JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will exact a “huge price” from Hamas in response to an unprecedented infiltration that killed at least 22 people.
Netanyahu told his Security Cabinet on Saturday that Israel's first goal is to “cleanse the area” of militants and regain control of the southern communities that were attacked.
The Soroka Medical Center in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba said it was treating at least 280 casualties, with 60 in serious condition. The Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon, near Gaza, said it was treating 182 wounded people, including 12 in critical condition. “We are at war,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address, declaring a mass army mobilization. “Not an ‘operation,’ not a ‘round,’ but at war.”
The Israeli military struck targets in Gaza in response for some 2,500 rockets that sent air raid sirens wailing constantly as far north as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, some 80 kilometers away. It said its forces were engaged in gunfights with Hamas militants who had infiltrated Israel in at least seven locations. The fighters had sneaked across the separation fence and even invaded Israel through the air with paragliders, the army said.
The shadowy leader of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif, announced the start of what he called “Operation Al-Aqsa Storm." The Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem is the third holiest site in Islam, and is located on the holiest site for Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount. Saudi Arabia, which has been in talks with the U.S. about normalizing relations with Israel, released a statement calling on both sides to exercise restraint. The kingdom said it had repeatedly warned about “ the dangers of the situation exploding as a result of the continued occupation the Palestinian people being deprived of their legitimate rights.”
Hecht declined to comment on how Hamas had managed to catch the army off guard. “That’s a good question,” he said. Israel has built a massive fence along the Gaza border meant to prevent infiltrations. It goes deep underground and is equipped with cameras, high-tech sensors and sensitive listening technology.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Israel's Netanyahu vows to exact a 'huge price' in response to deadly Hamas infiltrationJERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will exact a “huge price” from Hamas in response to an unprecedented infiltration that killed at least 22 people.
Read more »
Netanyahu tells Israel 'We are at war' after Hamas launches an unprecedented attack on the countryJERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told Israel that it is “at war” with Hamas militants that rule the Gaza Strip.
Read more »
Netanyahu tells Israel 'We are at war' after Hamas launches an unprecedented attack on the countryJERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told Israel that it is “at war” with Hamas militants that rule the Gaza Strip.
Read more »
Netanyahu tells Israel 'We are at war' after Hamas launches an unprecedented attack on the countryJERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told Israel that it is “at war” with Hamas militants that rule the Gaza Strip.
Read more »
Netanyahu tells Israel 'We are at war' after Hamas kills at least 22 in unprecedented attackJERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's national rescue service says at least 22 people have been killed and hundreds wounded in a Hamas military incursion on Saturday morning. The numbers make the operation the de
Read more »
Netanyahu tells Israel 'We are at war' after Hamas kills at least 22 in unprecedented attackJERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's national rescue service says at least 22 people have been killed and hundreds wounded in a Hamas military incursion on Saturday morning. The numbers make the operation the de
Read more »