Israel declares war on Palestinian militant group

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has declared war against the Palestinian militant group, Hamas, after barrages of rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel on Saturday, Saturday in retaliation for an unexpected attack on the 50th anniversary of the start of the Yom Kippur war in 1973,

 “We are at war, not in an operation or rounds, but at war,” the Israeli leader said in a statement, adding Hamas had launched a “murderous surprise attack” on Israel and its people.

“I have ordered an extensive mobilisation of reserves and that we return fire of a magnitude that the enemy has not known. The enemy will pay an unprecedented price,” he added.

According to Israeli military officials, Hamas fighters crossed into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip, including by paraglider and over the water, and fired more than 2,200 missiles.

Following weeks of growing tensions along the sensitive border, the clash, which has left at least one person dead and numerous others injured in Israel, is one of the most serious in recent memory.

Mohammed Deif, the military chief of Hamas, issued a rare statement in which he urged Arab neighbors of Israel and Palestinians living inside of Israel to join the conflict.

AFP