Hamas launches surprise attack on Israel as Palestinian gunmen reported in south

[BigmanPigman]

Source: The Guardian

Israel and Hamas appear to be headed to war once again after the Palestinian militant group launched a massive aerial and ground surprise attack from the Gaza Strip.

Sirens sounded across Israel and as far north as the contested city of Jerusalem from around 7am on Saturday after volleys of what Hamas claimed were 5,000 rockets launched from the blockaded enclave. There also appeared to be a ground infiltration by Hamas gunmen towards Israeli towns and villages on the periphery – an unprecedented development in the 16 years since the Islamists took over the strip.

Unconfirmed initial reports and graphic pictures and video appeared to show that gunmen had opened fire in the border town of Sderot, killing several Israeli civilians and soldiers. One elderly woman was confirmed dead by medics in unclear circumstances, and another four people killed by rocket fire.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/07/hamas-launches-surprise-attack-on-israel-as-palestinian-gunmen-reported-in-south

[Arazi]

1. Fairly sure the IDF is going to fuck them up

And then turn Gaza into a parking lot.

Only question imo, is if they decide to go after other countries that are surely involved in providing Hamas with this level of firepower (like Iran).

This is going to be so bad so fast

[Lancero]

12. Iran is hardly the only nation with incentive, given recent events.

https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/2023-03-14/ty-article/.premium/russia-invites-hamas-leaders-for-kremlin-visit/00000186-df39-dc06-afdf-ff3fd16c0000

Russia, no doubt, would love for a new war to kick off in the Middle East. Be a real good way to cut US support for Ukraine - Republican support, tepid as it is, would vanish instantly since they could point to Israel and say they need our help more.

[Arazi]

13. 1000% agreed

In fact I’d be surprised if it’s just one country - it’s an extremely large and broad incursion

[blue-wave]

25. "Russia, no doubt, would love for a new war to kick off in the Middle East."

My very first thought when I heard the news.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

32. Densely populated...?.? That suggestion would be a a war crime, yet another.

[EX500rider]

38. IDF responding to Hamas attacks is not a war crime

Hamas firing unguided rockets at Israeli towns certainly is.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

40. And yet you say nothing about the terrorist Hamas org.

firing thousands of rockets into densely populated areas of Israel, nor the wanton murder of Israeli men, women and children by Hamas and Palestinian terrorists.

But, that doesn't really surprise me.

[Arazi]

2. Analysts describing a complete collapse of IDF military and security intelligence

Link to tweet

?s=46

[BigmanPigman]

3. I've been watching

and it seems they somehow got in from the air, sea and ground. This was well planned.

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-10-07/ty-article-live/israel-under-attack-terrorists-infiltrate-from-gaza-amid-massive-rocket-barrages/0000018b-088b-dae9-adcb-abbff50f0000

"Israeli army says dozens of Palestinian militants infiltrate Israel from Gaza by land, sea and air ■ Some 2,500 rockets fired from the Strip ■ Over 200 Israelis reportedly wounded ■ Army strikes Hamas targets in Gaza ■ Terrorists hold Israeli civilians hostage in their homes"

[Arazi]

4. Waiting for Hezbollah now

I’m sure Hamas had help from Iran (and Russia?)

Hezbollah jumping in from the West Bank would mean Lebanon is involved too indicating months of planning and coordination.

It’s going to turn out to be another Yom Kippur war I think, with a lot of regional and outside groups converging on attacking Israel

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. Hezbollah congratulates Hamas but takes careful stance

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah congratulated Hamas militants on the incursion into Israeli territory from Gaza, but issued a carefully-worded statement which suggests they are currently backing away from any further involvement, tamping down on concerns they could fire weaponry into Israel via its northern border.

In a statement issued via the Hezbollah-linked news outlet Al Manar, the group said they are “closely keeping pace with the important developments on the Palestinian scene and following conditions in the field with great interest,” adding that they remain “in direct contact,” with the leadership of Palestinian armed groups in order to assess ongoing events.

The statement also described the incursion as a message against normalisation to the international community, particularly those seeking diplomatic relations with Israel.

This is likely an oblique reference to countries in the Gulf, particularly Saudi Arabia which has been in the early stages of talks with the United States to discuss a potential peace deal with Israel.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/oct/07/hamas-launches-attack-on-israel-with-5000-rockets-live?page=with:block-652134738f08297bb342399b#block-652134738f08297bb342399b

[Alexander Of Assyria]

33. I don't see the congratulations part? Any full statement, not clips?

[muriel_volestrangler]

34. In Arabic, with a machine translation:

https://www.almanar.com.lb/11001146

Hizbullah blessed the Palestinian resistance people and the mujahideen of the heroic Palestinian factions, especially the dear brothers in the Qassam Brigades and the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas, for the heroic large-scale operation crowned with victory, divine support and the promise of a final and comprehensive victory.

In a statement on Saturday, Hezbollah said that this triumphant operation is a decisive response to the persistent crimes of occupation and the continuous infringement on sanctities, honors and dignity, and a new affirmation that the will of the Palestinian people and the gun of resistance is the only option in the face of aggression and occupation and a message to the Arab and Islamic world and the entire international community, especially those seeking normalization with this enemy, that the cause of Palestine is a living cause that does not die until victory and liberation.

Hizbullah called on the peoples of our Arab and Islamic nation and the free people of the world to declare support and support for the Palestinian people and the resistance movements that affirm their unity on the ground in blood, word and deed.

The party stressed in its statement that "the leadership of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon keeps pace with important developments on the Palestinian arena closely and follows the situation on the ground with great interest and is in direct contact with the leadership of the Palestinian resistance at home and abroad and conducts a continuous assessment of events and the conduct of operations, and therefore we call on the government of the Zionist enemy to read the important lessons and lessons devoted by the Palestinian resistance in the field and the battlefields."

