Naka-alerto na ang Bureau of Immigration (BI) at handang maglaan ng tulong para sa mga Filipino na maaaring mapauwi mula sa Israel-Palestine dulot ng lumalalang kaguluhan sa rehiyon.
Sa isang pahayag, inihayag ng BI na aasikasuhin na nila ang mga hakbang sa koordinasyon kasama ang Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) at Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) upang maipatupad ang posibleng repatriasyon ng mga Pilipinong apektado.
Sinabi ni BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco na magpapadala sila ng espesyal na koponan para magproseso ng mga kinakailangang dokumento para sa mga repatriated Filipino at kanilang mga pamilya. “Kung sakaling dumating sila sa pamamagitan ng espesyal na mga flight, magkakaroon tayo ng dedikadong koponan na magpoproseso ng kanilang mga dokumento agad pagdating nila,” ayon kay Tansingco.
Dagdag pa niya, ihahatid ng BI ang lahat ng kailangang tulong batay sa mga kahilingan ng DFA at DMW upang mapanatili ang kapakanan ng mga repatriates.
Binahagi rin ni Tansingco na sa kasalukuyan ay wala pa silang natatanggap na opisyal na schedule para sa repatriasyon, subalit ito ay kanilang patuloy na binabantayan at inaasahan na ibibigay ng mga kaukulang ahensya.
“Ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan ay isa sa mga pangunahing prayoridad ng gobyerno. Gagawin ng BI ang lahat ng aming makakaya upang magbigay ng tulong sa mga ahensyang kasangkot sa repatriasyon ng mga Filipino,” dagdag pa ng opisyal.
Sa mga Filipino na apektado ng krisis sa Israel-Palestine, maari silang umasa na may handang tulong mula sa pamahalaan ng Pilipinas upang masigurong ligtas sila at mabigyan ng tamang assistance habang sila ay nagbabalik sa bansa.
CAIRO. Egypt has taken on a diplomatic role in addressing the abduction of Israelis, as Israeli authorities have sought assistance from Cairo to ensure the safety of those taken captive. Egypt’s intelligence chief has initiated contact with both Hamas and the Islamic Jihad militant group in an effort to gather information and facilitate negotiations regarding the abducted individuals.
An Egyptian official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to a lack of authorization to brief the media, disclosed that Palestinian leaders have informed Egyptian authorities that they do not yet possess a comprehensive understanding of the exact number and identities of the hostages. However, they have assured that those who were brought to Gaza have been relocated to secure locations across the territory.
“It’s clear that they have a significant number — several dozens,” the official stated, highlighting the extent of the hostage situation.
In addition to seeking information about the abducted Israelis, Egyptian intelligence officials have engaged in discussions with both sides regarding the possibility of a cease-fire to de-escalate the ongoing conflict. However, the official noted that Israel has not shown willingness to agree to a truce “at this stage.”
The involvement of Egypt in this delicate situation underscores the country’s role as a key mediator in regional conflicts and its efforts to promote stability and peace in the Middle East. Egypt’s diplomatic initiatives aim to contribute to resolving the crisis and securing the release of the abducted individuals while also addressing the broader issues fueling the conflict between Israel and Palestinian groups.
Palestinians transport a captured Israeli civilian from Kibbutz Kfar Azza into the Gaza Strip on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land, and sea and catching the country off-guard on a major holiday. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)
TEL AVIV, Israel. Ayon sa Presidential Communications Office, 22 mga Pilipino ang nasagip ng security forces ng Israel, habang ang pitong iba pa ay hindi pa natatagpuan matapos ang pagsalakay ng mga miyembro ng Hamas sa mga komunidad sa Israel, ayon sa balita noong Lunes.
Batay sa impormasyon mula sa PCO, kinumpirma ng Philippine Embassy sa Israel na nailipat na ang 22 Pilipino sa isang mas ligtas na lugar at ngayon ay pansamantalang nakatuloy sa mga hotel.
