700 Israelis dead, 2,000 injured amid Hamas rockets and terror infiltrations
Hamas killed at least 600 Israelis on Saturday as it launched a massive offensive from the Gaza Strip, including firing more than 3,000 rockets and sending dozens of Palestinian terrorists to infiltrate the Jewish state.More than 100 Israelis captive in Gaza
Around 5:30 p.m., 11 hours into the terrorist attacks, there were still exchanges of fire at 22 locations inside Israel.
Just after 8 p.m., Hamas launched a massive barrage of rockets toward central Israel, with direct hits reported in Tel Aviv, Bat Yam and Givatayim.
Active combat continued between Israeli security forces and Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Be’eri and Kibbutz Kfar Aza.
There were also reports of a hostage situation in Ofakim, located some 12 miles from the Gaza border.
Hamas claimed to be holding 163 Israelis hostage in Gaza.
More than 1,800 Israelis were evacuated to hospitals across the country, the largest number to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva and many to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon.
People were asked to donate blood across Israel. Because of the overwhelming response, only those with type O universal donor blood were asked to come.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened the Security Cabinet at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv.
“Since this morning, the State of Israel has been at war. Our first objective is to clear out the hostile forces that infiltrated our territory and restore the security and quiet to the communities that have been attacked,” said Netanyahu at the start of the meeting.
“The second objective, at the same time, is to exact an immense price from the enemy, within the Gaza Strip as well. The third objective is to reinforce other fronts so that nobody should mistakenly join this war.
“We are at war. In war, one needs to be level-headed. I call on all citizens of Israel to unite in order to achieve our highest goal—victory in the war,” added the premier.
In response, the Israel Air Force launched “Operation Swords of Iron,” initially striking 17 Hamas “military” compounds and four operational headquarters in Gaza.
The IDF was ordered to a “state of war readiness” and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant authorized the call-up of reserve troops.
He also announced a “special security situation” within 80 kilometers of the Gaza Strip, enabling the IDF to close relevant sites and impose safety restrictions on the population.
Hamas terrorists abducted more than 100 Israeli citizens to the Gaza Strip during Saturday’s terrorist assault, Israel’s Government Press Office said in a Facebook post on Sunday.Israel-Hamas war: At least 260 bodies found after attack on Israeli music festival
That assertion came hours after the Israeli embassy in the United States cited the same number in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The embassy’s post was later deleted.
Earlier on Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces set up a situation room tasked with determining how many civilians and soldiers were kidnapped.
Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor, the head of the IDF Personnel Directorate, asked Maj. Gen. (res.) Lior Carmeli to lead the effort.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed Brig. Gen. (res.) Gal Hirsch to coordinate the government efforts to locate missing persons.
Hamas claimed on Saturday to have abducted 163 Israelis and taken them to the Gaza Strip after dispatching dozens of terrorists into the Jewish state as part of a major attack.
The Foreign Ministry of Thailand said Sunday that Hamas abducted 11 of its citizens during the previous day’s attack on Israel from Gaza.
Channel 13 reported late Saturday afternoon that Israel has confirmed that at least 11 people have been taken hostage in the Hamas-ruled enclave.
Unconfirmed footage circulating online showed alleged Hamas terrorists ushering numerous Israelis into Gaza. A father interviewed by Channel 12 said his two daughters, aged 3 and 5, were missing and feared kidnapped.
There were also unconfirmed reports that more than a dozen Nepalese nationals, working in Israel, were abducted and taken to Gaza.
The IDF says the situation room will work to compile a “situational picture” for locating the captives, noting that “some families have already received messages about their loved ones.”
At least 260 bodies were found after Hamas targeted a music festival in Israel as part of its incursion, rescuers have said.
Those killed at the Supernova festival near Re'im, in the south of the country are among hundreds killed so far.
The number dead at the music event in the desert region of Negev was given by the Israeli rescue service Zika on Sunday.
Social media footage shows people dancing late into Friday, before the attack in the early hours of Saturday.
People are then seen running through an open field with gunshots firing in the background in a separate clip.
Another video shows a young woman being forced onto a motorbike as she pleads with the two men taking her: "Please don't kill me."
Website published by IDF listing the soldiers who died in the surprise Hamas-led attack Saturday morning. https://t.co/0xAxUdSKY5
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) October 8, 2023
President Isaac Herzog addresses Israel
War in Israel–last 30 hours. pic.twitter.com/EdCarXTqg0
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 8, 2023