Israeli air strikes and artillery shelling struck more than 500 targets belonging to the Hamas and Islamic Jihad militant groups in the Gaza Strip. Overnight thick plumes of smoke blew from the Palestinian Enclave as the strikes continued in the early hours of morning. Israel has been carrying out continuous air strikes in the Gaza Strip in response to the surprise large-scale attack by the militants on Saturday.

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Netanyahu's right-wing government has always made great play of its security credentials and taken an uncompromising stance towards the Palestinian militant factions. However, when the time came Israel's security apparatus appeared to break down. Here's a detailed analysis of the Hamas attack and Israel's response.

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The war in Israel has left a huge impact on the music industry as well. After Hamas's deadly attack on the counter, sold-out shows in Tel Aviv now stand cancelled. Bruno Mas who was set to perform a second show in Tel Aviv cancelled at the last minute that is after Israel declared itself at war with Hamas.

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Israel is at war with Hamas and more than 1,100 people have been killed on both sides since the war broke out on Saturday after Hamas reign thousands of rockets on Israel in a surprise pre-drawn attack from Gaza. Lately, the Israeli leadership have cautioned the nation for a long difficult War.

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Israel Hamas conflict: Detailed analysis of Hamas attack and Israel's response

<p>Israel is&nbsp;gripped by a nightmarish scenario as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initiated an extensive mobilisation, and bracing for what appeared to be a full-blown war.</p>

<p>This is a result of one of the darkest and most devastating days in Israel's history, marked by an unparalleled terrorist onslaught on its southern communities. The assault led to hundreds of casualties on both sides, with over 300 in Israel alone, over 1,800 injuries, and the apparent abduction of dozens by the Hamas terror group, reported the Times of Israel.<br />
<br />
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that all Hamas hideouts in Gaza will be turned to ‘rubble’.&nbsp;<br />
“All the places in which Hamas is based, in this city of evil, all the places Hamas is hiding in, acting from -- we’ll turn them into rubble.&nbsp;I’m telling the people of Gaza: get out of there now, because we’re about to act everywhere with all our force,” he said.<br />
<br />
PM Netanyahu further&nbsp;said the country is embarking on a “long and difficult war” after a surprise attack by Hamas terrorists led to over 300 deaths, while 100 Israelis have been held hostage.</p>

<p>On Sunday morning, the Iranian-backed armed group Hezbollah said it had fired rockets and artillery into northern Israel “in solidarity” with the Palestinian people.<br />
<br />
Israeli forces responded with artillery strikes into Lebanon and a drone attack on a Hezbollah post near the border, the military said.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The Lebanese group Hezbollah issued a statement Sunday claiming responsibility for targeting three Israeli sites in an area known as Shebaa Farms using missiles and artillery.<br />
Shebaa Farms is considered by Lebanon as Israeli-occupied, reported CNN.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The three sites include the Radar site, the Zabdin site, and the Ruwaisat Al-Alam site, the statement by Hezbollah said.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
In an assault of shocking breadth, Hamas militants infiltrated as many as 22 locations in southern Israel, reaching towns and communities situated up to 15 miles (24 kilometres) from the Gaza border.</p>

<p>Their rampage persisted for hours, targeting both civilians and soldiers, while Israel's military scrambled to mount a response. Gunfights persisted well into the night, with terrorists holding hostages in standoffs in at least two towns.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-hamas-the-palestinian-group-behind-the-surprise-attack-on-israel-643903">What is Hamas, Palestinian group behind the surprise attack on Israel?</a></p>

<h2><strong>Overwhelmed hospitals and ongoing operations</strong></h2>

<p>Hospitals found themselves inundated with wounded patients, with the latest count at over 1,800&nbsp;casualties, including 300 in serious condition and 19 in critical condition, reported the Times of Israel.</p>

<p>Many civilians remained trapped in their homes, fearful of roaming terrorists hunting for victims. Security forces engaged in hostage situations, house raids, and confrontations with gunmen, successfully neutralising armed threats.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🇮🇱 MASSIVE rocket barrage reportedly headed toward Tel Aviv.<br />
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Huge explosions reported in the north of Jerusalem. <a href="https://t.co/XM8xwkrqLx">pic.twitter.com/XM8xwkrqLx</a></p>
— Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) <a href="https://twitter.com/jacksonhinklle/status/1710703777190195463?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Simultaneously, social media platforms were flooded with photographs and videos that conveyed the scenes of devastation from the targeted towns. These visuals were accompanied by distressing footage of frightened people, including men, women, and children, being forcibly taken from their homes to an uncertain fate in Gaza.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, relentless rocket barrages persist, forcing hundreds of thousands of residents in southern and central Israel to seek shelter repeatedly.</p>

<p>Rockets that evaded the Iron Dome defence system inflicted serious injuries on some people.</p>

<p>The situation prompted pointed questions and demands for answers concerning multiple facets of the crisis, including intelligence failures, deployment issues, and policy decisions that contributed to a national catastrophe.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Israel's response</strong></h2>

<p>In response to the crisis, Israel was in the initial stages of a military operation that its leaders pledged would be unprecedented. The IDF conducted strikes on terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Four divisions of reservists were deployed to the Gaza border, augmenting the 35 battalions already stationed there. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel was at war and discussed the potential formation of an emergency government with opposition leaders.</p>

<p>In a late-night address to the nation, Netanyahu vowed to harness the full capabilities of the IDF to dismantle Hamas's capacities and urged Gaza residents to evacuate. He characterised the day's events as unprecedented and pledged to ensure they would not recur.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Israel-Palestine Conflict: Women captured, taken hostage after Hamas militants storm Israel</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-palestine-conflict-women-captured-taken-hostage-after-hamas-militants-storm-israel-643914/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2><strong>Key hotspots and successful rescues</strong></h2>

<p>Throughout the day, several flashpoints emerged, including intense gunfire at a police station in Sderot controlled by unidentified terrorists, an ongoing hostage situation in Ofakim, gun battles in Netivot, and efforts to free Israelis held hostage for hours by Hamas gunmen within the dining hall at Kibbutz Be'eri.</p>

<p>In the early hours of Sunday (Oct 8), authorities confirmed the successful rescue of hostages in Sderot, Ofakim, and Be'eri, with the Hamas terrorists involved in those standoffs neutralised.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

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Israel is gripped by a nightmarish scenario as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initiated an extensive mobilisation, and bracing for what appeared to be a full-blown war.