Sa nasabing 22 indibidwal, isa ay kasalukuyang ginagamot sa isang ospital dahil sa mga tinamong malubhang sugat. Samantala, ang isa naman ay ginagamot pa dahil sa smoke inhalation, at ngayon ay nasa isang hotel na sa Tel Aviv.
Dalawa sa kanila ay binisita na rin ng mga opisyal ng Pilipinas.
Nagbigay rin ng abiso sa Philippine Embassy sa Tel Aviv ang isang Pilipina mula sa Pilipinas at sinabi niyang nakilala niya ang kanyang asawa sa isa sa mga video na kumakalat sa social media, kung saan makikita ang isang lalaki na hawak ng mga armadong indibidwal.
Sa kasalukuyan, hindi pa ma-verify ng mga awtoridad ang impormasyong ito batay sa video lamang, subalit ang inpormasyon ay naipasa na sa mga awtoridad ng Israel.
Pitong iba pang mga Pilipino ay hindi pa natatagpuan. Ayon sa embahador sa Tel Aviv, hindi makontak ang mga Pilipinong ito sa kanilang mga mobile number at social media accounts.
Sinabi naman ni Consul General and Deputy Chief of Mission Anthony Mandap ng Philippine Embassy sa Israel na karamihan sa mga Pilipinong nasa Gaza Strip ay may mga Palestinian na asawa.
Saad din ng PCO, sa ngayon, hindi pa humihiling ng agarang repatriasyon ang mga Pilipino na naninirahan sa Israel, ngunit mayroon nang plano para dito sakaling kailanganin.
Gayundin, handang tumulong ang embahada sa Israel sa Philippine Embassy sa Amman, Jordan, na may pangunahing jurisdiction sa Gaza, sakaling magsagawa ng repatriasyon ng mga Pilipino.
Ipinapayo sa mga Pilipinong nagbabalak na maglakbay patungo sa Israel na iurong muna ang kanilang biyahe hanggang sa maging stable ang kalagayan.
WASHINGTON. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Sunday that he has ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be prepared to assist Israel following the recent attacks by Hamas, which have resulted in more than 1,000 casualties on both sides. Among the victims, there are reports of American citizens killed and missing.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy’s newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, along with its approximately 5,000 sailors and deck of warplanes, will be accompanied by cruisers and destroyers. This deployment is intended to demonstrate U.S. readiness to respond to various scenarios, including interdicting additional weapons from reaching Hamas and conducting surveillance.
The significant U.S. military presence in the region reflects a desire to deter any regional expansion of the conflict. In response to the escalating situation, the Israeli government formally declared war on Sunday and authorized “significant military steps” to retaliate against Hamas.
Preliminary reports indicate that at least four American citizens have been killed in the attacks, and an additional seven are reported missing and unaccounted for, according to a U.S. official. The numbers are subject to change as further information becomes available. Most, if not all, of the victims are dual U.S.-Israeli citizens, the official noted, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss initial reports received by the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.
In addition to the USS Ford, the U.S. is deploying the cruiser USS Normandy and destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt. The U.S. Air Force is also augmenting fighter aircraft squadrons in the region, including F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 aircraft.
“The U.S. maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this deterrence posture if required,” Secretary Austin stated.
Furthermore, the Biden administration is expediting the delivery of additional equipment and resources, including munitions, to the Israel Defense Forces. This support will begin moving immediately and arrive in the coming days, according to Austin.
The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group was already in the Mediterranean, engaged in naval exercises with Italy in the Ionian Sea last week. This deployment marks the carrier’s first full operational deployment.
Senior officials from the Pentagon and State Department briefed senators on Sunday night, assuring them that the United States is providing Israel with all the necessary support.
President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, discussing the situation, including the taking of hostages by Hamas terrorists. Biden stressed the need for international unity in response to such brutal actions and assured Netanyahu of ongoing U.S. diplomatic efforts and additional assistance for Israeli forces.
