Aha Dua Permata: LIVE UPDATES - Israel Launches Operation 'Iron Swords' Against Hamas

LIVE UPDATES - Israel Launches Operation 'Iron Swords' Against Hamas

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday declared a "state of alert" after militants from the Gaza Strip infiltrated the border areas amid a rocket barrage from the enclave.

"The Israel Defense Forces declare a state of alert," the IDF said in a statement. Civilians in the southern and central regions of the country should remain near shelters, and those in the areas near the Gaza Strip inside shelters, according to the statement.

Fighters have infiltrated Israel from the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) added.

"Fighters have infiltrated Israel from Gaza. Residents in the area have been asked to stay in their homes," the IDF said on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced the large-scale call-up of reservists amid the threat to the national security. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu headed to the headquarters of the Defense Ministry to hold an emergency meeting with the military command

Air Raid Alert and Missile Strikes

Air raid warning sirens are sounding in Tel Aviv again, the signal could be heard in the northern part of the city, a Sputnik correspondent reported. Sirens were also heard in the central part of the country, air defenses are also working, the Israeli army said.

Earlier, militants fired dozens of rockets from the Gaza Strip on Israel. Medics confirmed the death of an elderly woman in southern Israel as a result of a rocket strike.

Dozens of Israeli jets strike Gaza – IDF

Dozens of Israeli jets have struck Hamas targets in Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have said. The airstrikes were launched in response to a surprise attack unleashed by the Palestinian armed group against Israel on Saturday morning.

IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said “Hamas terrorists” had infiltrated the Israeli territory from land, sea and air.

More than 2,200 rockets have been fired from Gaza, according to the spokesman. Hamas claimed that it used more than 5,000 projectiles in just the first 20 minutes of its attack.

Rocket sirens have been heard in many places across Israel, including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Beersheba, and Ashkelon.

There were at least seven instances of fighting between IDF troops and Hamas militants, Hagari said.

According to the Times of Israel newspaper, gun battles have been underway in and around the towns of Kfar Aza, Sderot, Sufa, Nahal Oz, Magen, Be’eri, and the IDF’s Re’im military base.

In an earlier statement, the IDF said it had declared “a state of readiness for war” due to the attack. “Hamas terror organization will pay a very heavy price,” it warned.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said he had approved a call-up of reservists in response to the actions by Hamas.

At least six people are believed to have been killed in Israel on Saturday. Four died in missile strikes in the town of Kuseife and one in the Gderot area.

The head of Sha'ar HaNegev town Ofir Liebstein was also shot dead in a gunfight with Hamas militants. “Ofir was killed when he went to defend a town during the terrorist attack,” the local administration said.

Information coming from medical institutions across Israel suggests that more than 200 people were wounded, including many in serious condition.

Some videos uploaded online during the day purportedly show a number of IDF troops being killed and captured by Hamas fighters. There’s also social media footage and photos of what appears to be a burning Israeli tank and Palestinians celebrating the seizure of a US-made Humvee military vehicle from the IDF. The videos have yet to be verified.

Widespread condemnation amid Hamas attacks on Israel

Smoke is seen in the Rehovot area in Israel as rockets are launched from the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023. (Reuters)

Egypt has warned of “grave consequences” from an escalation in tensions between Israel and the Palestinians amid widespread condemnation of Hamas’ rocket attacks on Israel.

Egypt, through a statement from the foreign ministry carried by the state news agency on Saturday, called for “exercising maximum restraint and avoiding exposing civilians to further danger”.

Russia has also urged for ‘restraint’ after the attacks on Israel.

“We are now in contact with everyone. With the Israelis, Palestinians, Arabs,” Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told Russian private news agency Interfax, adding: “Of course, we always call for restraint.”

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

The UK unequivocally condemns the horrific attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians.

The UK will always support Israel’s right to defend itself.
— James Cleverly🇬🇧 (@JamesCleverly) October 7, 2023

Italy meanwhile said 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 Italian 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”.

German top envoy Annalena Baerbock said that Germany “firmly condemns the terrorist attacks from Gaza against Israel” and it “has our full solidarity” and “the right, guaranteed by international law, to defend itself against terrorism.”

The French foreign ministry also 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.

Roberta Metsola, the president of the European Parliament meanwhile said: We condemn the attacks launched by Hamas on Israel.”

I condemn the indiscriminate rocket fire by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians. I am in contact with Israeli officials, and fully support Israel's right to defend itself from such terrorist acts.
— Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Stephanie Hallett (@USAmbIsrael) October 7, 2023

Stephanie Hallett, the US Chargé d’Affaires to Israel said on social media: “I condemn the indiscriminate rocket fire by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians. I am in contact with Israeli officials, and fully support Israel’s right to defend itself from such terrorist acts.

“Sickened by the images coming out of southern Israel of dead and wounded civilians at the hands of terrorists from Gaza. The United States stands with Israel.”

Ukraine’s foreign ministry also condemned what it described as “ongoing terrorist attacks” on Israel.

“Ukraine strongly condemns the ongoing terrorist attacks against Israel, including rocket attacks against the civilian population in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv,” the ministry said on the social media platform X.