JERUSALEM — Israeli military fought holdout Hamas terrorists and pounded key areas in the Gaza Strip on Sunday as PM Benjamin Netanyahu warned of a “long and difficult” war ahead. This warning comes hours after the Palestinian militants of Hamas formation launched a deadly surprise attack on Israel.
“The country is “embarking on a long and difficult war” as it deals with an unprecedented hostage crisis after Palestinian militants launched a surprise land, sea and air attack from Gaza, killing hundreds and infiltrating into Israeli territory,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Hamas strikes on Saturday amounted to the deadliest occurrence in decades. The attacks come after a period of increased violence between Palestinians as well as Israelis. The decades-long wars are now headed into new uncharted and fatal territory. Questions keep lingering in people’s minds over how the whole Israeli forces and intelligence team could be caught unawares in one of the nation’s worst security overlap.
“Israel’s political-security cabinet convened late Saturday and made a series of operational decisions aimed at bringing about the destruction of the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, in a way that would negate their ability and desire to threaten and harm the citizens of Israel for many years to come,” read a statement from the office of Israel’s Prime Minister.
The Israeli military embarked on a rescue mission. It deployed thousands of its personnel to secure the southern desert areas close to the coastal enclave, targeting to recapture the Israel hostages. Gun fights raged the air in towns as well as highways in a bid to evacuate the whole place within one day.
“We’ll reach each and every community till we kill every terrorist in Israel,” vowed military spokesman Daniel Hagari. This assertion comes just a day after several Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel by use of vehicles, water boats, alongside motorized paragliders bombing the Southern part killing people and destruction of properties.
On Sunday October 8, Israel was attacked from the north when Lebanon’s Hezbollah threw guided missiles as well as artillery shells in what it termed as “in solidary” with the unequivocal Hamas offensive. However, there were no casualties reported.
“The worst fighting in decades has killed more than 200 Israelis and wounded over 1,000, leaving bodies of civilians strewn on roads, while on the Gaza side at least 313 have died and over 1,700 were reported wounded,” said Hagari.
“An unknown number of Israelis were abducted as hostages, sparking dismay in Israel and massively complicating its military retaliation campaign,” he added, “dozens of Israeli captives, including numerous women, children and elders, are believed to have been taken into the Gaza Strip.”
Edited by Judy J. Rotich and Newsdesk Manager