As part of the U.S. efforts to deter further escalation, Secretary of State Antony Blinken held separate conversations with counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. In these discussions, Blinken emphasized the importance of their continued engagement and the U.S.’s commitment to halting the attacks by Hamas and securing the release of all hostages.
In the U.S. House of Representatives, leaders of the Foreign Affairs Committee are preparing a bipartisan resolution expressing solidarity with Israel and condemning “Hamas’ brutal war.” This resolution is expected to be considered for a vote once the House elects a new speaker. House business is currently on hold following the ouster of Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The selection process for a new speaker is set to begin on Tuesday.
JERUSALEM. Israel’s military continued its intensive operations in the country’s southern regions on Monday, searching for Hamas fighters, guarding breaches in its border fence, and launching airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. This follows an unprecedented weekend incursion by Hamas, which caught Israel’s military and intelligence off guard, resulting in heavy battles on Israeli streets for the first time in decades.
Israel formally declared war on Sunday, signaling the potential for greater fighting ahead, including a possible ground assault into Gaza, which has historically led to intensified casualties. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to eliminate “the military and governing capabilities” of Hamas, a deeply entrenched militant group in Gaza.
As Israel targeted more than 1,000 sites in Gaza and stationed tanks and drones along the border fence to prevent further infiltrations, Palestinian militants continued to fire barrages of rockets, triggering air raid sirens in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Online videos showed a plume of smoke near a terminal at Ben Gurion International Airport, although there was no immediate information about casualties or damage from the latest attack.
However, civilians have already paid a heavy toll in the conflict. The death toll in Israel has surpassed 700 people, a staggering number compared to recent conflicts. In Gaza, nearly 500 people have lost their lives in the violence. Palestinian militant groups have claimed the capture of over 130 individuals in Israel, with reports suggesting that some of them may have been killed in Israeli airstrikes, although this could not be independently verified.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a “complete siege” on Gaza, which includes cutting electricity and blocking the entry of food and fuel. Israel and Egypt have imposed various levels of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power in 2007.
Gallant used dehumanizing language, referring to the conflict as a war against “human animals,” a rhetoric that has been employed by both sides during periods of heightened tension.
After approximately 48 hours of fierce battles within Israel, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesman, reported that Israel had “control” of its border communities. He noted that while there were isolated incidents early Monday, there was no ongoing fighting in these communities. However, he cautioned that militants might still be inside Israel, leading to the evacuation of 15 of 24 border communities, with the remainder expected to be emptied in the coming days.
Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua claimed that their fighters continued to battle outside Gaza and had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning. Hamas aims to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a goal that has led to lopsided exchange deals in the past.
In its airstrikes, Israel’s military targeted Beit Hanoun, a town in northeast Gaza that was allegedly being used by Hamas as a staging ground for attacks. The extent of casualties in the town was not immediately known, but most of its population likely evacuated before the attack.
Hagari also mentioned the mobilization of around 300,000 reservists and reiterated that the goal of the operation was to dismantle Hamas’ military and governing capabilities.
The recent violence erupted after Hamas gunmen broke through Israeli barriers on Saturday, leading to a rampage that included the killing of civilians and the capture of people in various locations. Palestinian militants have launched thousands of rockets at Israel in response.
The Israeli military estimated that approximately 1,000 Hamas fighters participated in the initial incursion on Saturday, underscoring the extensive planning by the militant group. Hamas cited mounting Palestinian suffering as the reason for the attack, including Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, blockade of Gaza, discriminatory policies in annexed east Jerusalem, and tensions around a disputed Jerusalem holy site sacred to both Muslims and Jews.
As the conflict continues, the international community remains deeply concerned about the escalating violence and the humanitarian impact on civilians in both Israel and Gaza. The U.S. has deployed an aircraft carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean and pledged additional military aid to Israel.
