Israel and Hamas are locked in a deadly war that has shocked and outraged the world, as the Palestinian militant group launched a surprise attack from Gaza that killed hundreds of Israelis and took many more hostages, while Israel retaliated with relentless air strikes that have devastated the blockaded enclave.
The Israeli army said it hit more than 500 targets in Gaza overnight, as fighting continued in seven to eight locations inside Israel around the border.
It came two days after Hamas fired a barrage of rockets and sent a wave of fighters who gunned down civilians and stormed an outdoor rave in an unprecedented assault that took Israel by surprise.
On Sunday, the government officially declared war on Hamas, which controls Gaza, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Israel to prepare for a “long and difficult” conflict. More than 700 Israelis have been killed since Hamas launched its large-scale attack, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said on Monday.
Another 1,200 people have been wounded, many critically.
In retaliation, Israeli air strikes have hammered Gaza, an enclave of 2.3 million people, with officials there reporting at least 413 Palestinian deaths.
Thick plumes of smoke billowed from the Palestinian territory as the strikes continued in the early hours of Monday, an AFP correspondent reported.
“We’re still fighting. There are between seven to eight open places around Gaza (where) we have still warriors fighting terrorists,” military spokesman Richard Hecht told reporters. “We thought by yesterday (Sunday) we would have full control. I hope we will by the end of the day,” he added.
Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus estimated around 1,000 Palestinian militants had participated in Hamas’s assault on Saturday, which he called “by far the worst day in Israeli history”.
“Never before have so many Israelis been killed by one single thing, let alone enemy activity in one day,” he said. He likened it to “a 9/11 and a Pearl Harbour wrapped into one”.
Conricus said around 100,000 reserve troops were deployed to the south as the army battles to expel Hamas fighters from Israeli territory. A “very large amount” of Israeli civilians and soldiers were being held inside Gaza, he said.
Israel’s allies have responded by pledging fresh support, to confront what US President Joe Biden branded an “unprecedented terrorist assault” by Hamas.
Washington dispatched the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and group of warships to the eastern Mediterranean, and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Washington said more equipment and resources will be on their way.
The conflict has had a global impact, with several countries reporting nationals killed, abducted or missing. At least four US citizens were killed in the attack, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement, adding that the toll was likely to rise.
Thailand said at least 12 of its nationals were also killed while Nepal reported 10 deaths. They were all labourers working in Israel.
Israel was stunned when Hamas launched its multi-pronged offensive on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, with at least 3,000 rockets raining down as fighters infiltrated towns and kibbutz communities and stormed an outdoor rave where many revellers were shot dead.
Panicked Israelis hiding in their homes told reporters that militants were going door to door and shooting civilians or dragging them away. At least 100 citizens were captured by Hamas and taken into Gaza as hostages.
The lethal military confrontation between Israel and Hamas is being mirrored in a bitter clash on the battlefield of social media. Each side has taken to X, formerly known as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to denounce the other, and to present accounts that are at best partial and often blatantly distorted.
Some celebrities have also weighed in on the conflict, facing backlash or praise for their views.
Kylie Jenner, a famous American model and social media personality, faced criticism for posting a picture of herself wearing a necklace with the Star of David, a symbol of Judaism and Israel. Many accused her of supporting Israel’s aggression and oppression of Palestinians.
Gal Gadot, an Israeli actress who played Wonder Woman in Hollywood movies, also faced backlash for expressing her support for Israel and calling for peace. Some accused her of being a Zionist and a hypocrite, while others defended her right to speak her mind.
On the other hand, Mark Ruffalo, an American actor who played Hulk in Marvel movies, was praised for his nuanced take on the conflict. He condemned the violence on both sides and called for a two-state solution that respects the rights and dignity of both Israelis and Palestinians.
The social media reactions reflect the deep divisions and emotions that the conflict has stirred up around the world, as people watch the unfolding tragedy with horror, anger, sadness or hope.
The world has been shocked and outraged by the unprecedented attack by Hamas and the Israeli retaliation that has killed more than 1,100 people and taken hundreds of civilians hostage.
Many countries have expressed their solidarity with Israel and condemned the terrorist assault by Hamas, while others have called for an immediate halt to the violence and a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
Among Israel’s staunchest allies, the United States has pledged its unwavering support for Israel’s security and warned against any hostile party seeking advantage in the situation.
US President Joe Biden branded the attack by Hamas as an “unprecedented terrorist assault” and said his administration will send more equipment and resources to Israel.
Canada and the UK also strongly denounced the Hamas attack and affirmed Israel’s right to defend itself. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the attack was “cowardly and depraved” and likened it to “a 9/11 and a Pearl Harbour wrapped into one”.
However, not all countries have sided with Israel in this deadly war. Some have expressed their concern for the plight of the Palestinians in Gaza, who have been subjected to relentless air strikes that have destroyed their homes and infrastructure.
China, which holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council, said it was “deeply concerned” by the escalation of violence and urged all parties to show calm and restraint.
China also called for an emergency meeting of the Security Council to address the crisis. The Arab League also called for an immediate halt to military operations in Gaza and accused Israel of implementing violent and extremist policies that deprive the region of stability.
Some countries have also offered humanitarian aid to both sides of the conflict, such as Egypt, which has opened its border crossing with Gaza to allow wounded Palestinians to receive medical treatment.
Turkey, which has been a vocal critic of Israel’s actions, said it will send humanitarian aid to Gaza and evacuate some of the injured. Qatar, which has close ties with Hamas, said it will provide $500 million in aid to rebuild Gaza after the war.
Source iHarare
