Several people were killed on Saturday as violence escalated between Israel and Palestine. Medical sources told Al Jazeera that at least 160 Palestinians have been killed and the number of wounded has exceeded 1,000 after the Israeli Air Force launched strikes in the Gaza Strip on Saturday.
Likewise, some 40 Israelis have been killed, according to Al Jazeera. The previous number, reported by emergency services, was 22.
At the time of writing, more than 750 Israelis have been injured and the numbers are likely to rise.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “We are at war and we will win it” as the country’s air force began attacking Hamas targets in Gaza.
“Hamas militants infiltrated Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip, including by paragliding and over the sea, and launched more than 3,000 rockets,” Israeli military leaders said.
Israel ordered residents of areas around Gaza to stay indoors after the “infiltrations.”
Palestinian fighters confirmed they had captured some Israelis after crossing into Israel from the Gaza Strip in a large-scale attack.
Saturday’s violence is believed to have been started by Hamas, which attacked Israel in a surprise attack.
Hamas, the group that runs the besieged Gaza enclave, said its surprise operation was in response to the desecration of the Al-Aqsa mosque and increased settler violence.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories is the only guarantee of “security, stability and peace” in the region.
“We have repeatedly warned about the consequences of a stalemate on the political horizon and of not granting the Palestinian people their legitimate right to self-determination and their state. “We have also warned of the consequences of daily provocations and attacks, continued terrorism by settlers and occupation forces, and raids on the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Christian and Islamic holy sites,” the Foreign Ministry said. it’s a statement.
“What guarantees security, stability and peace in our region is ending the Israeli occupation of the land of the State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, along the lines of 1967, and recognizing the right of the people to independence and sovereignty.”
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Saturday that he was “closely monitoring” the situation in Israel and that Washington’s “commitment to Israel’s right to defend itself remains unwavering.”
He added: “Over the coming days, the Department of Defense will work to ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself and protect civilians from indiscriminate violence and terrorism.”
The war between Israel and Palestine dates back to the late 19th century. The latest comes as tensions rose after Israel closed its borders to Gaza workers.
Hamas maintained that “the people had to draw a line to end the occupation” and added that Israel continued to commit crimes throughout the Palestinian territory, especially in the holy site of Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem.