Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel “is at war” after at least 2,500 rockets were fired from Hamas from the Gaza Strip. In response, the Israeli military launched air raids. At least 40 people were killed and roughly 800 were taken to Israeli hospitals. The terrorist cells of the Gaza group have infiltrated several communities in the south of the country. Hamas militants have infiltrated the country’s territory by sea, air and land.
The Magen David Adom emergency service announces that at least 40 people have been killed since the beginning of the massive attack by the Hamas terrorist group, the Times of Israel reports. The terrorist cells of the Gaza group have infiltrated several communities in the south of the country. The number of victims is expected to increase. At least 779 people arrived in Israeli hospitals, according to the Ministry of Health of this country. Moreover, the Hamas militants have also reportedly kidnapped Israelis.
“We are at war, not in an operation or in rounds, but at war,” PM Netanyahu said in a video statement. The IDF declared its operation “Iron Swords.”
“The Hamas [terrorist organization] has made a grave mistake this morning and launched a war against the State of Israel. IDF troops are fighting against the enemy at every location,” said in his turn Defense Minister Yoav, as quoted by Jerusalem Post.
The Palestinian group Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack
Hamas military commander Muhammad Al-Deif released a recorded message announcing Operation Al-Aqsa Storm and saying the Palestinian militant group “targeted enemy positions, airports and military positions with 5,000 rockets.” “This is the day of the greatest battle that ends the last occupation on earth,” he said, according to Reuters. Gaza residents said they heard gunfights along the separation fence with Israel near the southern town of Khan Younis and saw significant movement of armed fighters. There were no further details from the Israeli military. The Israeli Ambulance Service said teams were dispatched to areas in southern Israel near Gaza.
“There are quite a lot of Romanians in Israel at the moment. From the data we have so far, there are between 800-900 Romanians, many are tourists, others are on pilgrimages. For now we have no information that they are in difficulty, but, as they say, the situation is evolving and at any moment something new may appear. We are already looking for solutions to bring to the country those who want to return quickly. This will be possible I think soon. Tel Aviv airport is closed , but we are working on it,” said the head of state, at the Belem Palace, during the joint statements made with his Portuguese counterpart, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
Romanian President, Prime Minister demand that the attacks from Israel stop
The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, and Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu sent messages of support for Israel and demand that the attacks stop. The messages come after several dozen rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel on Saturday morning.
The MFA condemns the terrorist attacks on the territory of the State of Israel The Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveyed through a press release that it stands with Israel and strongly condemns the rocket attacks by Hamas on the territory of the State of Israel, including against the civilian population, terrorist infiltrations and hostage taking . “The MAE expresses its deep regret for the victims of these attacks, sends its condolences to the bereaved families and wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured,” the statement also reads.
President Klaus Iohannis declared on Saturday that around 800-900 Romanians are in Israel, many of them being tourists, and that solutions are being sought to bring them to the country and those who want to return to the country quickly, something that will be possible soon. The head of state declared that from the data available at the moment there are between 800-900 Romanians, many are tourists and others on pilgrimages.
The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) raised, on Saturday, the travel alert level for the State of Israel, and recommends Romanian citizens who are in this country “to take shelter in buildings” and to leave the country “when the situation allows”
Romanian citizens who are in the territory of the State of Israel are advised to follow the instructions of the local authorities, take shelter in buildings and leave the country when the situation allows.
“Considering the recent events that consisted of the launching of a large number of rockets from the Gaza Strip towards the territory of the State of Israel and the official statement of this state regarding the combat mobilization of the Israeli army, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends to Romanian citizens who are in or transiting this state to follow the instructions of the local authorities, to take shelter in buildings and, when the situation allows, to leave the country. At the same time, the MFA warns Romanian citizens who intend to travel to the State of Israel to reschedule their trip”, states the travel alert issued by the MFA Romanian Saturday.
At the same time, Romanian citizens who are in, transit through or intend to travel to the State of Israel are advised to contact the Embassy of Romania in Tel Aviv and announce their presence in the region, thus communicating their identification data and their coordinates to the e-mail address telaviv@ mae.ro, to be contacted in emergency situations.