Reeling from the deadliest attack on its territory, Israel declared war on Hamas as the conflict’s death toll surged above 1100 after the Palestinian militant group launched a surprise assault from Gaza. Prime Minister Benjanin Netamyahu steeled the nation for a long and difficult war a day after a wave of fighters gunned down civilians and took at least 100 hostages.
In the nation’s worst losses since 1973 Arab-Israeli war, more than 700 Israelis were killed in a single day since Hamas launched its large-scale attack.
Meanwhile, an unexpected Indian connection was revealed when news of Bollywood actress Nushratt Bharucccha being stuck in the conflict surfaced. Nushratt went to Israel to take part in the 39th Haifa International Film Festival where her film Akeli was selected for screening. On October 7, her team member confirmed that she had taken refuge in a basement and later Indian En=mbassy helped her to return to India.
Palestinian militants on Saturday fired more than 5000 rockets from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, killing 350 people and wounding several others. Hundreds of Hamas militants infiltrated Israel in SIVs, motorcycles and paragliders and opened fire at civilians in an early morning barrage that lasted for more than 30 minutes.