The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip have carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel. On Saturday, October 7, they fired thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations and caught the country off-guard on a major holiday. Israel says at least 70 people have died. At least 198 people were killed in Gaza on Saturday, the Health Ministry in the Palestinian enclave said, with 1,610 wounded.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Israel was "at war" and called for a mass mobilization of army reserves. The invasion revived memories of the 1973 war practically 50 years to the day.
The latest death toll came from the Magen David Adom rescue service as fighting was still underway on Saturday. Hospitals in Israel are treating hundreds of wounded people, including dozens in critical condition. Netanyahu promises to exact ‘a huge price’ from Hamas
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will exact a "huge price" on Hamas in response to an unprecedented infiltration that killed at least 22 people. Netanyahu told his Security Cabinet on Saturday that Israel’s first goal is to "cleanse the area" of militants and regain control of the southern communities that were attacked.
"The second goal, at the same time, is to exact a huge price from the enemy, also in the Gaza Strip," he said. He called on the nation to remain calm and unite "to achieve our highest goal – victory in the war."
The Israeli military confirmed Hamas claims that its fighters had kidnapped a number of Israelis. The army did not offer further details, declining to comment on how many Israelis had been seized.
Social media has been filled with videos claiming to show Hamas fighters dragging lifeless Israeli soldiers and parading captured civilians through the streets.
The United Nations human rights chief says he is "shocked and appalled" by the firing of large numbers of rockets at Israel. Volker Türk called for an immediate end to the violence, appealing to all sides and "key countries in the region" to de-escalate and avoid further bloodshed. Türk said in a statement released in Geneva he is also "deeply concerned at reports that Israeli civilians have been taken hostage."
The Soroka Medical Center in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba said it was treating at least 280 casualties, with 60 in serious condition. The Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon, near Gaza, said it was treating 182 wounded people, including 12 in critical condition.
There was no official comment on casualties in Gaza, but Associated Press reporters witnessed the funerals of 15 people who were killed and saw another eight bodies arrive at a local hospital. It was not immediately clear if they were fighters or civilians.