Israel attacked: PM says Israel is at war after 250 killed in Gaza attack.
A)
1)
At least 250 people have been killed and 1,590 wounded in Israel after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched its most significant attack in years.
Dozens of gunmen from Gaza infiltrated southern Israeli communities after dawn under cover of heavy rocket fire.
They took both Israeli soldiers and civilians hostage, some of whom were taken back to Gaza.
2)
Israel has responded with a wave of air strikes on Gaza that medics say have killed 232 people and wounded 1,600.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was 'at war' and vowed that Hamas, which rules Gaza, would 'pay an unprecedented price'.
The Israeli military has called up tens of thousands of reservists and is now expected to launch a ground operation in Gaza.
3)
Meanwhile, fighting continues with militants who still hold pockets of southern Israel. Rockets are also being fired at Israeli towns and cities, with Tel Aviv and Rishon Lezion among those hit in the evening.
B)
4)
Israel's nightmare scenario - armed Palestinian militants on the loose in the south of the country - began early on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath and the day of the festival of Simchat Torah.
Dozens of gunmen are believed to have crossed Israeli territory at various points. Some cut through the fence from Gaza, others entered by sea.
5)
It is unclear how they breached one of the world's most heavily fortified borders.
Videos on social media showed gunfire as the militants arrived in Israeli villages and towns, including Sderot, just 1.6km from Gaza.
C)
6)
People in several communities called Israeli news stations to say they were trapped in their homes or hiding elsewhere.
"I went out; I saw many bodies of terrorists, civilians, cars shot up. A sea of bodies, inside Sderot along the road, other places, lots of bodies," said Sderot resident Shlomi.
7)
The head of a regional council in southern Israel, Ofir Liebstein, was killed in a gun battle with militants as he went to defend his community.
Videos were also shown of Israelis being taken hostage - an unprecedented development.
D)
8)
The BBC understands that militants are currently holding dozens of soldiers and civilians. Some are believed to be in small Israeli border towns, while others have been taken into Gaza.
Hamas claimed it had captured 53' prisoners of war', including senior officers, and many were being held in tunnels - which have been prime targets for the Israeli military in previous conflicts with Gaza militants.
9)
An Israeli military spokesman confirmed that "soldiers and civilians" had been abducted and some soldiers were killed - including the commander of Israel's Nahal infantry brigade, Colonel Jonathan Steinberg. But he denied reports that a top general had been kidnapped.
Videos of Palestinians driving captured Israeli military vehicles in Gaza have also been circulated.
E)
10)
At the same time as the infiltration, militants in Gaza began firing thousands of rockets at Israel, reaching the cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Some rockets managed to evade Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile defence system, damaging homes and vehicles.
10)
Residents said they had not seen such a situation in a long time, with Tel Aviv closed and empty streets.
"There is a heavy sense of surprise, shock and fear at what is yet to come," English author and journalist Gideon Levy told the BBC. "When the first rockets fell, I was still jogging in the park; the noise was terrible".
F)
11)
At a security cabinet meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "Our first goal is to remove the hostile forces that infiltrated our territory and to restore security and quiet to the communities that were attacked."
"The second goal, simultaneously, is to exact an immense price from the enemy, including inside the Gaza Strip. The third objective is to strengthen the other fronts so that no one will join this war by mistake.
G)
12)
In response to the attack, dozens of Israeli warplanes and other aircraft struck Gaza, causing large explosions.
The Israeli military targeted 17 Hamas military compounds and four operational headquarters in the first hours of "Operation Iron Swords".
13)
Later, missiles destroyed the 11-storey Palestine Tower in central Gaza City, which houses Hamas radio stations on its roof.
The Israeli Air Force said it struck "military infrastructure in two multi-storey buildings used by senior Hamas terror operatives to carry out terrorist activities" and warned residents to evacuate before the attack.
H)
14)
The medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said that a nurse and an ambulance driver had been killed in Israeli strikes on two Gaza hospitals.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that ten civilians were killed in a strike on a residential building in the Shabora area of Rafah in southern Gaza.
15)
As night fell, Israel's state electricity company also cut power to Gaza. Gaza's electricity company said about 80% of the territory's electricity came from Israel.
