Gaza City bombed by Israel

Smoke rises over Gaza City on Saturday, October 7, 2023 during retaliatory Israeli air strikes.

(Photo by MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images)

Netanyahu: Israel 'At War'; Media: Surprise Attack 'A Massive Intelligence Failure'

Israeli jets are bombing the Gaza Strip in retaliation

BREAKING NEWS. This article will be updated.

Hamas launched a surprise operation on an unprecedented scale against Israel early Saturday by land, air, and sea. Hamas’s military chief, Muhammad Deif said the operation was codenamed “Al-Aqsa Flood.”

Israeli media calls it a massive intelligence failure by Israel and the United States.

The day marks a tremendous strategic failure and defeat for Israel, even as it bombs Gaza in retaliation. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza says the death toll of the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza has risen to 198, with 1,610 injured.

And Israel’s Channel 12 reports that the Israeli death toll has risen to at least 40 and more than 740 people have been injured.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Hamas would pay an “unprecedented price” and warned of severe retaliation to come after ordering an extensive mobilization of Israeli army reserves.

Hamas spokesperson Khaled Qadomi told Al Jazeera that the group’s military operation is in response to all the atrocities the Palestinians have faced over the decades. “We want the international community to stop atrocities in Gaza, against Palestinian people, our holy sites like Al-Aqsa. All these things are the reason behind starting this battle,” he said.

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