Nearly 500 Killed In Deadliest Israel-Hamas Conflict In 50 Years

Jerusalem: Israeli forces clashed with Hamas militants on Sunday, a day after a surprise attack by the Palestinian group left nearly 500 people dead. The attack, the deadliest in Israel in 50 years, may jeopardize U.S.-backed efforts to create regional security alliances and undermine Palestinian statehood aspirations.

Hamas initiated the attack with a barrage of rockets into southern Israel, enabling a multi-pronged infiltration of fighters into Israel from Gaza. The clashes resulted in at least 250 Israeli casualties, with Hamas escaping back into Gaza with hostages. Israel responded with intense retaliatory strikes, causing more than 230 casualties in Gaza.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed vengeance, and Israeli troops continued battling Hamas gunmen overnight in parts of southern Israel. The situation remained volatile, according to an Israeli army spokesperson.

This escalation unfolds amid escalating violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where the Palestinian Authority exercises limited self-rule, opposed by Hamas. The West Bank has witnessed increased Israeli raids, Palestinian attacks, and settler violence, exacerbating conditions for Palestinians.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh announced that the assault would expand to the West Bank and Jerusalem, citing threats to Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Gaza blockade, and Israel’s normalization with regional countries.

Western nations, led by the United States, condemned the attack. President Joe Biden affirmed Israel’s right to self-defence, warning Iran and other hostile parties not to exploit the situation.

The United States has been pursuing a deal to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a development Palestinians fear could undermine their quest for statehood.

Across the Middle East, demonstrations in support of Hamas erupted, with flags burned and Palestinian flags raised in various countries. Iran and Hezbollah praised the attack.