Hamas attack on Israel. The main results of October 7

On the morning of October 7, the Palestinian group Hamas began shelling Israel, calling it the military operation “Al-Aqsa Flood” – after the name of the mosque, which, according to the leader of the military wing of the movement, Mohammed ad-Deifo, was occupied by the Israeli side.

In response, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced about the military operation “Iron Swords”. Later, the IDF confirmed the penetration of Hamas into the country.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir declared a state of emergency in the country. reported Haaretz.

By midday, the IDF reported that 2,200 rockets had been fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip, and the Chief of General Staff announced the mobilization of reserve forces. Walla edition reportedthat former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was included in the mobilization reserve.

Palestinian Agency WAFA reported, that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held an emergency meeting, during which he stated that the country’s citizens have the right to self-defense. A number of civilians and security forces also took part in the meeting, chaired by Abbas. The President, as noted, gave instructions to ensure the protection of people, “emphasizing the right of the Palestinian people to defend themselves against the terrorism of settlers and occupying forces.” He also ordered that everything needed be provided to combat crimes “committed by Israeli occupation and settler gangs.”

At 1:46 p.m., the agency reported that “over the past few hours, dozens of IDF fighter jets have struck 17 military compounds and four operational command centers belonging to the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip.” Around 18:30 IDF reported about striking “military infrastructure belonging to high-ranking militants” in two multi-story buildings.” The department later clarified that the attack targeted the offices of a number of Hamas units and the intelligence headquarters.

On the evening of October 7, the Israeli Security Council unanimously approved a ground operation in the Gaza Strip. IN address to the nation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at around 10:30 p.m. Moscow time that the IDF “will use all its strength to destroy Hamas.” He promised to “turn into ruins” all the places where the group is “hiding” and called on Gazan civilians to leave them.

As of 21:30, the Israeli Ministry of Health in its Telegram channel reported about 1,452 wounded are in hospitals, of which 267 people are in serious condition. Local media reported 250 dead. Al Jazeera with reference to the Gaza Strip Ministry of Health reportsthat 232 people were killed and 1,697 were injured in the region.

After the outbreak of hostilities near the Gaza Strip, the European Union also strongly condemned the actions of the Hamas group. EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrell called militants to immediately stop senseless attacks and violence.

The Hamas operation was strongly condemned by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, according to a commentary by his official representative Stephane Dujarric. “The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest possible terms the Hamas attack this morning on Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip and central Israel, including the firing of thousands of rockets into Israeli communities,” it says in a statement published on the Secretary General’s website. Guterres called for restraint and diplomatic efforts to avoid a “wider conflict.” First Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN Dmitry Polyansky reportedthat an extraordinary meeting of the organization’s Security Council is scheduled for 22:00 Moscow time on October 8 in connection with the escalation of the conflict.

“[Война с Израилем] will only further increase tensions in the region and seriously undermine [благосостояние] the Palestinian people, as well as their desire for peace,” Borrell emphasized.

US President Joe Biden after the outbreak of hostilities near the border with the Gaza Strip called Netanyahu. He said that the White House supports Israel in the conflict with the terrorist group Hamas and approves of Israeli actions aimed at defense.

Hamas’s actions are official convicted to NATO. The North Atlantic Alliance has said that Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorist attacks.

Opposite position demonstrated Iranian authorities. Deputies of the Majalis (parliament) of the republic supported the Hamas military operation “Al-Aqsa Flood”. Advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei congratulated Palestinian militants.

Saudi Arabia also expressed a hint of support for Hamas’ position. The Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry said that the country’s authorities are carefully are watching behind “unprecedented events between a number of Palestinian factions and the Israeli occupying forces.”

And the Afghan Taliban movement (a terrorist organization banned in Russia), in a situation with the aggravation of the conflict between Israel and Palestine, decided to become a participant in hostilities. Taliban contacted to Iran, Iraq and Jordan with a request to allow their troops into Israeli territory. The Taliban intends to side with Hamas and help the group “conquer Jerusalem.”

Türkiye didn’t express support for Israel or Hamas. The Republic’s Foreign Ministry neutrally expressed concern about violence and increased tension on the border between Israel and Palestine.

Russia also adheres to neutrality. Since the beginning of the escalation of the conflict, the country has been in contact with Israel, Palestine and the Arab states, stated Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for the Middle East and African Countries, Deputy Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry Mikhail Bogdanov. He stressed that Russia called on the parties for a ceasefire, compliance with UN resolutions and peace.

During the day, Europe’s largest airlines canceled flights to Israel.

According to ATOR, in the country are about 100 organized Russian tourists. The number of those who traveled to Israel without a tour operator remains unknown.

Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov statedthat the diplomatic mission does not yet have information about casualties or deaths among Russians who are in the country. He noted that the embassy is monitoring the situation and is ready to provide Russian citizens with all the necessary assistance.

“We have received requests from the consular department of the embassy about how to navigate the current situation, whether flights at the international airport will be canceled, or whether tourists will be evacuated. We answer these questions,” the ambassador added.

Even during the day, the consular section of the embassy called on all Russians, especially those in the southern part of the country, to stay in safe places. The diplomats emphasized that in a state of emergency it is necessary to comply with all the requirements of the rear command and not leave the shelter until a signal is received from the authorities.

Press Secretary of the Russian Mission to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Aliya Zaripova reportedthat there are more than 2,000 people registered at the consulate on the West Bank of the Jordan River. They were not asked for help, there were no casualties, but there were questions about evacuation from the Gaza Strip. “Right now there is no talk of evacuation, but if such a need arises, we will do everything necessary for this,” she assured.

Senior researcher at the Department of Israel and Jewish Communities at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Dmitry Maryasis, noted that it is too early to talk about the outcome and consequences. “But what is certain is that there is a serious failure in the information/intelligence/operations of the Israeli government. This became clear in the morning,” he said.

According to Lyudmila Samarskaya, a junior researcher at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at IMEMO RAS, from a domestic political point of view in Israel, both Netanyahu and his government are actually responsible for what is happening, in particular for the scale and suddenness of the attack. “This is a very serious blow to their positions, no matter how the current confrontation ends,” she said. The expert believes that this crisis can be used by the opposition in the internal political struggle. Also, according to Samarskaya, what happened threatens the process of normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. “As a result, freezing the process is theoretically possible, but not abandoning it. Apparently, an attack from Gaza is a way to re-emphasize the Palestinian problem as such,” she emphasizes.