Unleashing Havoc: Israel-Hamas Conflict Escalates with Intensified Rocket Strikes and Fierce Ground Battles
Fierce clashes persist as Israel and Hamas engagement escalates, with ongoing rocket attacks and ground battles Concerns grow as the conflict spreads across the region, intensifying the horror on the ground
The conflict between Hamas and Israel entered its third day on Monday, as militants launched another round of rocket attacks and Israeli forces continued their efforts to remove Hamas gunmen from its territory. Israeli jets also continued to strike the Gaza Strip. On Sunday, Israel officially declared war on the Islamist militant group Hamas following their surprise attack on Israeli territory over the weekend. This attack has resulted in over 700 casualties in Israel, exacerbating an ongoing conflict and causing immense suffering to the nation.
Late Sunday, Hamas militants asserted their control over more than 100 hostages in Gaza, a group that reportedly includes senior Israeli army officers. Mousa Abu Marzouk, the chief deputy of Hamas's Political Bureau, made these claims. On social media platforms, videos emerged displaying militants capturing numerous civilians, including children. Meanwhile, distressed Israeli families appealed desperately for the safe release of their beloved ones.
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Apart from Israeli captives, there are also individuals from other nationalities, namely Americans, Mexicans, and Brazilians, who are believed to have been taken hostage, thus adding complexity to Israel's response to the Hamas attack.
Furthermore, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have verified, at the early hours of Monday local time, that Israel does not have complete control of its territory along the border with Gaza.
"We are actively pursuing the final remaining terrorist within Israeli borders," stated IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus during an interview with CNN.
"Our forces are diligently conducting thorough searches, going from door to door and house to house, seeking out, and often engaging with, the few remaining terrorists within Israel."
Smoke rises above buildings during an Israeli air strike, in Gaza City on October 9.
Israeli airstrikes have thus far emerged as the main response within Gaza, as Israeli jets relentlessly bombard the densely populated coastal strip spanning 140 square miles, reducing numerous structures to ruins.
According to authorities in Gaza, over 430 Palestinians, including numerous children, have lost their lives and almost 2,300 have been injured. On the other hand, the IDF claims to have targeted Hamas and successfully annihilated approximately 800 objectives. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the spokesperson, stated that these attacks have resulted in the death of "hundreds" of fighters, the injuries of thousands, and the capture of numerous others.
Tens of thousands of individuals in Gaza have been forced to leave their homes, as reported by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. Additionally, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza has expressed concerns over the hindered access to medical assistance due to Israel's power cuts, putting hundreds of injured lives at risk. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has foreseen a prolonged and challenging conflict and has pledged strong retribution against Hamas.
Aftermath of Israeli strikes in Gaza on Sunday.
Ibrahim Dahman/CNN
'Nowhere to go': Ordinary Palestinians live in fear as Israel retaliates against Hamas
Sounds of battle
According to Hecht, the IDF has stated that their main focus in the upcoming hours and days is to gain complete control over the enclave while eliminating all the terrorists present within their territory. In the early hours of Monday morning, Israeli fighters are still engaging in confrontations with Hamas militants on Israeli soil.
Throughout the night, CNN reporters on the ground witnessed an ongoing battle and the firing of Israel's Iron Dome missile system to intercept rockets launched by Hamas. Israel's declaration of war has paved the way for a significant military operation in Gaza. On Sunday, tanks and personnel carriers were observed in motion near the Israel-Gaza border.
Israel has mobilized numerous reserve soldiers and the IDF has declared the evacuation of multiple communities near the Gaza security fence.
According to an Israeli military official and a US defense official, Israel has appealed to the US for precision guided bombs and extra Iron Dome interceptors. This includes Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs), which are kits that transform unguided explosives into accurate, intelligent weapons.
Horror on the ground
: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced immediate security assistance to Israel, along with the deployment of a Navy carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean Sea. This deployment includes guided missile destroyers and guided missile cruisers.Result:
During the past 48 hours, numerous Israeli citizens sought refuge in bomb shelters and saferooms. Israel's Ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog, informed CNN that Hamas launched over 4,000 rockets at Israel and infiltrated Israeli territory with hundreds of militants.
During the violent weekend, Hamas rockets successfully targeted various areas within the country, including Tel Aviv, as armed terror groups managed to breach Israeli territories and infiltrate military bases, towns, and farms. These groups indiscriminately shot at civilians, and even took hostages, as depicted in the distressing images and videos captured on the ground.
Photos showcasing the aftermath of a music festival near the Israel-Gaza border, targeted by Hamas, have been unveiled by the Israeli foreign ministry. Emergency responders have reported a staggering death toll of at least 260 individuals.
Israelis inspect the rubble of a building a day after it was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Sunday.
