This Saturday, the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas surprised Israel with a ground and air attack. They launched missiles in several cities in the country, while armed fighters murdered Israelis on the southern border, posting images of the assault on networks as they advanced on the ground. Other militants kidnapped dozens of Israelis and transported them to Gaza.
The assault occurs at a time of serious tensions between Israel and the Palestinian authorities, with the murder of Palestinians in the West Bank, constant attacks by Israeli settlers and the increase in clashes over Al-Aqsa, the temple disputed by both communities.
The Palestinian military incursion has occurred in at least 25 Israeli towns. Rockets have fallen north of Tel Aviv, while armed men have opened fire on passers-by in cities such as Sderot, Sufa, Nahal Oz and Magen, towns near the border with the Gaza Strip.
The offensive launched this Saturday by the Islamist group Hamas under the name “Al Aqsa Storm” and the subsequent Israeli military retaliation called “Iron Swords” lead all parties to agree on one word: “war.”
