamas' military wing said over 5,000 rockets were fired into Israel.

The Islamist movement Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday that combined gunmen crossing the border with a heavy barrage of rockets from the Gaza Strip.

Here's what we know so far:

• Hamas' military said it launched over 5,000 rockets into Israel, declaring it had started “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” against Israeli occupation.
• Multiple casualties are feared in the wake of the attack while Israel ordered its residents to remain orders.
• Palestinian media also reported that a number of Israelis had been taken captive by fighters.
• Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called an emergency meeting of security officials.
• The Israeli military said its forces were operating inside Gaza but gave no details.

Israel-Gaza conflict LIVE updates:Abd al-Aziz Nassara, the mayor of Kuseife, reported to the Kan public broadcaster that the town has suffered a tragic toll, with at least four fatalities and numerous others injured due to multiple rocket strikes, the Times of Israel reported.

Kuseife, situated approximately 65 kilometers away from the Gaza Strip, is a Bedouin community in southern Israel.

On Saturday, the Islamist group Hamas initiated a major offensive against Israel, marking one of the most significant attacks in years. This surprise assault involved both armed infiltrations across the border and a substantial rocket barrage originating from the Gaza Strip.

Israel-Gaza conflict LIVE updates: Israel declared a state of alert for war Saturday as dozens of rockets launched from the Gaza Strip struck the country and militants infiltrated southern towns in an unprecedented move. Israel sent warplanes to strike back. Hamas said it had launched a major operation against Israel.

• Sirens and booms were heard across the region on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah and the military told southern residents to stay near bomb shelters.
• Gunfights broke out between Israeli troops and Gaza infiltrators who went in on motorcycles and para-gliders. An Israeli woman in her sixties was killed.
• Videos were circulating on social media from Gaza of militants dragging the bodies of several Israeli soldiers into the streets in celebration.
• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an urgent meeting of security officials and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant approved a wide call-up of reserves.

Ambassador of Israel to India, Naor Gilon tweets, “Israel is under a combined attack from Gaza during the Jewish holiday. Both by rockets and ground infiltration of Hamas terrorists. The situation is not simple but Israel will prevail.”

Barrages of rockets were fired from the blockaded Gaza Strip on Saturday, killing at least one person in Israel, an AFP journalist and medics said.

• Rockets streamed across the sky repeatedly after the first launches from multiple locations across Gaza at 06:30 am (0330 GMT), the AFP journalist reported.
• The Israeli army warned of sirens across the country's south and central areas, urging the public to stay near bomb shelters.
• An AFP journalist in Jerusalem saw rockets being intercepted, moments after sirens blared across the city.
• The armed wing of Palestinian group Hamas said it was behind the fire, claiming its militants had launched more than 5,000 rockets.

Israel-Gaza conflict LIVE updates: Hours after massive surprise attack on Israel, Palestinian Islamic Jihad said Saturday its fighters have joined Hamas in the attack.

The Islamist movement Hamas launched the biggest attack on Israel in years on Saturday in a surprise assault that combined gunmen crossing the border with a heavy barrage of rockets from the Gaza Strip.

Saturday's incident was the most serious since Israel and Hamas fought a 10-day war in 2021, with Israeli media reporting gunbattles between bands of Palestinian fighters and security forces in towns in southern Israel.