There was also violence in several places in the West Bank on Saturday. Palestinian medics said six Palestinians were shot dead in confrontations with Israeli forces.
16)
Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif called on Palestinians everywhere to join the group's operation.
"We have decided, with God's help, to end these Israeli violations so that the enemy understands that the time of wreaking havoc without being held accountable is over," he said.
I)
17)
Ismail Haniyeh, the exiled leader of Hamas, claimed that Palestinian factions intended to extend the violence to the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.
Ghazi Hamad, a Hamas spokesman, told the BBC that the group had direct backing for the attack from Iran, which has pledged to "stand by the Palestinian fighters until the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem".
18)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas - a political rival of Hamas - said the Palestinian people had the right to defend themselves against the "terror of settlers and occupation forces".
There was strong international condemnation of the Hamas attacks.
19)
US President Joe Biden called them "unconscionable" and said Israel had "the right to defend itself and its people, period".
"There is never any justification for terrorist attacks, and my administration's support for Israel's security is rock solid and unwavering," he added.
20)
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was "appalled by reports of civilians being attacked and abducted from their homes".
Britain's foreign secretary, James Cleverly, said he "unequivocally condemns the appalling attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians".
Qatar's foreign ministry said Israel was solely responsible for the continuing escalation of violence.
//New words//
Gunmen: Individuals armed with guns, often involved in criminal or militant activities.
Example Sentence: The gunmen stormed the bank, demanding money and creating panic among the customers.
Infiltrated: Entered or gained access secretly and gradually, especially for subversive purposes.
Example Sentence: The spies successfully infiltrated the enemy camp, gathering valuable information.
Hostage: A person held captive by someone as a security for fulfilling certain conditions or demands.
Example Sentence: The terrorists threatened to harm the hostages if the authorities did not meet their demands.
Unprecedented: Never done or experienced before; unique or unparalleled.
Example Sentence: The scale of destruction caused by the hurricane was unprecedented in the region's history.
Mobilised: Organised and prepared for action, often in response to an emergency or crisis.
Example Sentence: The government mobilised its resources to aid the earthquake-stricken areas.
Barrages: Concentrated artillery or gunfire directed towards a specific area.
Example Sentence: The military launched barrages to weaken the enemy's defences before the ground troops advanced.
Armed: Equipped with weapons, especially firearms.
Example Sentence: The police officers were armed with pistols and tasers to maintain law and order.
Perimeter: The outer boundary of an area; the boundary or border of a figure or object.
Example Sentence: Security guards patrolled the perimeter of the building to prevent unauthorised access.
Penetrate: Pierce, enter, or pass through something, especially with force or effort.
Example Sentence: The burglar attempted to penetrate the vault's security system but was caught before he could steal anything.
Fortified: Strengthened or protected with defensive structures; made more robust against attack.
Example Sentence: The castle was fortified with thick walls, a moat, and watchtowers to withstand sieges.
Sderot: A town in Israel known for frequent rocket attacks from neighbouring areas.
Council: A group of people elected or appointed to make decisions or provide advice.
Example Sentence: The city council discussed various proposals to improve public infrastructure in the community.
Abducted: Taken away forcibly or unlawfully, often against a person's will.
Example Sentence: The child was abducted from the playground, leading to a widespread search operation by law enforcement.
Kidnapped: Similar to abducted, involving the unlawful abduction or seizure of someone, typically for ransom or other criminal purposes.
Example Sentence: The businessman was kidnapped by a criminal gang, demanding a hefty ransom for his release.
Immense: Extremely large or vast in size, quantity, or extent.
Example Sentence: The explorer was amazed by the immense beauty of the Amazon rainforest.
Occupants: People who reside, work, or are present in a particular place.
Example Sentence: The occupants of the building were evacuated due to a gas leak, ensuring their safety.
Evacuate: To move people from a dangerous or hazardous place to a safer one.
Example Sentence: The authorities ordered residents to evacuate coastal areas in anticipation of the approaching hurricane.
Ambulance: A specially equipped vehicle for transporting sick or injured people to a medical facility.
Example Sentence: The ambulance rushed to the accident site to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured passengers.
Confrontation: A hostile or argumentative situation between opposing parties.
Example Sentence: The heated confrontation between the protestors and the police led to several arrests.
