On Sunday, the Israeli government officially declared war on Hamas militants in Gaza, marking a significant escalation in response to the Islamist militant group’s unexpected assault on the Jewish state. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had rhetorically asserted the state of war on Saturday during the ongoing attack, the Cabinet’s decision on Sunday was an official declaration.
In anticipation of the Cabinet vote, Netanyahu emphasized that Israel would retaliate forcefully, vowing to exact “mighty vengeance” against Hamas. The conflict unfolded with Israeli soldiers engaging Hamas fighters in the streets of southern Israel and launching retaliatory airstrikes that resulted in the destruction of buildings in Gaza.
The nature of Israel’s subsequent response remained unclear, with speculation among Middle East analysts suggesting a potential ground attack into Gaza. Netanyahu cautioned that the war would be prolonged and challenging, emphasizing, “This war will take time.”
Maj. Gen. Ghassan Alian of the Israel Defense Forces asserted that Hamas had “opened the gates of hell” with their surprise attack and would be held accountable for their actions.