Oded Balilty/AP
Yakov Argamani, the father of a reported Israeli woman who was kidnapped at the festival, confessed to CNN that he initially struggled to accept the reality when he witnessed his daughter being forcibly placed on the rear of a motorcycle by Hamas militants in a viral social media footage. "Words fail to capture the experience. I cannot express the indescribable emotions that overwhelmed me... It was an immensely challenging moment," expressed Yakov Argamani while recounting his reaction to witnessing the video featuring his 25-year-old daughter, Noa, for the very first time.
Attacks into southern Israel
CNN has obtained and geolocated videos that reveal the tragic deaths of four innocent civilians in Beeri kibbutz. Shockingly, these individuals were killed while under the custody of Hamas, mere feet away from where armed militants were accompanying them.
Hamas announced on Sunday that their forces remain in Mavkiim, an area in southern Israel located just north of Gaza, and continue to carry out operations.
In a statement aired on al-Aqsa TV, Abu Obaida, the spokesperson for Hamas' armed wing, stated that their fighters are currently involved in intense battles that have caused a notable number of casualties among the enemy forces.
CNN cannot confirm Hamas' claims. When CNN reached out to IDF spokesperson Major Ben Wahlhaus for comment, he responded, "The situation is continuously changing. At this moment, rockets are being launched."
He added, "Our operations are still ongoing in the southern regions. People are staying in their homes, taking shelter in saferooms and bomb shelters."
Hamas militants have asserted that they carried out a significant missile strike using 100 rockets on the city of Ashkelon, which is situated near the Gaza border. However, CNN is unable to confirm the validity of these claims. Meanwhile, Israeli authorities have reported that a rocket attack hit an apartment building, causing substantial damage.
Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from Ashkelon in southern Israel October 7, 2023
Amir Cohen/Reuters
Hamas stated that it launched 100 rockets in response to Israeli forces targeting residential areas in Gaza. According to the southern district police forces and IDF soldiers in Sderot, they have regained control of a police station that was infiltrated by approximately 10 armed terrorists, whom they neutralized.
Furthermore, Hamas asserted that they targeted Ben Gurion International Airport, Israel's primary international airport situated near Tel Aviv.
Israeli warplanes launched overnight strikes in Gaza, further weakening Hamas, according to the IDF. The targets included a facility where Hamas operatives were housed, as well as several operational command centers, including a three-floor command center.
CNN
Desert horror: Music festival goers heard rockets, then Gaza militants fired on them and took hostages
The IDF reported targeting a command center belonging to senior operative Mahmad Kashta of the Hamas naval forces, as well as a Hamas operational asset located in a mosque in Jabalia city. The series of Israeli strikes in Gaza have also resulted in civilian casualties in one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
According to journalist Hassan Eslayeh and a family relative, a total of thirteen family members, including four toddlers, tragically lost their lives in a devastating Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, situated in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday. Mohammad Anu Daqqa, a relative of the family, reported that the Israeli airstrike led to the destruction of five residential buildings.
Regional concerns of escalation
Unfolding amidst a backdrop of escalating hostilities between Palestinians and Israelis, the recent wave of attacks represents a perilous shift into uncharted territory for the enduring conflict. Perturbingly, the Israeli military and intelligence apparatus finds itself under scrutiny as their apparent lack of preparedness culminated in one of the nation's gravest security lapses.
The scale and scope of the attack that commenced on Saturday morning was unparalleled, marking a significant event on the 50th anniversary of the 1973 War. This particular conflict witnessed Arab states launching a sudden and intense offensive against Israel on Yom Kippur, the most sacred day in the Jewish calendar.
Palestinians search for casualties under the rubble of a house destroyed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip.
Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters
The fighting between the two sides has significantly increased over the past two years. The escalation of violence can be attributed to the frequent military raids conducted by Israel in Palestinian towns and cities. Israel justifies these raids as necessary retaliatory measures against the increasing number of attacks by Palestinian militants on Israelis.
On Sunday, there were concerns about the potential expansion of the conflict, as Lebanese group Hezbollah claimed responsibility for targeting three Israeli sites in an area called Shebaa Farms. The attacks were carried out using missiles and artillery. Lebanon considers this area to be under Israeli occupation.
Rockets are fired toward Israel from the Gaza Strip, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The rockets were fired as Hamas announced a new operation against Israel.
Fatima Shbair/AP
Videos show new details on how Hamas launched surprise assault on Israel
The IDF launched artillery strikes on the area in Lebanon from where the firing originated, affirming its commitment to safeguard the safety of Israeli civilians through operations in all regions as required.
Following the incident, an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council took place on Sunday, but no immediate action was taken. The Deputy US Ambassador to the UN noted that not all member nations had condemned the Hamas attacks, without specifying which ones. A unanimous vote of all 15 members of the UNSC is necessary for the release of a statement.
CNNs Mostafa Salem, Amir Tal, Shirin Zia Faqiri, Paul P. Murphy, Lauren Iszo, Gianluca Mezzofiore, Celine Alkhaldi, Kareem Khadder, Richard Allen Greene and Mohammed Tawfeeq contributed reporting.