Meanwhile, the exchange of strikes with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group raised fears of a broader regional conflict. The situation in northern Israel has calmed down after the exchange.
In the West Bank, six Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers on Sunday, further highlighting the volatility of the situation across the region.
Rescuers carry Suzy Eshkuntana, 6, as they pull her from the rubble of a building at the site of Israeli air strikes, in Gaza City, on Sunday.Mohammed Salem / Reuters
Scientists say 6,200-year-old shoes found in cave challenge “simplistic assumptions” about early humans
A remarkable discovery in a cave in Spain has upended long-held beliefs about the capabilities of early humans in Europe. A team of scientists announced that they have uncovered 6,200-year-old grass sandals in the cave, making them the oldest woven grass footwear ever found on the continent. This revelation is forcing researchers to reconsider their “simplistic assumptions” about the lives of early human ancestors in the region.
The discovery was made by a team of researchers from the Universidad de Alcalá and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, who had been studying 76 objects previously found in a cave in southern Spain. Among these objects were baskets, sandals, and organic tools crafted from reed and esparto grass. Through careful analysis of the raw materials used in these objects, the researchers were able to date them to the early and middle Holocene period, spanning from 9,500 to 6,200 years ago.
“The quality and technological complexity of the basketry makes us question the simplistic assumptions we have about human communities prior to the arrival of agriculture in southern Europe,” stated Francisco Martínez Sevilla, a researcher in the Prehistory Department of the University of Alcalá.
Maria Herrero Otal, co-author of the study, emphasized the significance of the findings, noting that the fiber-based materials discovered are rarely found in archaeological sites. “It means that the use of esparto grass started at least 9,500 years ago, and it is a tradition which is still alive in Iberia [Spain and Portugal],” Otal explained. “It is spectacular how the techniques, the raw material, and its preparation have been used for thousands of years, and there are still people working in the same way.”
The sandals discovered in the cave represent “the earliest and widest-ranging assemblage of prehistoric footwear, both in the Iberian Peninsula and in Europe, unparalleled at other latitudes,” according to the study published in the journal Science Advances.
These artifacts were initially found during mining activities in the Cueva de los Murciélagos, or “Cave of the Bats,” in Albuñol, Granada, Spain, during the 19th century. However, this recent study determined that the materials were approximately 2,000 years older than previously believed.
Researchers attribute the preservation of these ancient items to the cave’s low humidity levels and cool, dry winds, which inhibited bacterial growth and allowed the fiber-based objects to endure through the ages.
The scientists also noted that two types of footwear were discovered at the site. One had a consistently woven sole, while the other featured a harder “central core.” Although no laces were found with the first type, the latter had a small group of fibers connected to the base of the sole, potentially used between the first and second toes, with additional fibers linked to a braid fixed to the middle of the sandal that could be tied around the ankle. This intricate design demonstrates the advanced skills and creativity of early human communities.
Suspendido ang face-to-face na klase sa ilang mga bayan sa lalawigan ng Batangas at Laguna ngayong Lunes, Oktubre 9, dahil sa volcanic smog o vog mula sa Bulkang Taal.
Face-to-face na klase sa lahat ng antas, public at private schools. Narito ang listahan ng mga bayan na apektado:
Agoncillo
Alitagtag
Batangas City
Bauan
Calaca City
Calatagan
Cuenca
Ibaan
Lipa City
Lemery
Lian
Lobo
Malvar
Mataasnakahoy
Nasugbu
Padre Garcia
Rosario
San Jose
San Luis
San Pascual
Taal
Tanauan City
Taysan
Talisay
Lahat ng antas, public at private schools:
Balete
Calatagan
Laurel
San Juan
Elementary hanggang senior high school, public at private schools:
Sto. Tomas City (kasama ang Alternative Learning System)
Tuy (shift to modular and online)
Ayon sa Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), nananatili sa Alert Level 1 ang Bulkang Taal. Naitala rin ang total average na 2,887 tonnes/day na sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission noong Biyernes, Oktubre 6. Simula pa lamang noong unang linggo ng Setyembre ay nakakaranas na ng vog sa paligid ng bulkan.
