All You Need to Know About the Israel-Hamas Conflict

Imagine you are asleep in your house in the morning and suddenly you wake up due to the sounds of loud sirens, warning that your locality is under attack by rockets. You would surely be terrified.

This is the situation that the Israeli citizens faced today at around 6:30 AM Israel Daylight Time (9 AM Indian Standard Time). The sirens were heard at Israel’s Economic and Technical Centre, Tel Aviv and the regions near Gaza.

The Hamas militants had launched a surprise attack on Israel today. Hamas militants entered Israel through land, sea, and air, with some even using paragliders, Israel Defence Forces said.

The Israel Defence Forces said around 2000 rockets were fired at Israel while Hamas claims the number to be 5000. The exact numbers are still not confirmed and the reports of damages are yet to come. The damages can be estimated by bringing the 50-day war between the two sides in 2014 into perspective in which around 4000 rockets were fired.

Hamas military commander Muhammad Al-Deif called the operation “Al-Aqsa Storm” and said that the assault on Israel was a response to attacks on women, the desecration of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and the ongoing siege of Gaza.

Irony to his statement, the Hamas militants seem to attack Israeli women. According to a video circulating on Twitter, Hamas militants are parading a semi-naked dead body of an Israeli woman throughout the city in an open truck. There are also reports of 35 Israeli soldiers and several workers from Nepal and other countries being captured by the terrorist group.

Israel has responded to these attacks by launching “Operation Swords of Iron,” striking several key points of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel’s response to the Hamas incursion will “exact a huge price” on the militant group.

IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht told CNN that “tens of thousands” of Israeli reservists have also been called up to help, adding that he hopes “there will be no more live terrorists in Israel” by the end of the day. He also said that Israel would be ready in case of an attack from Lebanon or Syria.

Leaders from all around the world have extended their support to Israel.

“Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X. “We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.”

“The U.S. unequivocally condemns the unprovoked attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians,” said Adrienne Watson, spokeswoman for the U.S. National Security Council. “We stand firmly with the government and people of Israel and extend our condolences for the Israeli lives lost in these attacks.”

India had always stood against all terror activities and had taken strict actions against it. We support the retaliation of Israel. The guilty should not go unpunished and the supporters should pay the price. The people of India are supporting Israel in all possible ways and “India is With Israel” is trending on Indian X.

The war should end quickly and peace should be established. The United Nations Security Council has called for an emergency meeting this afternoon to discuss the situation in Israel.