What's going on in Israel?
Photo Courtesy: Daniel (Unsplash.com)
What Happened?
During the major Jewish holiday Saturday, Sukkot, dozens of Israelis were killed and abducted in a surprise early morning attack. Hamas, a violent militant movement, conducted the assault, attacking Israel by land, air and sea. Millions of Israelis awoke to the sound of incoming rockets and air raid sirens as far north as Tel Aviv.
The assault continued on with Hamas fighters blowing up parts of Israel's fortified separation fence and terrorizing Israelis. Rescue service Zaka, an emergency rescue and relief service in Israel, reported at least 200 people died in Southern Israel and roughly 1,100 were wounded.
Amid Israel's retaliation, at least 198 people have been killed in the Gaza strip and at least 1,600 have been wounded. Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has declared war on Hamas and has launched retaliatory strikes against 17 military compounds connected to Hamas's leadership in Gaza.
Hamas says that these attacks are merely the beginning and that they are preparing for a long battle. The group went on to say it has taken over several Israeli villages in the country's south and they have captured at least five Israeli soldiers. Saleh al-Arouri, deputy leader of Hamas stated, "this battle will be expanding, unraveling and escalating. It is possible that the battle would involve regional parties."
What Led to the Conflict?
The attacks happened on Simchat Torah, a Jewish holiday that celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual reading cycle of Torah readings. This comes after the festival of Sukkot, a Jewish holiday that comes five days after Yom kippur. The attack happened, practically to the day, of the 1973 Mideast war in which Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Yom Kippur, the holidest day of the Jewish calendar.
Hamas's military wing leader, Mohammed Deif, said the attacks were in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, Israel's raids in the West Bank, violence at a disputed Jerusalem holy site Al Aqsa and attacks against Palestinians.
The attacks come amid Netanyahu's attempt to unify the right-wing party and weaken the Israel's judicial supreme court that they believe is too liberal.
Where Does the U.S. Fit In This?
In the White House, President Joe Biden said he spoke to Netanyahu and told him the U.S. is ready to offer all appropriate means of support. Biden also released a statement: "The United States unequivocally condemns this appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza. The United States warns against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation. My administration's support for Israel's security is rock solid and unwavering."
This story was created 5:27 EST.
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