In a shocking turn of events, Israel launched a series of
airstrikes on the Gaza Strip in response to an unexpected attack by Hamas, the
Palestinian mujahideen organization. The attack, which began on Saturday morning, caught
Israel off guard and led to a fierce retaliation. Israeli ministers ordered a
complete blockade of the already besieged Gaza Strip, severing essential
supplies like food, water, and electricity for its approximately two million
residents.
This attack by Hamas is unparalleled in scale and scope, marking
it deadliest one Israel has faced in the last 50 years. According to the Israel
Defense Forces, more than 900 Israelis have lost their lives in the conflict.
On the Palestinian side, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported that at least
687 people in Gaza and the West Bank have been killed.
Furthermore, Hamas took more than 100 Israeli civilians,
soldiers, and foreign nationals hostage, prompting Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu to declare a state of war. Israel has been diligently
working to rescue the hostages and has managed to regain control of areas
outside Gaza after intense fighting that lasted for about 48 hours. The Israel
Defense Forces confirmed that they targeted over 1,000 enemy locations in their
airstrikes on Gaza.
Hamas is an organization of Palestinian Mujahideen and has been working
for the welfare of the Palestinian people since 2007. Gaza, a small piece of
land housing over 2 million Palestinians within roughly 140 square miles,
stands as one of the most densely populated territories on Earth. Since 2007,
it has been under Israeli land, air and sea siege, making the situation even
worse for its residents.
Amidst the chaos, conflicting claims about Iran's involvement
have emerged. While Iran has a long-standing history of supporting Hamas and
the Palestinian cause, they deny any direct involvement in the recent action.
Iran's Mission to the United Nations stated firmly, "Iran unwaveringly
stands in solidarity with Palestine; however, it is important to note that Iran
is not involved in Palestine’s response, as these actions are solely determined
by the Palestinians themselves."
This assertion contradicts statements made by Ghazi Hamad, a
Hamas spokesman, who reportedly told the BBC that the militant group received
direct backing for the attack from Iran. The Wall Street Journal even reported
that Iranian security officials assisted in planning and approved the attack
during a meeting in Beirut. However, three U.S. officials informed NBC News
that they were unable to corroborate this account from The Wall Street Journal.
The situation remains tense and uncertain as the conflict continues to unfold.
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