The Israeli Embassy in Portugal confirmed this Saturday that the Israeli Army declared a “state of war and the highest level of emergency alert” following a Hamas attack on Israeli territory with civilian casualties.
The Embassy added that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) “called for the mobilization of reserves” and asked “all citizens to remain in their homes.”
“Israel is shocked by the surprise attack and unprovoked aggression. Israel has not only the right, but the duty to defend its citizens, their lives and their safety,” the Israeli embassy in Lisbon said in a statement.
The Islamic group Hamas launched this Saturday, at 6:30 a.m., an attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip, launching more than 5,000 rockets by air.
According to the Israeli representation in Lisbon, “under the cover of a barrage of rockets launched from Gaza, aimed at civilians, dozens of terrorists infiltrated Israel” and, since then, “the majority of Israeli citizens are hiding in shelters.”
“The terrorists entered private residences, took hostages, killed civilians and kidnapped soldiers, civilians and bodies. [cadáveres] to Gaza. We have confirmed Israeli civilian casualties as terrorists continue to attack civilians, women and children. In Gaza, since the morning, there have been celebrations for the deaths of Israelis,” he added.
The Islamic Jihad group in the West Bank joined Hamas “and called for ‘full mobilization’ to kill Israelis,” the Embassy added, also highlighting that “mosques in Shoafat (East Jerusalem) are calling on Muslim civilians in Israel to take up arms and kill the Israelites too.”
The commander of the armed wing of Hamas confirmed this Saturday the start of the “Al-Aqsa Storm” operation, with the launch of more than 5,000 rockets towards Israel from Gaza, calling for the uprising of all Arabs in Israeli territory.
The commander regretted that Hamas’ requests for “humanitarian exchanges” have been rejected and that “violations in the West Bank continue every day.”
In response, Israel bombed several Hamas facilities in the Gaza Strip from the air, launching Operation Iron Swords, the military announced.
So far, the escalation has left three confirmed dead, one in Israel and two in Gaza, according to official sources, although these are provisional figures.
Source: TSF
