The Hamas militant group attacked Israel on Saturday, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare, “we are at war.” Israel says at least 1,300 people there, most of them civilians, have been killed since Hamas launched the coordinated, multi-fronted attack from the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian territory it has controlled for years.
During a White House briefing on Thursday, John Kirby, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, reported that there were a minimum of 27 U.S. citizens who lost their lives. Additionally, officials have confirmed that a certain number of Americans have been held hostage.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the retaliatory airstrikes conducted by Israel on the Gaza Strip have resulted in the deaths of over 1,500 individuals, with more than 6,000 people injured.
The United Nations said Israel’s military told it late Thursday night that everyone in northern Gaza should evacuate to the south of the enclave within 24 hours, raising expectations that an Israeli invasion was imminent.
Here’s what we know so far.
What happened?
Gaza’s ruling Hamas militant group launched an unprecedented attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as hundreds of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land and sea, catching the country off guard on a major holiday, Simchat Torah, a normally joyous day when Jews complete the annual cycle of reading the Torah scroll.
On Wednesday, Israeli authorities have verified that a minimum of 1,200 Israeli civilians and military personnel have lost their lives. Additionally, an IDF representative stated that 2,700 individuals have been injured.
In an assault of startling breadth, Hamas gunmen rolled into as many as 22 locations outside the Gaza Strip, including Israeli towns and other communities as far as 15 miles from the Gaza border. In some places they gunned down civilians and soldiers as Israel’s military scrambled to muster a response.
Homes and businesses in Tel Aviv and other Israeli communities were hit by rockets, causing significant damage.
According to Tal Bergman, a senior hospital official, more rockets were launched by militants from Gaza in the subsequent days, resulting in the damaging of a hospital located in the Israeli coastal town of Ashkelon on Sunday.
More than 250 mostly young people who had been attending a music festival near Kibbutz Re’im in the Southern Israeli desert were among the dead after Hamas militants entered the area and began firing into the crowd. Others were apparently dragged away as hostages. Haaretz, one of Israel’s largest newspapers, described the scene as a “massacre” and a “battlefield,” reporting that terrorists on motorcycles drove into the crowd shooting.
In small Israeli communities near the Gaza border, first responders and security forces arrived to discover evidence of atrocities: families massacred in their homes, even babies and children beheaded at the Kfar Aza kibbutz.
“The sight of blood scattered across residences is evident. Discovering lifeless bodies of individuals subjected to brutal dismemberment,” expressed Maj. Libby Weiss, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces. “The chilling and disturbing nature of these acts is profoundly haunting.”
According to Hamas, they have seized a significant number of Israeli civilians and soldiers as captives within the Gaza Strip, signifying a notable intensification in the ongoing conflict. President Biden acknowledged on Tuesday that a group of American citizens were also among those being held, although he did not disclose the specific figures. However, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan stated that the count of missing Americans stood at 20 or possibly more.
The Israeli army spokesperson, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, confirmed that a “significant” number of Israelis had been abducted, although the exact count of the hostages was not disclosed by the Israeli military.
On Monday, Hamas issued a threat, stating that if Israeli airstrikes persist in “targeting” Gaza residents without prior warning, they would resort to killing the hostages.
According to news agencies, a spokesperson for the armed wing of Hamas, Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, stated in an audio message that if our people are targeted in their residences without prior notice, we will unfortunately respond by executing one of the civilians we are holding hostage.
“Hamas has been accused by Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan of committing clear and well-documented war crimes.”
Meanwhile, Israeli social media filled up with desperate pleas for information about missing friends and relatives and heart-wrenching tributes to loved ones, including whole families, slaughtered.
On Monday, Israel witnessed ongoing gun battles and rocket fire. According to an Israeli military official who spoke to CBS News, control over the communities surrounding the Gaza Strip had been regained. However, the fighting persisted and there were still confrontations with terrorists in the vicinity.
The strongest condemnation was expressed by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres towards the Hamas attacks, emphasizing the futility of violence in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and calling for maximum self-control.
Israel’s response
During a televised speech on the night of the attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who previously announced that Israel was in a state of war, proclaimed that the military would employ its full might to dismantle Hamas’ capabilities. However, he cautioned that achieving this goal would be a time-consuming and challenging endeavor.
He vowed that Israel would retaliate with a force and intensity that the enemy has never experienced before, stating that they would exact an unparalleled cost.
Many civilians were killed in the blockaded Gaza Strip as Israel’s military targeted command centers used by Hamas and another Iran-backed militant group called Islamic Jihad, according to the Israeli military.
In enormous blasts, the residential buildings in Gaza were leveled by Israeli airstrikes, including a colossal 14-story tower that housed numerous apartments and served as Hamas offices in the heart of Gaza City.
In a statement on Monday, Yoav Gallant, the Israeli Defense Minister, declared that he had issued a directive to intensify the Gaza blockade. He stated, “There will be a complete restriction on the movement of goods, including fuel, electricity, and food supplies. No items will be allowed to enter or exit.” Furthermore, he expressed his perspective on the situation, referring to the opposition as “inhumane individuals,” and emphasized that appropriate measures would be taken to address them.
