Israel is at war – Netanyahu

Hamas will pay a price like it never knew before, the Israeli prime minister has warned

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel is at war in his first comments after Palestinian armed group Hamas launched a major surprise attack on Israel earlier on Saturday.

“Citizens of Israel, we are at war. And we will win,” Netanyahu said in a video address.

“The enemy will pay a price like they have never known before,” he vowed, referring to Hamas.

Netanyahu’s comments were echoed by Israel Defense Forces chief spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, who said that Israel is in a “state of war” following Hamas’ surprise attack early on Saturday.

“The IDF has declared a state of war,” he said in a video statement. “We are in a state of war.”

He added that “more than 2,000 rockets have been fired” and that “terrorists infiltrated, and some are still in Israel.”

“The IDF is flooding the area with troops. We are focusing the fighting on the Gaza border,” Hagari said. “We have begun a widespread call-up in all parts of the IDF. The Air Force is also striking in Gaza.”

An IDF spokesperson added that fighting is ongoing and that militants remain present in multiple locations. Israel's defense forces, they said, are presently focused on fighting in regions surrounding the Gaza envelope, while military reservists are being called up.

The Israeli air force has begun an attack on Gaza, the spokesperson also said.

At least 22 Israelis have been killed since the beginning of the surprise attack by Hamas, according to local media reports.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Saturday that the Palestinian people have a right to defend themselves against what he described as the “terror of settlers and occupation troops.”

The WAFA news agency reported that Abbas had chaired an emergency meeting of civilian and security officials. He gave instructions for Palestinians to be protected, the news agency added.

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