Israel says civilians and soldiers held hostage in Gaza after major Palestinian attack
At least 100 people have been killed in Israel after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched its biggest attack in years. Militants crossed into Israel from Gaza under the cover of heavy rocket fire - and have since taken dozens of Israelis captive.
Some hostages - both soldiers and civilians - were taken back to Gaza. According to BBC, Israel has responded with a wave of air strikes on targets in Gaza killing 198 people, Palestinian officials say.
India pledged to stay in 'solidarity' with Israel at the moment of crisis.
"We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour," he wrote on X. He also wrote --
“Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families".
President Joe Biden says US will offer support to Israeli government and his administration’s support for Israel ‘is rock solid and unwavering’.
The US defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, said on Saturday morning that he was “closely monitoring” the attack in Israel after Hamas gunmen infiltrated into Israeli towns and villages and launched a large aerial operation from the blockaded Gaza Strip. “Over the coming days the Department of Defense will work to ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself and protect civilians from indiscriminate violence and terrorism,” Austin said in a statement.
“There is never any justification for terrorism,” Adrienne Watson said. “National security adviser Jake Sullivan has spoken to Israeli national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and we remain in close contact with our Israeli partners.”
Joe Biden said he spoke to Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Saturday, assuring him that the American government is “ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the government and people of Israel”.
“My administration’s support for Israel’s security is rock solid and unwavering.”
The attack by Hamas saw fighters cross the perimeter fence at just after dawn. At the same time, barrages of rockets were launched from Gaza - some reaching as far as the cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
How the gunmen managed to penetrate one of the most heavily fortified borders in the world is unclear.
The Israeli military has said dozens of fighter jets are carrying out air strikes on Hamas sites in Gaza, and it has hit 17 Hamas military compounds. It also said it has mobilised tens of thousands of reservists.
The Palestinian health ministry says 198 people have been killed in Israeli strikes. and another 1,610 have been wounded. Israeli bombs destroyed an 11-story tower in downtown Gaza City which houses Hamas radio stations in the rooftop.
Reuters news agency reported Israel's energy minister, Israel Katz, as saying that Israel will cut off Gaza's electricity supply.
Netanyahu's statement
"This morning Hamas launched a murderous surprise attack against the state of Israel and its citizens. We've been at it since early morning. I convened the heads of the security system, first of all I instructed to cleanse the settlements of the terrorists who had infiltrated - this operation is being carried out during these hours.
At the same time, I ordered an extensive reserve mobilization and a retaliatory war with a strength and scope that the enemy had never known. The enemy will pay a price he has never known. In the meantime, I call on all citizens of Israel to strictly obey the instructions of the army and the instructions of the Home Command. We are in a war and we will win it."
Minister of State for External Affairs, Meenakashi Lekhi says, "PM Modi has already given his condolences & stands with Israel at this difficult juncture. We express our condolences to all those who have been killed in this attack and the injured families at this difficult time...".
No comments:
Post a Comment