ISRAEL AT WAR
ISRAEL AT WAR
BY JENNIFER NWOSU
Palestinian militants on Saturday launched the biggest attack on Israel in years, sending fighters over the border from Gaza, taking hostages and firing thousands of rockets in an ongoing assault.
Israel's prime minister said the country was "at war" as the military launched retaliatory strikes against Hamas targets in Gaza.
The militant group Hamas launched a sustained barrage of thousands of rockets in a coordinated attack by land, sea and air and its forces crossed the Gaza border
Israel declared war on Hamas and said it launched retaliatory strikes against 17 military compounds and locations connected to Hamas’s leadership in Gaza. Israel sent four army divisions to the country's south, and Israeli forces were fighting to clear militants from 22 locations inside Israeli towns and villages.
At least 200 people in Israel were confirmed dead and 1,110 wounded. At least 232 Palestinians have been killed so far and more than 1,697 injured, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Israeli soldiers and civilians had been captured and taken into Gaza, the Israeli military said. Israeli hostages were also being held by militants in at least two Israeli towns.
Hamas says that the attacks are only the beginning and that it is preparing for a long battle. The militant group said it had taken over several Israeli villages in the country’s south and captured at least five Israeli soldiers.
Iran praised Palestinian militants for the assault. Israel’s president accused Iran of coordinating the attacks.
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