Havoc: Widespread destruction, chaos, or confusion.
Example Sentence: The hurricane wreaked havoc in the coastal town, leaving behind a trail of devastation.
Accountable: Responsible or answerable for actions or decisions.
Example Sentence: Public officials should be held accountable for their decisions that impact the welfare of the citizens.
Pledged: Promised or committed solemnly to do something.
Example Sentence: The government pledged to invest in renewable energy sources to reduce carbon emissions.
Condemnation: Strong disapproval or criticism; the act of expressing strong disapproval.
Example Sentence: The international community issued a joint condemnation of the terrorist attacks, vowing to stand united against such acts.
Unconscionable: Not guided by conscience; morally unacceptable or outrageous.
Example Sentence: The scam artist's unconscionable exploitation of vulnerable individuals shocked the community.
Declared: Formally announced or stated publicly.
Example Sentence: The president declared a national emergency in response to the natural disaster, allocating funds for immediate relief efforts.
Administration: The management or direction of an organisation, institution, or government.
Example Sentence: The new administration implemented policies to stimulate economic growth and improve healthcare access.
Unwavering: Firm and steady, not faltering or hesitating.
Example Sentence: Despite facing numerous challenges, her unwavering determination propelled her to success.
Unequivocally: In a way that leaves no doubt or uncertainty, without room for doubt.
Example Sentence: The scientist unequivocally proved the theory through extensive experimentation and research.
Condemns: Expresses strong disapproval or criticism towards something.
Example Sentence: The international community condemns the use of chemical weapons in warfare, considering it a grave violation of human rights.
Israel attack: PM says Israel at war after 250 killed in attack from Gaza
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67036625
Ref)
Large-scale attack by Palestinian Hamas, Israel retaliates
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20231008/k10014218851000.html
Israel 'at war' as Hamas launches major surprise attack, with at least 348 dead
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MCpfITOTsw
Israel warns Gaza to prepare for retaliation following surprise attack - BBC News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aD_s4egehw
Full Special Report: Dozens of Israelis killed in Hamas attack
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJxW3QCV1Qo
Israel declares "state of war"; over 1,000 dead; US Secretary of State Blinken: "Possibility of disrupting normalisation of diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia"
https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/-/766563?display=1
What is the Palestine issue? You can understand from 1! Israel and Palestine (1)
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/special/news_seminar/jiji/jiji97/
Israel's most powerful tank, the Merkava, was destroyed and captured by the Palestinians unharmed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf_P8liRYbo&t=212s
Palestine's ground invasion of Israel began on October 7. On the same day, Israel declared a state of war, called in its reserves, and launched airstrikes, launching a full-scale battle. That day was the Jewish Sabbath, and perhaps the Israeli side was caught off guard, as the checkpoint on the border with the Gaza Strip was overrun, and several Israeli soldiers were killed or captured. It has also been confirmed that several Merkava tanks of the Israeli Defense Forces, which are said to have the highest survivability in the world, have been destroyed.
Palestinians rejoice on top of a burning tank. They are riding an IDF main battle tank, Merkava, deployed at a Gaza Strip checkpoint. Moreover, the latest model, Merkava Mk4, is deployed among the several Merkava series. The Merkava was designed to allow its crew to survive even if attacked, taking into consideration Israel's sparse population, and is well known for its strong armour. Additionally, the Mk4 is equipped with Trophy, the world's best Active Protection System (APS), which protects the vehicle from anti-tank missiles and artillery shells. Therefore, this tank is designed not to be destroyed so easily. However, this time it was damaged.
Moreover, the enemy is not the regular army but armed organisations and terrorists. So, how did they destroy Merkava? The footage has also been released.
Two Thai workers killed in attack on Israel, 11 detained by Hamas; Thai Air Force on standby to rescue 25,000 people - October 8, 2023
https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/282532
The Thai government announced on the 8th that two Thai nationals had been killed in an attack on Israel by Hamas, which controls the Palestinian autonomous region of Gaza. It is also believed that Hamas may have abducted 11 Thai nationals.
According to the Thai Foreign Ministry, Thai workers and Israeli employers are being held, hostage.
Thai Prime Minister Setar has ordered the Thai Air Force to be on standby to evacuate his nationals from Israel. There are about 25,000 Thais in Israel and 5,000 in Gaza.