Residents in Gaza City were urged to evacuate through loudspeakers on top of mosques, and as of Thursday, the United Nations reported that a minimum of 338,000 residents in Gaza have been forced to leave their homes.
Israel appeared to be readying for a ground invasion as the weekend approached, with the United Nations saying Israel’s military told it late Thursday that everyone in northern Gaza should evacuate to the south of the enclave within 24 hours.
The U.N. spokesperson informed CBS News that the global organization believes that any such action would inevitably lead to severe humanitarian consequences. In response, Israeli U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan criticized the U.N.’s reaction to Israel’s prior notification, deeming it “shameful” and accused it of disregarding the brutal attack on Israel.
What is Hamas, and what’s the Iran link?
Hamas, classified as a terror organization by Israel and the United States, is the governing Palestinian militant faction in the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Strip is a region spanning 230 square miles and is home to over 2 million people.
Hamas is backed by Iran and gets most of its funding and support from the Iranian regime.
On “CBS Mornings” Monday, Jon Finer, the U.S. deputy national security adviser, stated with complete certainty that Iran is extensively involved in these attacks. He emphasized that Iran has long been a significant supporter of Hamas, serving as their primary benefactor for many years. Iran has supplied them with weapons, offered training, and provided financial aid. Therefore, there is no doubt that Iran plays a significant role in these attacks, and we are firm in our understanding of their broad complicity.
On Monday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry refuted claims of their involvement in planning or executing the attack. Spokesperson Nasser Kanani, speaking in Tehran, emphasized that the Palestinians possess the capability and determination to defend their nation and reclaim their rights independently, without relying on assistance from their primary supporters in Tehran.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh claimed in an address Saturday that the fight would expand to the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and to Jerusalem, Reuters reported.
Haniyeh was quoted by Reuters as expressing his frustration, questioning how many times they had warned about the Palestinian people residing in refugee camps for 75 years, yet their plea for recognition of their rights continued to be ignored.
Hamas actively advocates for the complete destruction of Israel and has consistently opposed previous attempts at achieving peace between Israel and Palestine. To achieve their objectives, they have resorted to employing tactics such as suicide bombings to target the Jewish state.
Since Hamas assumed control of Gaza in 2007, Israel has enforced a blockade on the territory. This blockade severely impacts the economy of the Palestinian territory by limiting the movement of people and goods both in and out. Israel justifies the blockade as a measure to prevent militants in Gaza from amassing weapons. However, it is evident that despite these restrictions, Hamas has successfully acquired a significant arsenal of rockets and other weaponry.
Israel and Hamas, along with other militant groups in Gaza such as the Iran-backed Islamic Jihad, have been engaged in recurring bouts of conflict throughout the years.
What have U.S. leaders said in response to the attack?
Officials across the U.S. responded quickly to condemn the Hamas attack.
President Biden delivered brief remarks at the White House on Saturday, expressing his concern over the ongoing attacks orchestrated by Hamas, a terrorist organization, against the people of Israel. He emphasized the United States’ unwavering support for Israel and conveyed a message to both Hamas and terrorists worldwide, affirming that the United States stands firmly with Israel.
The president stated that he had been in touch with King Abdullah II of Jordan and U.S. congressional leaders regarding the situation. He specified that he had instructed his team to stay in communication with “leaders in various parts of the region.”
Mr. Biden further emphasized that Israel can count on us to provide the necessary aid for their citizens and to support their ongoing efforts in self-defense.
On Tuesday, he spoke again from the White House and called the attacks “pure, unadulterated evil” at the “bloody hands” of Hamas.
Right now, it is crucial that we make our position unambiguous: We are firmly in support of Israel. We are firmly in support of Israel,” he declared. “Furthermore, we will ensure that Israel is equipped with everything it requires to protect its people, safeguard its borders, and retaliate against this assault.”
Leaders in New York and New Jersey condemned the attacks on Saturday. New York City Mayor Eric Adams, whose city is home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel, called the attack a “cowardly action by a terrorist organization.”
Adams stated that the local community is being actively monitored by city authorities to identify and address any potential threats.
Adams assured that New York City currently faces no plausible threat. However, the administration remains in constant communication with Jewish leaders throughout the five boroughs. To ensure the safety and security of these communities, the NYPD has been instructed to allocate extra resources to Jewish communities and places of worship across the city. The aim is to provide the necessary support and ensure a sense of safety for everyone within these communities, as stated in Adams’ official statement.
On Sunday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin affirmed that the United States would promptly supply the Israel Defense Forces with extra equipment and resources, which includes munitions.
Austin said he had directed the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the eastern Mediterranean, which includes an aircraft carrier and the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Normandy.
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- War
- Terrorism
- Iran
- Hamas
- Israel
- Middle East
- Benjamin Netanyahu
