Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that Israel is at war with Hamas after the Palestinian militant group launched an attack on Israel.
“We are at war, not in an operation or in rounds, but at war,” Netanyahu said in a televised address. “This morning, Hamas launched a murderous surprise attack against the State of Israel and its citizens.”
Netanyahu said he had ordered the Israeli military to “clear out” communities near the Gaza Strip that have been infiltrated by Hamas militants. He also ordered an extensive mobilization of reserve troops and warned that Hamas would “pay an unprecedented price.”
The latest round of violence between Israel and Hamas began on Friday, when Hamas fired dozens of rockets into Israel. Israel responded with airstrikes on Gaza, killing at least 12 people.
The violence has raised concerns about a wider conflict in the region. The United Nations has called on both sides to exercise restraint and to take steps to protect civilians.
אנחנו במלחמה. pic.twitter.com/XNM3l7fEQH
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) October 7, 2023