"The Thai government condemns all forms of violence and calls for an end to the violence and the immediate release of all innocent civilians," Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Panpuri told a press conference.
'This is our 9/11' says Israel, as Israel-Gaza fighting continues - BBC News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vJm4Dofo7g
The Israeli military has compared the surprise coordinated assault launched by Hamas on Saturday to the September 2001 attacks in the US.
"This is our 9/11 - they got us," said an Israeli spokesperson.
Over 700 people have been killed in Israel since Saturday, and almost 500 have died in Gaza.
[Israel state of war] Why attack now? More than 3,600 people were killed or injured. What is Palestine's "Hamas"?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk5lCQvHYDw
2023.10.9 [Israel] Was there a provocation?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20y_DhhGmM8&t=188s
Provocation or not? In the words of the US government spokesman I mentioned earlier, it was an unprovocation, so they say there was no provocation. Even if there was no provocation, how can they do such a terrible thing? Kevin Barrett makes several points in the editorial above, and this is an article from May 15 2018, by Media: The Israeli military treats Palestinians like they're playing sports. I can't tell you, so I hope you'll understand, but the story goes like this: The Israeli military treated Palestinian civilians as if they were shooting for sport. This is an article from that day.
This is a sniper in the Israeli army. He is a sniper. This is a tweet by an Israeli sniper. It was tweeted on August 1 2014. This photo says it all. He is a professional sniper in the Israeli army. I am a Palestinian child. 13 people... You know it when you see it. Shooting may be a sport in the Olympics, but just like it's a sport, these Israeli troops have been attacking Palestinians, especially children. This is the kind of sport that the Israeli government promotes.
He is now a former minister in the Netanyahu government. Is his name Ayelet Shacket? This former interior minister seems to be one of the ultra-radical members of the extreme right wing of the Netanyahu government. Let me put it this way. Not just all the little snakes, you know what I mean by little snakes? I'm talking about children, Palestinian children, little snakes, as this person calls them, and all their mothers. They say it in a way that says ``I should''. There's even a T-shirt that says, ''I shot two people,'' and that's what I'm wearing.
That was on August 13 this year, and the United Nations announced that the number of Palestinians killed by Israel in 2023 had already exceeded that of the previous year, so something was escalating. In his editorial, Kevin Barrett says that the massacre of hundreds of Palestinians, especially women and children, virtually all of whom were unarmed and posed no threat, does not appear to be a provocation. Unprovoked, the spokesman said, although there was no provocation, it seems that this was not a provocation because there is a mosque like this in the Old City of Jerusalem, a holy city in Israel.
There is a mosque called the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is said to be the oldest and largest mosque in the Islamic world, and the Israelis are invading this mosque; the Israelis are desecrating this temple, threatening it, threatening to demolish it. It's a threat, escalated over the last few weeks, and apparently, it's not even a provocation. I wouldn't call it a provocation, but what is a provocation? For the people who pray to Allah five times, he's threatening to desecrate this place, destroy it, and bring it down. It happened on the 6th or before October 7. That's a fact, and what happened on October 7 was terrible. What happened before was awful and even worse, but what is happening now? I want to acknowledge that fact and think about what is happening now.
[Palestinian situation] How did Hamas's large-scale surprise attack unfold? Saudi-Israel normalisation negotiations have ended, Biden furious
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tqPvCpYu4c
[Situation in Palestine] Hidden Israeli crimes and ethnic cleansing, the crisis of World War III that the Japanese media does not report
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q04j3IkYOzg
A)
I want everyone to remember that this is not a war between Israel and Hamas but between Israel and Iran.
At the moment, they believe that Israel is a very extremist government, and as soon as the Netanyahu government took over in Israel last December, many things changed drastically. It was hardly reported in Japan.
I've been following various media in the Middle East, including Israel, and I've noticed that Israel's settlement activities in Palestine have significantly escalated.
However, most of the coverage in Japan only covers what happened after Hamas's surprise attack on October 7.
From the end of last year until now, what happened before is hardly mentioned.
B)
On the American side, which supports Israel, he announced this was an unprovoked attack. The US side is announcing that Hamas has suddenly launched a large-scale attack, although Israel has not carried out any so-called provocation. There are similar reports in Japan. This is a manipulation of information.
