Hamas militants fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip in an unprecedented surprise early morning attack during a major Jewish holiday Saturday, killing dozens and stunning the country. Israel said it is now at war with Hamas and launched airstrikes in Gaza, vowing to inflict an “unprecedented price.”
Hours after the incursion began, Israeli troops were still fighting Hamas gunmen in 22 locations near the Gaza Strip, including towns and other communities, army spokesman Daniel Hagari said — a startling sign of the breadth of the assault.
Israel’s national rescue service said at least 100 people were killed and hundreds wounded, making it the deadliest attack in Israel in years. An unknown number of Israeli soldiers and civilians were also taken captive and brought into Gaza, an enormously sensitive issue for Israel. Hagari said militants were also holding hostages in standoffs in two towns, Beeri and Ofakim, which is 15 miles (24 kilometers) from the Gaza border.
“into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip”
This is worded strangely. Are these towns in Israel or are they in the Gaza Strip? Based on the rest of the article, I assume in Gaza, especially with the hostages note that don’t seem to be kidnapped people from elsewhere.
Wait, in fact, reading the article again, is this all entirely taking place in Gaza? There was no actual incursion into Israel?
But then it says “deadliest attack in Israel” and “were also taken captive and brought into Gaza”. So I’m confused again.
Where the heck is this all happening? Because Israel and Gaza are two different places.
In Israel. Hamas infiltrated Israel, reached towns as far as 10 miles from the border, and started shooting at civilians and taking them hostages. The hostages were transferred back into Gaza. There are no Israeli settlements inside Gaza borders since 2006.
“There are no Israeli settlements inside Gaza borders since 2006.”
Huh? What are you talking about. Israel has been constantly building new settlements inside the border. The International Court of Justice even called Israel out for it being a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Edit: Sorry, you’re right. I was confused with West Bank
People should really know that Israel withdrew from Gaza Unilaterally starting in 2005, and terrorism has been spiking upward ever since.
It was also originally an “Israeli Music Festival” held in an open field and “a rave next to the border in a desert near Kibbutz Re’im”. Now it’s towns. Are they both correct? Was this attack in multiple locations?