In response to this grave incident, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a state of “war” and emphasized that Israel would exact an “unprecedented price” from those responsible.
The national rescue service of Israel reported that the Hamas military incursion resulted in the tragic death of 22 individuals and left hundreds more injured, marking it as the deadliest operation within Israeli territory in many years.
In a televised address to his fellow citizens, Prime Minister Netanyahu conveyed, “We are currently in a state of war, not merely an operation or a series of clashes, but a state of war. This morning, Hamas launched a ruthless surprise attack against the State of Israel and its citizens. We have been embroiled in this conflict since the early morning hours.”