What about this Israeli settlement in Palestine? Settlement in Palestine means developing cities in Palestine, building factories in Palestine, building condominiums in Palestine, and the fact that Israel is constantly invading the territory of the country called Palestine is not a lie.
C)
What's happening is that the Israeli army is going into Palestine with guns, and he's going into the homes of Palestinian civilians with his shoes on. So next month, Israel will build apartments, build factories, and develop an urban area. So you are told to leave, and you are forced to leave. Alternatively, there are still many Palestinians who do not go and resist.
Of course, the Palestinian civilians don't have weapons, so their weapons are stones. They are resisting the Israeli army by throwing stones. This is our house, so come out and let him go. The Palestinians resist by throwing stones. But the Israeli military shoots them. They woke up almost every day.
D)
It's not like they're a member of the Palestinian military or a terrorist; they're just a civilian. Children and women, in particular, are being shot. There have been far more this year than last.
As I said, the increase is his policy of forcing Palestine under the Netanyahu government.
E)
The elimination of Palestine is one of the ideas of the Netanyahu government. Even within Israel, many Israelis oppose him on the Palestinian issue.
They believe that settlements in Palestine should be stopped and that issues such as Iran should be changed to a more conciliatory policy.
F)
He is aiming at the head of the octopus, his octopus doctrine, which the Netanyahu government established. Instead of fighting Hamas or other militias, Israel should attack the head of the octopus, the heart of Iran. This is the new Israeli military policy of the Netanyahu government, known as the Octopus Doctrine.
The Israelis are also aware that the policy towards Iran, which is now progressing at an alarming rate, could lead to a significant war.
G)
And the third thing is that Israel has been working on reforming the judicial system. This is not a reform of the judicial system that puts the functions of the courts under the direct control of the government, which is a separation of powers, but a reform that puts the courts under the government. What happens with this is that you can immediately go to war. Moreover, he can also clear up the corruption charges against Prime Minister Netanyahu. He is trying to move things so that the prime minister or the president cannot take him to court. And he will strengthen his dictatorial powers to start wars with Iran and Palestine immediately.
Many Israeli civilian counterparts say he doesn't want a war with Iran or a conflict with the Palestinians. They fear the current Netanyahu government, which is moving towards a dictatorship.
H)
Palestine and Israel are like an elephant and an ant fighting each other. Israel has one of the most powerful military forces in the world, and Israel has the money and backing from Britain and the United States. This means that Palestine, a tiny country with almost no weapons, whose security and politics as a single nation are in complete disarray, has entered a state of war with Israel.
I)
This is not just a war between Palestine and Israel. The current situation is one in which Israel is effectively bullying the Palestinians. However, given the position of Iran and the surrounding Arab countries, there are fears that this could lead to a broader war throughout the Middle East.
Who is supporting Palestine? It is Iran, of course, and the Arab countries are backing Palestine. The US Biden administration, which is working to normalise diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, is making a dangerous deal.
J)
This dangerous deal is tricky because the US support the normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia. However, Israel has dramatically escalated Palestinian settlement activities and many Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia, have been warning Israel for a long time.
K)
For Palestine, the Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia have always supported Palestine, telling them to stop these settlement activities and that we support Palestine. This normalisation of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel means that if it happens, it will happen. There was a great sense of danger for Palestine because there was a possibility that they would be left behind. They said that there was a possibility of a Palestinian crisis and that this was a dangerous deal. Now, it has become a reality.
L)
Another condition is for Saudi Arabia to normalise diplomatic relations with Israel and for Saudi Arabia to receive US nuclear development assistance, which is one of the conditions for Saudi Arabia to normalise diplomatic relations with Israel.
If America were to provide nuclear development assistance to Saudi Arabia, it would now firmly bind Saudi Arabia, Iran, China and Russia into an alliance called BRIX. So the Biden administration's support for nuclear development to Saudi Arabia and its sending of unlimited weapons means that it will go to Iran, from Iran to Palestine, and then to Hamas.
M)
The Biden administration's Israel-Saudi Arabia normalisation deal is dangerous for them. This Palestinian-Israeli problem is profound and complex. It is a difficult problem caused by intertwining different countries and religious sects' intentions.
