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In pictures: Scenes of war and chaos after Hamas launch surprise attack on Israel

The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched the biggest attack on Israel in years on Saturday in a surprise multi-pronged assault that saw armed fighters crossing into several Israeli towns by air, land and sea while thousands of rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip.
Police officers evacuate a woman and a child from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, southern Israel, on October 7. © Tsafrir Abayov, AP

Police officers evacuate a woman and a child from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, southern Israel, on October 7. © Tsafrir Abayov, AP

Dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified Israel-Gaza border, fighting gunbattles inside several Israeli communities, and catching the country off-guard on a major holiday. 

At least 22 Israelis have been killed in the attack so far with more than 250 wounded, Israel's ambulance service said, adding that the toll was expected to rise.

 

Israeli fire brigade teams douse the blaze in a parking lot outside a residential building following a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, on October 7.
Israeli fire brigade teams douse the blaze in a parking lot outside a residential building following a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, on October 7. © Ahmad Gharabli, AFP

 
An aerial view shows vehicles on fire in Ashkelon, southern Israel, as rockets are launched from the Gaza Strip on October 7.
An aerial view shows vehicles on fire in Ashkelon, southern Israel, as rockets are launched from the Gaza Strip on October 7. © Ilan Rosenberg, Reuters

 
Members of the Israeli frorces take cover on the side of a street in Ashkelon as sirens wail while barrages of rockets are fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel on October 7.
Members of the Israeli frorces take cover on the side of a street in Ashkelon as sirens wail while barrages of rockets are fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel on October 7. © Ahmad Gharabli, AFP



Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was at "war" with Hamas and vowed to retaliate. 

"We are at war, not in an operation or in 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 said.

The Israeli military struck targets in Gaza in response to Hamas firing more than 2,000 rockets that sent air raid sirens wailing constantly as far north as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

It said its forces were engaged in gunfights with Hamas militants who had infiltrated Israel in at least seven locations. The fighters had sneaked across the separation fence and even invaded Israel by air with paragliders, the army said.

It was not immediately clear what prompted Hamas to launch its attack, which came after weeks of simmering tensions along the Gaza frontier. The shadowy leader of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif, announced the start of what he called “Operation Al-Aqsa Storm".

“Enough is enough,” he said in the recorded message, as he called on Palestinians from east Jerusalem to northern Israel to join the fight. “Today the people are regaining their revolution." 

 

Palestinians in the West Bank city of Nablus celebrate after fighters from the Gaza Strip infiltrated Israel on October 7.
Palestinians in the West Bank city of Nablus celebrate after fighters from the Gaza Strip infiltrated Israel on October 7. © Jaafar Ashtiyeh, AFP


 
People assess the destruction caused by Israeli air strikes in Gaza City on October 7.
People assess the destruction caused by Israeli air strikes in Gaza City on October 7. © Mohammed Abed, AFP


 
Palestinian militants move towards the border fence with Israel from Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 7.
Palestinian militants move towards the border fence with Israel from Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 7. © Said Khatib, AFP



Israeli broadcaster Reshet 13 TV News said militants were holding Israelis hostage in the town of Ofakim, and that five Palestinian militants had been killed in the town of Sderot and homes had been set on fire.

Israeli media reported gunbattles between bands of Palestinian fighters and security forces in towns in southern Israel. Israel’s police chief said there were “21 active scenes” in southern Israel, indicating the extent of the attack.


 
Israeli police officers evacuate a family from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, southern Israel.
Israeli police officers evacuate a family from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, southern Israel. © Tsafrir Abayov, AP


 
Residents in Ashkelon, southern Israel, look at the damage left behind after a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip struck their neighbourhood.
Residents in Ashkelon, southern Israel, look at the damage left behind after a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip struck their neighbourhood. © Ohad Zwigenberg, AP

A worker for Israel's national emergency organisation Magen David Adom watches cars burning after a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a parking lot and residential building in Ashkelon, southern Israel.
A worker for Israel's national emergency organisation Magen David Adom watches cars burning after a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a parking lot and residential building in Ashkelon, southern Israel. © Tsafrir Abayov, AP


 
Israelis donate blood at a hospital in Tel Aviv to help those affected by the barrage of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip on October 7.
Israelis donate blood at a hospital in Tel Aviv to help those affected by the barrage of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip on October 7. © Jack Guez, AFP


In Gaza, people rushed to buy supplies in anticipation of days of conflict ahead. Some evacuated their homes and headed for shelters.
 

A Palestinian boy in the northern Gaza Strip reacts next to a burning Israeli vehicle that Palestinian gunmen brought to Gaza after they infiltrated areas of southern Israel, on October 7.
A Palestinian boy in the northern Gaza Strip reacts next to a burning Israeli vehicle that Palestinian gunmen brought to Gaza after they infiltrated areas of southern Israel, on October 7. © Mahmoud Issa, Reuters


The attack marks one of the most serious escalations in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in years. 

(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS, AFP, AP)

Author: Editors Desk

Source: France 24

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