News/Commentary

Netanyahu declares ‘we are at war’ after Hamas launches rockets into Israel, armed militants PARAGLIDE across border

October 7, 2023 | | Print Article

“Citizens of Israel. We are at war.”

Those were the chilling words of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following a brutal surprise Hamas attack that included the launch of 5,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel.

The Hamas operation, dubbed “Al-Aqsa Flood,” came from the land, sea, and air, NBC News reports.

Video on social media reportedly shows armed Hamas militants paragliding across Israel’s border.

The militant group’s leader, Mohammed Deif, called on Palestinians to fight.

“Enough is enough,” he stated in a recorded message. “This is the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on earth.”

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“We are in a war, not an operation, in a war,” Netanyahu said, calling the Hamas attack “murderous.”

“Residential areas across the state of Israel have been under rocket barrage since early this morning,” the official State of Israel account posted on X. “Armed Hamas terrorists are patrolling the streets and trying to slaughter innocent Israeli civilians who have barricades themselves into their homes.”

Indeed, many unconfirmed videos that are circulating on social media and are simply too graphic to share here reportedly show Palestinians parading the desecrated corpses of slaughtered Israeli citizens in the streets.

“I convened the heads of the security cabinet,” Netanyahu stated. “First of all, I instructed to cleanse the communities of the terrorists who had infiltrated. This operation is being carried out during these hours.”

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“At the same time, I ordered an extensive reserve mobilization and a retaliatory war with a strength and scope that the enemy did not know,” the prime minister told Israeli citizens. “The enemy will pay a price it has never known before.”


According to the Jerusalem Post, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched “Operation Iron Swords” in response to the savage attacks.

“Operational commanders are arriving to manage the combat in all areas,” IDF Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Hagari explained. “Concurrently, we have initiated the call-up of reservists for various units within the IDF.”

“Numerous IDF units, including special units, have been deployed to the Gaza periphery and are engaging in various combat zones to protect the residents of the southern region,” The Post reports. “Dozens of combat aircraft from the Air Force have recently struck several targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip.”


Unbelievably, there does not appear to be a reaction from the White House at the time of this report. One must assume that a statement is forthcoming.

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Meanwhile, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) called on the U.S. to support Israel’s “right to self-defense.”

“Iran-controlled Hamas terrorists launched a literal war against Israel tonight,” Cruz said in a statement posted to X. “Our Israeli allies will now do what they must to defend themselves and I stand with them as they confront this violence and these atrocities.”

“The United States must continue to support Israel’s absolute right to self-defense and ensure it has the military resources and diplomatic support it needs to confront the genocidal Iran-controlled terrorists who seek Israel’s destruction,” he stated.


Global leaders are condemning the Hamas attacks.

“I unequivocally condemn the attack carried out by Hamas terrorists against Israel,” stated Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission. “It is terrorism in its most despicable form. Israel has the right to defend itself against such heinous attacks.”

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“I strongly condemn the current terrorist attacks against Israel,” said French President Emmanuel Macron. “I express my full solidarity with the victims, their families and loved ones.”

“Hamas escalates violence,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said, according to Google translation. “I strongly condemn the terrorist attacks from Gaza against #Israel.”

“Violence and rockets against innocent people must stop immediately,” she continued. “Israel has our full solidarity and the right under international law to defend itself against terror.”

“The Italian government is closely following the brutal attack taking place in Israel,” the official X account of the Embassy of Italy in Israel posted. “Condemns in the strongest terms the ongoing terror and violence against innocent civilians. Terror will never prevail. We support Israel’s right to defend itself.”

“The UK unequivocally condemns the horrific attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians,” stated Great Britain’s foreign minister James Cleverly. “The UK will always support Israel’s right to defend itself.”

 

Melissa Fine
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