A member of the Israeli safety forces stands near a automobile hit by a rocket fired from Gaza, within the southern Israeli metropolis of Sderot, on October 9, 2023.

JACK GUEZ/AFP by way of Getty Images

cover caption

toggle caption

JACK GUEZ/AFP by way of Getty Images

A member of the Israeli safety forces stands near a automobile hit by a rocket fired from Gaza, within the southern Israeli metropolis of Sderot, on October 9, 2023.

JACK GUEZ/AFP by way of Getty Images

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated his nation’s offensive towards the militant group Hamas is barely simply starting, as he vowed to put complete siege to the Gaza Strip within the wake of an unprecedented assault on Israel’s territory and citizens.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which took management of Gaza in 2007 — launched an enormous shock assault alongside Israel’s southern border on Saturday. Militants infiltrated Israel’s border utilizing paragliders, motorbikes, and boats.

The group additionally fired an estimated 3,000 rockets all through the day towards Israel, in accordance with Israel Defense Forces.

The bloodshed started on the Jewish Simchat Torah vacation, and a day after the fiftieth anniversary of the beginning of the Yom Kippur War, when Israel got here beneath assault by Arab international locations.

“We have only started striking Hamas,” Netanyahu stated in an handle late Monday. “What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.”

As Netanyahu spoke, Israel continued its retaliatory missile strikes on the Gaza Strip to bombard Hamas targets. Israeli forces had been additionally amassing troops for a attainable land invasion after its army has referred to as up reservist troopers.

Death tolls proceed to rise on either side of the battle. Israeli media report greater than 900 Israelis have been killed. Palestinian well being officers say at the very least 680 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli air strikes. Thousands extra on either side have been wounded.

“The atrocities committed by Hamas have not been seen since ISIS atrocities. Bound children executed along with their families,” Netanyahu described late Monday. “Young men and women shot in the back, executed. Other horrors I won’t describe here.”

Over the weekend, Netanyahu stated anybody in areas the place Hamas operates within the Gaza Strip ought to depart. Gaza has been beneath a blockade by Israel and Egypt for 16 years.

The Israeli protection minister has ordered a “complete siege” of Gaza, saying no water, electrical energy, or meals might be allowed in. Over twenty thousand individuals inside Gaza have been displaced, according to the UN agency for Palestine refugees.

The army wing of Hamas, referred to as Ezzedin Al-Qassam Brigades, has stated that each time an Israeli strike with out warning kills civilians, the group would “execute a civilian hostage” and stated it will launch audio and pictures. Hamas has reportedly taken about 150 individuals — males, ladies, youngsters, and troopers — hostage following Saturday’s incursion into Israel.

The weekend’s violence comes after latest weeks of Israeli army clashes with Palestinians within the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Israel and militants in Gaza have fought a number of wars within the final decade and a half.

The Eiffel Tower in Paris is illuminated on Oct. 9 with the Star of David and the colours of the nationwide flag of Israel, in tribute to the victims of the latest Hamas assaults.

JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP by way of Getty Images

cover caption

toggle caption

JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP by way of Getty Images

The Eiffel Tower in Paris is illuminated on Oct. 9 with the Star of David and the colours of the nationwide flag of Israel, in tribute to the victims of the latest Hamas assaults.

JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP by way of Getty Images

Leaders across the globe pledge help to Israel

Leaders of the U.S., the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy launched a joint assertion on Monday condemning Hamas and “its appalling acts of terrorism.”

“We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned. There is never any justification for terrorism,” the assertion learn.

The leaders went on so as to add they “recognize the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and support equal measures of justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”

“But make no mistake,” the group underscored. “Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed.”

Citizens from around the globe have been caught up within the ongoing violence.

President Biden confirmed Monday at the very least 11 Americans have been killed and that it’s believed that U.S. residents are probably amongst these being held captive by Hamas.

“I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts,” he stated in a press release.

Biden added business flights stay out there for these wanting to depart, however urged Americans fleeing the area to take “sensible precautions in the days ahead and follow the guidance of local authorities.”

The White House stated Biden will ship remarks on the Hamas assaults in Israel Tuesday at 1 p.m. ET.

Plenty of Latin American international locations have additionally reported residents lacking within the battle or have staged efforts to get them to security.

Argentina’s Minister of Foreign Affairs stated 250 Argentinians had signed up for an evacuation registry that the nation’s consulate was getting ready in Tel Aviv, whereas Peru reported two of its residents lacking. Officials in Colombia stated its consulate in Tel Aviv was aiding 180 Colombian vacationers — largely in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Bethlehem, and Nazareth.

Meanwhile, U.S. officers inform NPR they’re providing Israel air protection and munitions and are urgent to get munitions to the nation as shortly as attainable.

Department of Defense officers provided no timetable on the USS Gerald Ford Strike Group — which incorporates an plane provider, a guided missile cruiser, and guided missile destroyers — making its technique to the Mediterranean.

Smoke rises after an Israeli bombardment on October 9 in Gaza City, Gaza.

Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images

cover caption

toggle caption

Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images

Smoke rises after an Israeli bombardment on October 9 in Gaza City, Gaza.

Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images

Gaza from the eyes of a health care provider on the bottom

Dr. Medhat Abbas, director normal of Gaza’s Health Ministry, says with sources minimize off and borders with Gaza closed, Israel’s offensive is placing strains on an already hampered healthcare system.

He advised NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly the scenario has turn out to be dire.

“This is applying too much pressure on our health professionals in the hospitals,” Abbas stated. “Unless these borders are opened at once — for the fuel to run the generators and for medications, medical supplies to come at once together — there will be a collapse of the health system.”

Abbas says a number of ambulances in Gaza have additionally been struck. He stated at the very least 5 colleagues have been killed, together with one ambulance driver.

“They said, ‘We have not started yet. We have not started yet,'” Abbas stated, referring to Netanyahu’s feedback that the Israeli offensive was simply starting. “If after all of that they have not started, what will happen when they really — I don’t know. Are they planning for a big massacre in Gaza?”

NPR’s Daniel Estrin contributed to this report.