In a shocking attack on Israel, the senior Hamas leader, Saleh al-Arouri, claimed that the Islamist militant group had captured enough Israeli soldiers and civilian hostages to secure the release of all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Speaking to Al Jazeera, al-Arouri stated that they had killed and captured numerous Israeli soldiers, with the fighting still ongoing. He further added that senior officers were among those captured and killed during the early morning attack, which has been described as the worst in 50 years. The attack resulted in at least 200 Israelis dead and around 1,000 injured.

The exact number of hostages captured by Hamas remains undisclosed, but the armed wing of Hamas, the Izzedine al Qassam Brigades, claimed to have taken “dozens” of Israelis in a Telegram post. Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Forces confirmed the capture of a “substantial” number of soldiers and civilians but did not provide specific details. According to the Jerusalem Post, some hostages were being held by Hamas at a kibbutz in the southern part of Israel, while others had been taken into Gaza.

The background leading up to this attack can be traced back to several key events. In 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew from the Gaza Strip, which it had won from Egypt during the Six-Day War. The following year, Hamas, classified as a terrorist group, won the Palestinian legislative election. In 2007, Hamas seized control of Gaza, sparking a civil war. The situation escalated in 2008 when Israel launched a military offensive against Gaza in response to Palestinian rocket attacks on the town of Sderot. Finally, in 2023, Hamas launched its largest attack on Israel in half a century.

The consequences of this attack have been devastating. Over 300 Israelis have lost their lives, and at least 1,500 have been injured, with the death toll expected to rise. Hamas terrorists reportedly fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of militants into Israeli towns. Disturbing videos have emerged showing Hamas militants parading female hostages down the streets. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that they are at war and vowed that Hamas will face an unprecedented price.

On the Palestinian side, Gaza health officials have reported at least 230 deaths and over 1,700 injuries. The number of hostages, both military and civilian, is still uncertain, but early reports suggested that it could be around 52. Shocking news wire photos have depicted elderly women being taken by Hamas militants in golf carts, while young women, bloodied from the attacks, have been piled into vehicles filled with men.

In response to the attack, the United States Office for Palestinian Affairs initially called on Israel to refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks. However, they later deleted the message and stated that they were “monitoring” the situation. The subsequent post on social media urged U.S. citizens to remain vigilant and increase their security awareness. Eventually, the office reposted a statement from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, condemning the Hamas attack and expressing solidarity with Israel.

The attack itself was carried out by Hamas militants infiltrating multiple heavily fortified Israeli borders through air, land, and sea, catching the country off guard during a major holiday. The situation remains fluid and highly tense, with the Israeli military launching significant air raids on the Gaza Strip in retaliation, resulting in the deaths of at least 198 Palestinians and hundreds more wounded, according to reports from the Palestinian health authority.