Paalala ng Phivolcs na iwasan ang paglabas kung hindi kinakailangan at magsuot ng face mask kung lalabas ng bahay. Maari ring magdulot ng acid rain ang vog, na maaring makaapekto sa mga tanim at maging sa mga bubong ng bahay at gusali, ayon pa rin ahensya.
ISLAMABAD. A series of powerful earthquakes, including a magnitude 6.3 quake, has claimed the lives of over 2,000 people in western Afghanistan, according to a statement by a Taliban government spokesperson on Sunday. This devastating seismic event ranks as one of the deadliest earthquakes to hit the country in the past two decades.
While the exact figures provided by the spokesperson have yet to be independently verified, if confirmed, this earthquake’s toll would surpass that of a previous earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan in June 2022, claiming the lives of at least 1,000 people. The recent earthquake on Saturday, with its epicenter near Afghanistan’s fourth-largest city, Herat, posed a far more substantial threat due to its densely populated area.
The United States Geological Survey reported that the earthquake’s epicenter was located approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Herat city. Following the initial shock, the region experienced several powerful aftershocks, with magnitudes of 6.3, 5.9, and 5.5, as well as numerous smaller tremors.
In the aftermath of the disaster, the people of Herat came together on Sunday, attempting to rescue the trapped and injured by using their bare hands to remove debris. Survivors and victims alike were found trapped beneath the rubble of buildings that had collapsed, their faces covered in dust.
Heartbreaking videos shared online revealed the efforts of rescuers freeing a baby girl from a collapsed building, buried up to her neck in debris. A hand was seen gently cradling the baby’s torso as they carefully lifted her from the ground. It remains unclear whether the mother survived the ordeal.
Abdul Wahid Rayan, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Information and Culture, stated on Sunday that the death toll is even higher than initially reported. Numerous villages have been entirely destroyed, and hundreds of civilians remain trapped under debris, underscoring the urgent need for assistance.
Rayan reported, “Besides the 2,060 dead, 1,240 people are injured, and 1,320 houses are completely destroyed.” In response, multiple teams have been mobilized for rescue efforts, including those from the military and nonprofit organizations such as the Red Crescent.
The United Nations migration agency dispatched four ambulances with doctors and psychosocial support counselors to the regional hospital. Additionally, three mobile health teams are en route to the Zenda Jan district, one of the hardest-hit areas.
Doctors Without Borders established five medical tents at Herat Regional Hospital to provide care for up to 80 patients. So far, authorities have treated over 300 patients, according to the organization.
Irfanullah Sharafzai, a spokesperson for the Afghan Red Crescent Society, revealed that seven teams are actively engaged in rescue operations, with additional teams arriving from eight nearby provinces. He stated, “A temporary camp has been set up for people who have lost their houses and need shelter for now. Whatever is in our capacity, we will do for our poor and needy people at this difficult time.”
Teams from these aid groups reported that the destruction near Herat was far more extensive than initially feared, with entire villages reduced to rubble.
Neighboring Pakistan expressed deep sadness over the earthquake’s impact. The Foreign Affairs Ministry stated that they are in contact with Afghan authorities to assess the urgent needs of those affected and pledged to extend all possible support to the recovery effort.
China’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Zhao Xing, expressed readiness to provide assistance through government and charitable institutions. He confirmed ongoing contact with Afghan government aid agencies to coordinate aid efforts.
Afghan cricket star Rashid Khan announced that he would donate all his Cricket World Cup fees to aid the survivors of the Herat earthquake. He also announced plans to launch a fundraising campaign to encourage support from those who can assist the people in need.
Japan’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Takashi Okada, conveyed his condolences and deep sorrow via social media, expressing sympathy for the earthquake in Herat province.
