After the surprise attack by Hamas militants from Gaza, Israel launched a counterattack with its fighter jets targeting the city of Gaza. World leaders had condemned the attack and called for ‘peace’. Meanwhile, the Israel’s national rescue service said at least 40 people have been killed and over 700 were injured in the attack.
Reportedly, Palestinian militants are holding Israelis hostages in the southern town of Ofakim. Hamas and Islamic Jihad had claimed of holding Israeli soldiers hostages as well.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the beginning of the cabinet meeting said that the focus presently is to clear the impacted areas of militant attack and restore security.
“I call on all of Israel’s citizens to unite,” said Netanyahu.
Meanwhile, at least 160 Palestinians have been killed in the counterattack, reported Al Jazeera.
World leaders calls for peace
Many countries including the United States, India, United Kingdom, France, Egypt and Spain extended support to Israel.
United States White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said that Washington condemns the attack and extends condolences. "The US unequivocally condemns the unprovoked attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians. There is never any justification for terrorism. We stand firmly with the government and people of Israel and extend our condolences for the Israeli lives lost in these attacks."
United Kingdom also condemned the attack. "The UK unequivocally condemns the horrific attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians. The UK will always support Israel’s right to defend itself," UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly posted on social media.
France also expressed its solidarity with Israel and the victims of these attacks. France "expresses its full solidarity with Israel and the victims of these attacks. It reaffirms its absolute rejection of terrorism and its commitment to Israel's security" said the French foreign ministry.
"I strongly condemn the terrorist attacks against Israel from Gaza. Violence and rockets against innocent civilians must stop now. We stand in full solidarity with Israel and its right under international law to defend itself against terror," said German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock.
Meanwhile Iran backed the Palestinian attack. Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei supported the Palestinian attack on Israel. "We will stand by the Palestinian fighters until the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem," Rahim Safavi was quoted by ISNA news agency.
Also, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that his people have the right to defend themselves against the "terror of settlers and occupation troops".
Consul General of Israel Kobbi Shoshani said that since 1973 he haven’t seen such an attack against Israel. “Right now our mission is first of all to bring peace to the southern part of Israel, to the citizens...This is something that is very sad and it's very, very sensitive...Definitely, such an attack is not something that you can do alone...We are not searching for another war and we don't have anything against the people of Gaza...Hamas declared the war and Hamas will pay the price,” Shoshani was quoted by ANI.
