Israel has declared the country at war for the first time in 50 years.

The Israeli military-political cabinet approved the start of a major military operation in the region (“Iron Swords”) in accordance with Art. 40 of the basic law of the country. The last time it was used was 50 years ago – in 1973 for the Yom Kippur War with the combined army of Egypt and Syria. Now the Israeli military is clearing the southern cities of the country along the border with the Gaza Strip from Hamas militants and is preparing to conduct a ground operation in the Palestinian enclave.

The fighting began at approximately 6.30 Moscow time on Saturday, October 7, after Palestinian militants attacked army border units and freely entered Israeli populated areas, where they took an unknown number of hostages, both military and civilians. The attack was carried out under the cover of massive shelling from the Gaza Strip: Hamas claims 7,500 rockets were fired on the first day.