On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to harshly retaliate against the attack carried out by the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas and other groups.
“Citizens of Israel, we are at war. The enemy will pay an unprecedented price. We will win this war,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured the public that the terrorists would be stopped.
“The enemy will receive a response they have never known before,” he further added.
Prime Minister Netanyahu: Citizens of Israel – we are at war. pic.twitter.com/sfoFd5W2Ld
— Hananya Naftali (@HananyaNaftali) October 7, 2023
On Saturday morning, Hamas and other terrorist organizations launched between 2,000 and 5,000 rockets at Israel from the Gaza Strip, which is under blockade. Additionally, dozens of terrorists invaded southern Israeli cities, laying siege to them, and seized control of several important buildings, including a police station.
In response to the unexpected attack by Hamas on Saturday, Israel began Operation Iron Swords.
According to Israeli media outlets Haaretz and Times of Israel, citing Israel’s defense minister Yoav Gallant, Israel has begun an operation to expel terrorists from Ashkelon and other southern Israeli cities that border the Gaza Strip, including those from Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah.
International news agencies claim that Hamas terrorists are currently fighting in over half a dozen locations and have taken control of some important buildings, including a police station in Sderot.
The Times of Israel reported that the shooting was reported from the towns of Kfar Aza, Sderot, Sufa, Nahal Oz, Magen, Be’eri, and the Re’im military base.
Israeli residents in towns like Kibbutz Sufa have pleaded with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) for assistance because dozens of Israelis have been abducted.
“I don’t understand how this is still going on. We’ve been in this situation since 6 in the morning. Send help, please,” the Times of Israel cited a pregnant woman’s quote.