As telephone connections in Herat remained unstable following the disaster, gathering precise details from affected areas has proven challenging. The international community and neighboring countries stand ready to offer support to help the affected regions recover from this devastating natural disaster.
Tinututukan na ng Philippine National Police (PNP) ang mga taong posibleng nasa likod ng pinakabagong ransomware attack na tumama sa Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
Sa pahayag ni PNP Public Information Office chief PCol. Jean Fajardo, sinabi niya na walang tigil ang kanilang pag-iimbestiga upang matukoy ang mga indibidwal o grupo na responsable sa ransomware attack na ito.
Mahigpit na ipinahayag ni Fajardo na ang kaligtasan at personal na impormasyon ng bawat miyembro ng PhilHealth ay nanganganib, kaya’t kinakailangan itong resolbahin ng pamahalaan sa lalong madaling panahon.
Marami sa mga miyembro ng PhilHealth ang nagpahayag ng kanilang pangamba matapos ang insidente ng ransomware attack.
Ayon kay Fajardo, posibleng humantong sa pagkakakulong ng hanggang 20 taon ang mga hacker na mahuli at maharap sa mga kaso ng paglabag sa Republic Act No. 10175 o mas kilala bilang The Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Bukod dito, magkakaroon din sila ng pananagutan ayon sa mga umiiral na batas.
Nauna dito, nilinaw ng Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) na hindi naapektuhan ang mga datos ng mga miyembro ng PhilHealth ng naturang cyber attack.
Sa kasalukuyan, patuloy ang kooperasyon ng PNP at iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno upang malutas ang isyung ito at mapanagot ang mga responsable sa insidenteng ito.
TEL AVIV, Israel. Israeli soldiers engaged in fierce battles with Hamas fighters in the streets of southern Israel on Sunday, as retaliation strikes rocked Gaza, while in northern Israel, an exchange of fire with Lebanon’s Hezbollah raised concerns of a broader conflict.
More than 24 hours after an unprecedented surprise attack from Gaza, the situation remained volatile. Hamas militants, supported by a barrage of thousands of rockets, breached Israel’s security barrier and wreaked havoc in nearby communities. They took hostages, including women, children, and the elderly, likely with the intention of using them as bargaining chips for the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Tragically, hundreds of lives have been lost on both sides.
The high death toll, multiple captives, and a delayed response exposed a significant intelligence failure, challenging the long-held belief that Israel maintains surveillance throughout the densely populated territory it has controlled for decades.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country was at war and promised to extract a heavy price from its adversaries. Hamas leaders, on the other hand, indicated readiness for further escalation.
A pressing question now is whether Israel will launch a ground assault into Gaza, a move that has historically resulted in heightened casualties. Netanyahu vowed that Hamas would face an “unprecedented price,” but he cautioned that “This war will take time. It will be difficult.”
Civilians have paid a devastating toll for the violence on both sides. Israeli media, citing rescue service officials, reported at least 300 casualties in Israel, including 44 soldiers, while Gaza officials reported 313 deaths. An Israeli official stated that the military had killed 400 militants and detained dozens more.
Israeli television featured heart-wrenching accounts from the relatives of captive or missing Israelis who pleaded for assistance amid uncertainty about their loved ones’ fate. In Gaza, residents fled homes near the border to evade Israeli airstrikes, seeking refuge deeper inside the territory after receiving warnings in Arabic from the Israeli military.
In neighboring Egypt, a policeman fatally shot two Israeli tourists and an Egyptian at a tourist site in Alexandria, according to the Interior Ministry. Although Egypt established peace with Israel decades ago, anti-Israel sentiment remains high, particularly during episodes of Israeli-Palestinian violence.
