TEL AVIV: Within 24 hours of the rocket attack, Israel on Sunday officially declared war on Hamas. The declaration of war was made by the Israeli Security Council for the first time since 1973. Meanwhile, the United States has announced that it will provide military and financial assistance to Israel as stated by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. There are reports that American citizens were also killed in the attack by Hamas, but the United States has not officially confirmed this.

At the same time, the number of people killed in the attacks by Hamas in Israel reached 659. The Israeli government also confirmed that about 100 people were taken hostage by Hamas. Official sources said the actual death toll is yet to be released and the death toll could rise further. Israel's Ministry of Health also stated that 2048 people were injured in the attack. It is reported that 400 Palestinians were killed and 1700 injured in Israel's counter-attack. Khan Yunis Mosque was destroyed in the attack. Israel also bombed the home of Hamas intelligence chief. Al Jazeera reports that several villages are under Hamas control and that the commanders here have been supplied with weapons. At the same time, Israel stated that the Hamas had been expelled from these areas. Israel has announced that it has begun evacuating Israelis living in the Gaza Strip as part of an intensified attack on Gaza.

Yesterday, the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas unexpectedly entered Israel and took hostages including soldiers and launched a heavy rocket attack. Hamas was infiltrating not only by land and sea, but also by air using para-gliders. They started shooting and killing everyone they saw. The hostages were brutally beaten and many were forcibly taken to Gaza. It is reported that many towns in Israel have been captured by Hamas. They attacked Israeli soldiers and set fire to military vehicles.