BICOM

• Prime Minister Netanyahu has confirmed that Israel is at war, with armed terrorists currently operating in various population centres across southern Israel after a surprise Hamas attack was launched this morning from the Gaza Strip.
• The terrorists have infiltrated Israel by breaching the Gaza barrier, amid the firing of at least 2,200 rockets into southern and central Israel – including towards Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
• The Magen David Adom emergency service says at least 22 people have been killed, according to Hebrew-language media reports, and there are reports of hospitals across Israel receiving at least 545 patients.
• Hamas has issued videos purportedly showing its terrorists breaching barriers protecting Israeli border communities.
• Further, unconfirmed, reports have claimed that terrorists have taken hostages, both dead and alive.
• The attack occurred in the midst of Simchat Torah, when hundreds of thousands of Israelis were on their way to the synagogues to celebrate with their communities and families.
• In response, the IDF has launched “Operation Iron Swords” and has announced a widespread call up in all areas, expected to draft tens of thousands of Israelis. The Israeli Air Force has struck Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, including 17 military compounds and four headquarters.
• Gun battles between IDF troops and Hamas terrorists have taken or are taking place in multiple locations near the border, including in Kfar Aza, Sderot, Sufa, Nahal Oz, Magen, Be’eri and the Re’im military base.
• Six and a half hours after the initial attack, Israeli forces’ priority is on engaging remaining terrorists in Israel and resealing the border to prevent further infiltrations.
• The IDF’s top spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said: “At this time, the IDF is reinforcing the south and the communities surrounding the Gaza Strip with several operational forces. Operational commanders are arriving to manage the combat in each location. In parallel to this, we have begun a wide mobilisation of reservists for all IDF units.”
• Israeli Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai said that the police are managing “a number of war zones together with the IDF and with special units and all the additional forces that have been launched towards the Gaza Strip.” He urged all citizens to stay in their homes and that “we know about civilians who are barricaded in all kinds of places.”
• Five hours after the start of the attack, Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed Israelis in a televised statement, saying “citizens of Israel, we are at war.” He continued: “And we will win. The enemy will pay a price like they have never known before.” He then convened a meeting of Israel’s Security Cabinet early this afternoon.
• Israel has no interest in harming the civilian population of the Gaza Strip and has always made the distinction of only targeting combatants and terror infrastructure. However, the terrorist organisations also know this and deliberately embed themselves amongst the civilian population, shooting at Israel whilst using their own population as human shields.
• Opposition leaders expressed a commitment to an iron-clad united Israeli front. Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid, National Unity leader Benny Gantz, Yisrael Beitenu chief Avigdor Lieberman and Labour party head Merav Michaeli said in a joint statement: “In days like these there is no opposition and no coalition in Israel.” They “are united in the face of terrorism” and the need to respond with “a strong and determined fist. It is necessary to mobilise the international community against terrorism.”
• Hamas has labelled the coordinated attack “Operation Al-Aqsa Deluge”, and claimed it is in response to (non-existent) Israeli “desecration” of Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa Mosque.
• It comes only a week after calm appeared to have been restored to the Gazan border, following weeks of violent rioting.
• International mediation from the US, UN, and Qatar seemed to have helped to reach an understanding between Israel and Hamas, allowing the reopening of the Erez Crossing and the re-entry of 17,000 Gazan workers into Israel.
• Hezbollah has issued a statement praising the attacks and saying they are a lesson to those Arab states which would look to normalise relations with Israel.
• In Jerusalem, Shabbat prayers have been cancelled, as police and IDF troops clash with Palestinians in the East of the city.
• The Magen David Adom emergency service has called on Israelis to donate blood.
• All schools south of Netanya and north of the central Negev are to be closed and businesses can only be opened if there is ready access to bomb shelters, the military says. Gatherings are also restricted to 10 people outdoors and 50 people indoors in those areas, the IDF Home Front Command says.
• Condemnation of the attacks has come from across the UK political spectrum. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Israel has “an absolute right to defend itself” and that he was “shocked by this morning’s attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli citizens.”
• Foreign Secretary James Cleverly wrote on social media: “The UK unequivocally condemns the horrific attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians. The UK will always support Israel’s right to defend itself.”
• Opposition Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “I utterly condemn the ongoing attacks on Israel and her citizens. There is no justification for this act of terror which is being perpetrated by those who seek to undermine any chance for future peace in the region. Israel has a right to defend herself.”