The escalation on Israel’s northern border also raised concerns of Hezbollah’s involvement, a formidable enemy of Israel backed by Iran and believed to possess tens of thousands of rockets. Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets and shells at three Israeli positions in a disputed area along the border on Sunday, prompting Israel’s military to respond with armed drones. Two children sustained minor injuries from broken glass on the Lebanese side.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military official, reported that the situation on the northern border had calmed following the exchange. However, he noted that fighting persisted in the south, with ongoing hostage situations.
Troops were deployed to every community near the Gaza frontier, where they intended to evacuate all civilians and search for militants. “We will go through every community until we kill every terrorist that is in Israeli territory,” Hagari declared. In Gaza, he added, “every terrorist located in a house, all the commanders in houses, will be hit by Israeli fire. That will continue escalating in the coming hours.”
Hamas claimed that it had continued to send forces and equipment into “a number of locations inside our occupied territories,” referring to Israel. Hamas-affiliated media reported the death of the son of Nizar Awadallah, a senior political official. However, the group had not reported any senior members being captured, killed, or wounded.
Saturday’s surprise attack was the deadliest on Israel in decades. In a shocking assault, Hamas gunmen used explosives to breach the Gaza border fence, then crossed into Israel using motorcycles, pickup trucks, paragliders, and speed boats along the coast. They reached as many as 22 locations outside the Gaza Strip, including towns up to 24 kilometers (15 miles) from the Gaza border, while Hamas unleashed a barrage of rockets at Israeli cities.
Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, expressed the profound tragedy of the situation, with numerous casualties, including children and families, in Israel. Israeli media reported over 300 deaths and 1,500 wounded in Saturday’s attack. Hamas fighters took an undisclosed number of civilians and soldiers hostage into Gaza, leading to anxious Israelis seeking information about their missing relatives.
Israel struck 426 targets in Gaza, according to the military, resulting in the destruction of residential buildings in massive explosions. Among the 313 killed in Gaza were 20 children, and nearly 2,000 people were wounded, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinians, reported that over 20,000 Palestinians fled the Gaza border region to seek refuge in U.N. schools.
In a televised address on Saturday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to use all available strength to eliminate Hamas’ capabilities. He urged Gaza residents to leave immediately, even though they had no means to escape the tiny, overcrowded Mediterranean enclave. Gaza’s 2.3 million people have endured a border blockade, enforced to varying degrees by Israel and Egypt, since Hamas militants seized control in 2007.
In Gaza, much of the population was plunged into darkness on Saturday night as Israel cut off electricity and halted the supply of power, fuel, and other goods to the territory. Hamas stated that it had prepared for a protracted battle, emphasizing their readiness for all scenarios, including all-out war.
Israel has a history of engaging in heavily lopsided exchanges to secure the release of captive Israelis. The military confirmed that a “substantial” number of Israelis were abducted on Saturday but did not provide a precise figure.
An Egyptian official revealed that Israel sought assistance from Cairo to ensure the safety of the hostages. Egypt’s intelligence chief had contacted Hamas and the smaller but more radical Islamic Jihad group, which also participated in the incursion, to gather information. Egypt has frequently mediated between the two sides in the past.
While Egypt explored the possibility of a ceasefire with both parties, the official reported that Israel was not receptive to a truce “at this stage.”
Hamas’ military wing leader, Mohammed Deif, attributed the assault, named “Operation Al-Aqsa Storm,” to the 16-year blockade of Gaza and recent incidents that had heightened Israeli-Palestinian tensions. Over the past year, Israel’s far-right government increased settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, settler violence displaced hundreds of Palestinians, and tensions flared around the Al-Aqsa mosque, a contentious holy site in Jerusalem.
U.S. President Joe Biden expressed solidarity with Israel, asserting the U.S. “stands with the people of Israel in the face of these terrorist assaults” and emphasized Israel’s right to self-defense.
Israel declares war and bombards Gaza as fighting rages for second day after Hamas attack. The Israeli government formally declared war and gave the green light for “significant military steps” to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack from the Gaza Strip. (AP Photo)
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