Baby found at kibbutz where Hamas gunmen infiltrated; parents nowhere to be seen
A baby has been found at Kibbutz Kfar Aza near the Gaza border, and the parents are nowhere to be seen, Channel 12 reports.
Kibbutz residents are pleading for anyone who has information on the baby’s family to come forward.
The kibbutz is one of several places where Hamas gunmen are still believed to be on the loose.
Education Ministry says schools, kindergartens to be closed nationwide on Sunday
The Education Ministry says all kindergartens and schools will be closed across the country on Sunday.
Earlier, the Israel Defense Forces’ Home Front Command said that studies would not go ahead in the center and south of the country, but the ministry has expanded the closure to the entire country.
The UN’s Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland “vehemently condemns” today’s multi-front Hamas assault of Israeli towns near Gaza and the firing of rockets into central Israel.
“These events have resulted in horrific scenes of violence and many Israeli fatalities and injuries, with many believed to be kidnapped inside the Strip. These are heinous attacks targeting civilians and must stop immediately,” Wennesland says in a statement.
“I am deeply concerned for the well-being of all civilians. I am in close contact with all concerned to urge maximum restraint and call on all sides to protect civilians.”
“This is a dangerous precipice and I appeal to all to pull back from the brink,” he adds.
The mayor of Sderot, Alon Davidi, says his city is still under attack.
“Don’t open the doors, stay inside, close the windows… we’re still searching the area,” he tells local residents via Channel 12.
He says the Hamas leadership, from Ismael Haniyeh on down, are “animals” who “must be harmed and killed.”
The people of Israel “haven’t yet seen” what’s happened in the city, he says — “inhuman acts” against innocent people. The terrorists have to be “wiped out,” he says.
Israel has given Gazans food, water and electricity, and allowed Gazans into work, he notes, but the Gaza Hamas leadership are “murderers who must be buried under the ground. Not because we are cruel, but because those who are merciful to the cruel, ultimately are cruel to the good.”
“People still don’t understand the numbers” and the extent of the attacks, he says.
The UN’s Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland “vehemently condemns” today’s multi-front Hamas assault of Israeli towns near Gaza and the firing of rockets into central Israel.
“These events have resulted in horrific scenes of violence and many Israeli fatalities and injuries, with many believed to be kidnapped inside the Strip. These are heinous attacks targeting civilians and must stop immediately,” Wennesland says in a statement.
“I am deeply concerned for the well-being of all civilians. I am in close contact with all concerned to urge maximum restraint and call on all sides to protect civilians.”
“This is a dangerous precipice and I appeal to all to pull back from the brink,” he adds.
The mayor of Sderot, Alon Davidi, says his city is still under attack.
“Don’t open the doors, stay inside, close the windows… we’re still searching the area,” he tells local residents via Channel 12.
He says the Hamas leadership, from Ismael Haniyeh on down, are “animals” who “must be harmed and killed.”
The people of Israel “haven’t yet seen” what’s happened in the city, he says — “inhuman acts” against innocent people. The terrorists have to be “wiped out,” he says.
Israel has given Gazans food, water and electricity, and allowed Gazans into work, he notes, but the Gaza Hamas leadership are “murderers who must be buried under the ground. Not because we are cruel, but because those who are merciful to the cruel, ultimately are cruel to the good.”
“People still don’t understand the numbers” and the extent of the attacks, he says.
A Channel 12 reporter in the city says there are many “bodies on the ground… terribly grave pictures, scenes that are hard to describe.”
These fatalities, the reporter stresses, are victims of gunfire by Hamas terrorists who infiltrated from Gaza into the city, not rocket attacks.
At least 40 people have been killed and 740 injured since the start of the massive attack by the Hamas terror group, the Magen David Adom emergency service says.
Terror cells from the Gaza group have infiltrated a number of communities in the south of the country.
In addition, thousands of rockets have been fired at the center and south.
Hamas has claimed to have taken a number of hostages from Israel to the Gaza Strip. There has been no confirmation from Israel.
The assault has been ongoing since approximately 6:30 a.m.
The death toll is expected to rise.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes a statement at the start of the security cabinet meeting, calling for all the citizens of the country to unite.
“Since this morning, the State of Israel has been at war. Our first goal is first of all to cleanse the area of the enemy forces that have infiltrated, and restore security and peace to the settlements that were attacked,” Netanyahu says.
“The second goal, at the same time, is to exact a huge price from the enemy, also in the Gaza Strip,” he says.
“The third goal is to fortify other arenas so that no one makes the mistake of joining this war,” Netanyahu says.
“We are at war, in war, you have to keep calm. I call on all citizens of Israel to unite in order to achieve our highest goal – victory in the war,” the premier says.
The official name for the campaign by the Israel Defense Forces amid the devastating Hamas attack is Operation Swords of Iron.
IDF says carried out drone strikes on Hamas terrorists at Gaza border
The Israel Defense Forces says it has carried out a number of drone strikes against several Hamas terrorists on the border with the Gaza Strip.
Airstrikes are continuing in other areas of the Gaza Strip at this hour, the IDF says.
Reports of hostage situation in Ofakim, 20 km from Gaza border
An ongoing hostage situation is reported by Hebrew-language media in the southern city of Ofakim, some 20 kilometers from the border with the Gaza Strip.
Some reports say several Hamas terrorists have been killed by Israeli forces there.
There is no immediate comment from authorities on the incident.
Kibbutz Ein HaShlosha, Nir Yitzhak residents say terrorists still inside communities
Residents of Kibbutz Ein HaShlosha near the border with the Gaza Strip tell Channel 12 news that there are still terrorists within the community.
“Send police or troops to help us, please,” one of them messages a reporter. “I am in the safe room, with a knife.”
In addition, the outlet says there is a Hamas gunman still roaming around Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak.
Throughout the day, residents of the border communities have been calling television outlets to beg for security forces to come and rescue them amid a mass infiltration by Hamas terrorists.
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