| 07 October 2023
| Christie Anto
In a shocking escalation of violence, Palestinian militants carried out an unprecedented infiltration into Israel, launching dozens of rockets early on Saturday, which resulted in the tragic death of a 70-year-old woman. The incident has prompted Israel to declare a state of war following numerous infiltrations and rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip. Israel has also urged its citizens to remain indoors as tensions escalate in the region.
The Israeli military confirmed that "a number of terrorists have infiltrated into Israeli territory." In response, they launched strikes on targets within the Gaza Strip, while air raid sirens blared in Jerusalem. Amateur videos shared on social media depicted uniformed gunmen within the Israeli border town of Sderot, accompanied by the unsettling sound of gunfire. The authenticity of these videos, however, could not be immediately verified.
The situation escalated rapidly as the sounds of outgoing rockets whooshing through the air reverberated in Gaza. Sirens could be heard as far away as Tel Aviv, approximately 70 kilometers to the north. This early morning barrage, lasting more than 30 minutes, has raised alarm across the nation.
The Magen David Adom rescue agency reported that a 70-year-old woman was critically injured when a rocket struck a building in southern Israel. Additionally, a 20-year-old man sustained moderate injuries from rocket shrapnel.
In an extraordinary move, Mohammed Deif, the elusive leader of Hamas' military wing, the group opposing Israel, publicly announced a new military operation against Israel. He stated that 5,000 rockets were fired into Israel early Saturday to initiate "Operation Al-Aqsa Storm." Deif emphasized, "We've decided to say enough is enough," and urged all Palestinians to confront Israel. The message, delivered in a recording, marked a rare public statement from the leader who has survived multiple Israeli assassination attempts.
These rocket launches come after weeks of escalating tensions along Israel's volatile border with Gaza and heavy fighting in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Israel's longstanding blockade over Gaza, in place since Hamas seized control of the territory in 2007, has been a contentious issue. The blockade restricts the movement of people and goods in and out of Gaza, resulting in dire economic consequences for the region. Israel defends the blockade as necessary to prevent militant groups from amassing weapons, while Palestinians argue that it amounts to collective punishment.
The recent Palestinian rocket fire coincides with a period of heightened violence in the West Bank, where nearly 200 Palestinians have lost their lives in Israeli military raids this year. Israel claims these raids target militants, but they have also resulted in casualties among stone-throwing protesters and civilians not involved in the violence. Palestinian attacks on Israeli targets have also claimed more than 30 lives.
Tensions have now spread to Gaza, with Hamas-linked activists staging violent demonstrations along the Israeli border in recent weeks. These demonstrations were only halted in late September after international mediation efforts.
The situation remains extremely volatile, with both sides experiencing heightened animosity and violence. The international community continues to closely monitor developments in the region, as efforts to bring about peace and stability appear increasingly challenging.
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