Israel-Hamas war continues for another day as Israel responds to the Hamas militants
On October 7, 2023, Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist group, launched a surprise attack on Israel, infiltrating Israeli cities and causing a massive rocket barrage, killing hundreds of people. Many civilians and soldiers were also taken as hostages as this operation by Hamas, called ‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’, came into effect.
The infiltration is said to have happened after weeks of considerable tension along the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian enclave along the Mediterranean coast. In 2007, Hamas seized control of the territory of Gaza. However, for 16 years, Israel has maintained a blockade over the territory, and it has resulted in heavy fighting in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Four wars have been also fought since that time.
This infiltration attack echoes the Yom Kippur War that happened in 1973, which also took Israel by surprise. In retaliation for this attack, Israel has also started an operation called “Operation Swords of Iron”, which involved launching massive air strikes, killing more than 200 people with almost 1700 wounded. Israeli police have also announced that in an attempt to achieve the objectives against the enemy that destroyed their territory, they have also suspended the supply of electricity, goods, and fuel to the Gaza Strip.
Israel’s response to the attack
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s Prime Minister, has said that the IDF army will retaliate by using all the forces to destroy “Hamas’s capabilities” as this is a black day in the history of Israel. He has also continued by saying that “Our enemy will pay a price the type of which it has never known” as this is a war being waged and “we will win it”.
He has also issued a statement warning Palestinians to leave the place as his forces would be acting anywhere and everywhere, turning the hideouts into “rubbles”. Yoav Gallant, Israel’s defense minister, has said that they are too ready for the war as the Hamas forces did not distinguish between children, women, and elderly, and have thus made a “grave mistake”. “We will change the face of reality in the Gaza Strip”, he added.
Israel-Hamas War: The position of other countries
As the Israel-Hamas war escalates, PM Narendra Modi has stated that India stands in solidarity with Israel, empathizing with the “innocent victims” of the aggrieved families. Many Indians are stuck in Israel amidst this conflict, including actress Nusrat Bharucha who went to Israel to attend the Haifa International Film Festival. Around 27 citizens of Meghalaya, who went to Jerusalem for pilgrimage are also stuck in Bethelem midst these tensions.
Brazil’s foreign ministry has also expressed its solidarity with Israel and reaffirmed its commitment to a “two-state solution,” which includes the co-existence of Palestine and Israel within mutually agreed and internationally recognized borders. An emergency meeting was also conducted with the United Nations Security Council to further discuss the matter regarding the aforementioned attacks.
US President Joe Biden has voiced his “rock solid and unwavering” support for Israel and called an emergency meeting with the UN Security Council. Biden has also issued a warning “against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation”.
Saudi Arabia has appealed for an “immediate halt” of war conditions and has asked the international community to come together in order to “activate a credible peace process” that will ensure stability and peace in the inflicted regions and will protect civilians.
The Egyptian foreign ministry has responded by appealing to both the countries, Israel and Palestine, to practice restraint. Syrian foreign ministry has backed the attacks by the Hamas group, by calling it an “honorable achievement” as the forces are “fighting against zionist extremism”. Qatar holds Israel “solely responsible” for such escalation of the events. Tehran holds a similar response to that of Syria.