Israel is gripped by a nightmarish scenario as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initiated an extensive mobilisation, and bracing for what appeared to be a full-blown war. This is a result of one of the darkest and most devastating days in Israel's history, marked by an unparalleled terrorist onslaught on its southern communities. The assault led to hundreds of casualties on both sides, with over 300 in Israel alone, over 1,800 injuries, and the apparent abduction of dozens by the Hamas terror group, reported the Times of Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that all Hamas hideouts in Gaza will be turned to ‘rubble’. “All the places in which Hamas is based, in this city of evil, all the places Hamas is hiding in, acting from -- we’ll turn them into rubble. I’m telling the people of Gaza: get out of there now, because we’re about to act everywhere with all our force,” he said. PM Netanyahu further said the country is embarking on a “long and difficult war” after a surprise attack by Hamas terrorists led to over 300 deaths, while 100 Israelis have been held hostage. On Sunday morning, the Iranian-backed armed group Hezbollah said it had fired rockets and artillery into northern Israel “in solidarity” with the Palestinian people. Israeli forces responded with artillery strikes into Lebanon and a drone attack on a Hezbollah post near the border, the military said. The Lebanese group Hezbollah issued a statement Sunday claiming responsibility for targeting three Israeli sites in an area known as Shebaa Farms using missiles and artillery. Shebaa Farms is considered by Lebanon as Israeli-occupied, reported CNN. The three sites include the Radar site, the Zabdin site, and the Ruwaisat Al-Alam site, the statement by Hezbollah said. In an assault of shocking breadth, Hamas militants infiltrated as many as 22 locations in southern Israel, reaching towns and communities situated up to 15 miles (24 kilometres) from the Gaza border. Their rampage persisted for hours, targeting both civilians and soldiers, while Israel's military scrambled to mount a response. Gunfights persisted well into the night, with terrorists holding hostages in standoffs in at least two towns. Also read | What is Hamas, Palestinian group behind the surprise attack on Israel? Overwhelmed hospitals and ongoing operations Hospitals found themselves inundated with wounded patients, with the latest count at over 1,800 casualties, including 300 in serious condition and 19 in critical condition, reported the Times of Israel. Many civilians remained trapped in their homes, fearful of roaming terrorists hunting for victims. Security forces engaged in hostage situations, house raids, and confrontations with gunmen, successfully neutralising armed threats. 🇮🇱 MASSIVE rocket barrage reportedly headed toward Tel Aviv. Huge explosions reported in the north of Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/XM8xwkrqLx — Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) October 7, 2023 × Simultaneously, social media platforms were flooded with photographs and videos that conveyed the scenes of devastation from the targeted towns. These visuals were accompanied by distressing footage of frightened people, including men, women, and children, being forcibly taken from their homes to an uncertain fate in Gaza. Meanwhile, relentless rocket barrages persist, forcing hundreds of thousands of residents in southern and central Israel to seek shelter repeatedly. Rockets that evaded the Iron Dome defence system inflicted serious injuries on some people. The situation prompted pointed questions and demands for answers concerning multiple facets of the crisis, including intelligence failures, deployment issues, and policy decisions that contributed to a national catastrophe. Israel's response In response to the crisis, Israel was in the initial stages of a military operation that its leaders pledged would be unprecedented. The IDF conducted strikes on terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip. Four divisions of reservists were deployed to the Gaza border, augmenting the 35 battalions already stationed there. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel was at war and discussed the potential formation of an emergency government with opposition leaders. In a late-night address to the nation, Netanyahu vowed to harness the full capabilities of the IDF to dismantle Hamas's capacities and urged Gaza residents to evacuate. He characterised the day's events as unprecedented and pledged to ensure they would not recur. Watch | Israel-Palestine Conflict: Women captured, taken hostage after Hamas militants storm Israel Key hotspots and successful rescues Throughout the day, several flashpoints emerged, including intense gunfire at a police station in Sderot controlled by unidentified terrorists, an ongoing hostage situation in Ofakim, gun battles in Netivot, and efforts to free Israelis held hostage for hours by Hamas gunmen within the dining hall at Kibbutz Be'eri. In the early hours of Sunday (Oct 8), authorities confirmed the successful rescue of hostages in Sderot, Ofakim, and Be'eri, with the Hamas terrorists involved in those standoffs neutralised. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

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The death toll in Israel after a surprise attack by Hamas has surged to more than 600, while over 100 people were being held as "prisoners" by the militant group, the Israel government said.

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The death toll in Israel after a surprise attack by Hamas has surged to more than 600, while over 100 people were being held as "prisoners" by the militant group, the Israel government said. The government's press office posted the latest figures on its Facebook, which were confirmed to AFP by an official working at the bureau who declined to be named. The death toll "is not a final number", the official said, adding that more than 2,000 people had been wounded including 200 who were in "critical condition".

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Israel is at War where more than 250 Israelis died in a surprise large scale attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

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In a statement on Saturday, UN Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland warned that "this is a dangerous precipice, and I appeal to all to pull back from the brink." He also condemned the attacks on Israel. He demanded that all parties exercise the utmost caution and safeguard people.

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