[electric_blue68]

42. Oh... "joy" 😑 (NO love for Netanyahu & RW Israelis, either!)

[IbogaProject]

14. Gee corrupt racist fascist government messes up

A totally far right coalition with tons of side deals leads to not having the best running things.

[EX500rider]

16. Yes, Hamas is pretty bad. nt

[McKim]

41. Really?

Really? The Israeli Government has the best intelligence apparatus. Maybe Netanyahu knew but let it be a surprise to get the country behind their savior, himself. Then they would forget their differences and Netanyahu would be a hero. Just a possibility!

[Eugene]

5. 'We are at war,' Netanyahu declares after surprise attack on Israel by Hamas

‘We are at war,’ Netanyahu declares after surprise attack on Israel by Hamas (Politico)

Israel was struck by a surprise attack by Hamas early Saturday morning in one of the most serious escalations in years between Israel and the Islamist militant group. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the country was “at war.”

Israel launched retaliatory air strikes on targets in Gaza.

The massive assault by Hamas combined a barrage of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel and dozens of heavily armed gunmen attacking the country’s south from Gaza. At least 22 Israelis have been killed in the attack with more than 250 wounded, Israel’s ambulance service said, according to media reports. The toll was expected to rise.

https://www.politico.eu/article/israel-palestina-gaza-air-and-ground-attack-by-hamas/

[AverageOldGuy]

7. I'm confused.

I thought Jared Kushner -- noted Middle East scholar and world-class diplomat -- had brought lasting peace to the MidEast???

[KS Toronado]

11. There was an expiration clause in his negotiations

Good only until my daddy gets kicked out of the White House.

[dalton99a]

8. .

Palestinians celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis southern Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Hassan Eslaiah)

[Calista241]

9. This is probably going to fuck up the Saudi / Israeli peace deal that was supposedly on the table.

Along with increased oil production from SA.

[Major Nikon]

10. Pretty sure that was the intent

[Mosby]

15. Hamas is just randomly murdering people.

Very Graphic.

Link to tweet

[question everything]

17. And taking civilians hostages. A dangerous development

[Mosby]

18. Celebrations and rallies in ME countries.

Link to tweet

[JoseBalow]

22. Reminds me of how they celebrated the 9/11 attacks

[electric_blue68]

43. Well, screw that

[muriel_volestrangler]

19. Israeli casualties rise to 100 dead and 985 wounded

Israel's health ministry has given updated numbers to Israeli media of the victims of Hamas's attack since early on Saturday.

The death toll is now reported to be about 100 and the number of people taken to hospital at 985.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67037895?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=6521840f02d73c280f4a9090%26Israeli%20casualties%20rise%20to%20100%20dead%20and%20985%20wounded%262023-10-07T16%3A17%3A46.156Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset 7610cb5-7bfa-4633-9c18-1fdf9b7e004a&pinned_post_asset_id=6521840f02d73c280f4a9090&pinned_post_type=share

Israeli captives in secure places and tunnels, Hamas says

The Israeli army spokesperson earlier confirmed that "soldiers and civilians" have been abducted by Palestinian militants, and that there were hostage situations in the kibbutzes of Ofakim and Be'eri, where special forces were involved.

Now, Hamas has said that "the Israeli captives have been placed in secured places and in tunnels".

They haven't given any details on where these "secure places" or tunnels are, and whether they are back in Gaza or in Israel.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67037895?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=652188fb3fc96e28602bfbb7%26Israeli%20captives%20in%20secure%20places%20and%20tunnels%2C%20Hamas%20says%262023-10-07T16%3A44%3A49.520Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:d229d99e-aa21-4d1b-96c1-0ae3a654c6e1&pinned_post_asset_id=652188fb3fc96e28602bfbb7&pinned_post_type=share

[electric_blue68]

44. Disgusted with this, too. Poor people.

[Mosby]

20. Kidnappings

Link to tweet

[Jedi Guy]

21. I know it's impossible to say from a position of safety when not under threat, but...

If you were an Israeli, why would you let Hamas take you alive? Odds are you're going to be tortured and probably killed anyway, and even in the best case scenario you're going to end up as a bargaining chip that'll be used to hurt other people. That female IDF soldier who was captured is probably going to be treated horrifically.

Once Israel gets both feet under them again, Hamas is going to get more than a bloody nose this time, I think.

[Mosby]

24. Thats a good question.

I would be looking to escape any way possible, including jumping out or crashing the vehicle.

[Elessar Zappa]

36. Reminds of me of the settlers in Texas during their war with the Comanche.

They would generally save one bullet for themselves if they were ever captured due to the high likelihood of horrific torture by the Comanches.

[JoseBalow]

23. This on the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War

Coincidence? I think not

[NickB79]

26. The Israeli version of the attack on Pearl Harbor

And Hamas playing the role of Japan.

They're going to be wiped out.

[Mosby]

27. The parties have started in the West bank.

Link to tweet

[Mosby]

28. Celebrations in London.

Link to tweet

[XorXor]

31. Those people thousands of miles away celebrating death and destestruction in a faraway land

This detachment from the suffering of actual people (on all sides of this conflict) is disturbing.

[Mosby]

29. Missing Israelis

Link to tweet

[Mosby]

30. 250 reported deaths now.

Warning graphic.

Link to tweet

[Cherokee100]

35. Some how

Some how, I get the feeling that, Putin is loving this tragedy.

[Mosby]

37. One of the kidnapped kids in Gaza

The Gazans and Hamas have completely dehumanized Israelis. The Gazan kid is saying "mommy, mommy, mommy" as a taunt.

Link to tweet

[LudwigPastorius]

39. This shit will never end, will it?