In a dramatic turn of events, Israel’s Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, declared that Hamas has initiated a war against Israel, prompting a swift and forceful response from the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). Gallant urged all citizens to adhere to security instructions, expressing confidence that Israel would emerge victorious in the conflict.

Gallant stated, “Hamas has made a grave mistake this morning and launched a war against the state of Israel. IDF troops are fighting against the enemy at every location.” The country’s Ministry of Defence released a statement outlining a “special security situation” near the Gaza Strip, with a designated 0.8km radius. This status empowers the IDF to provide safety instructions to civilians and secure relevant sites.

Retaliatory strikes from Israel reportedly followed thousands of rockets launched by Hamas in the early hours. According to unverified reports, two individuals in the Gaza Strip lost their lives, and many others were injured, some seriously, in an Israeli shelling east of Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian WAFA news agency conveyed the impact of the exchange of gunfire between factions in the Gaza Strip and Israeli occupation forces, noting a standstill in life within the besieged enclave.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) announced that its fighters have joined Hamas militants in attacking Israel. In a statement, PIJ declared, “Our cadres stand alongside their brothers in Hamas, shoulder to shoulder, until victory.” PIJ, the second-largest militant group in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, according to the US Director of National Intelligence, adds further complexity to the conflict.