White House condemns ‘unprovoked attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians’ that killed at least 40 – warns ‘there is never any justification for terrorism’
White House condemns ‘unprovoked attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians’ that killed at least 40 – warns ‘there is never any justification for terrorism’
- The strong statement was issued on Saturday morning after the early morning attacks on Israel by the militant group Hamas
- Israel vowed to take revenge on Palestinian militants and warned Hamas that they had made a ‘serious mistake’.
- The attacks are believed to have killed at least 40 Israelis
The White House condemned the unprovoked attacks by Hamas terrorists on Israeli civilians.
The strong statement was issued on Saturday morning after the early morning attacks on Israel by the militant group Hamas.
“The United States unequivocally condemns the unprovoked attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians. There is never any justification for terrorism,” National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in the statement.
“We stand firmly with the government and people of Israel and express our condolences for the Israeli lives lost in these attacks.”
The Palestinian group fired a devastating batch of rockets into the country at dawn during the festival of Simchat Torah, a day when Jews complete the annual cycle of reading the Torah.
A car burns after a rocket attack in southern Israel on Saturday. Hamas claimed to have fired 5,000 rockets into the country
Smoke billows from a building in Gaza after Israel fired missiles in response to Palestinian airstrikes earlier Saturday
Hamas then sent troops across the border in paragliders in a surprise attack, sparking gun battles inside communities.
Israel vowed to take revenge on Palestinian militants and warned Hamas that they had made a ‘serious mistake’.
Residents living near Israel’s border with Gaza were ordered to stay indoors and others were evacuated after Hamas militants entered the country by land, sea and air and launched a medley of missile attacks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that the militants would pay an “unprecedented price” after their attacks killed at least 40 Israelis.
Palestinian officials have since claimed 161 people have been killed in retaliatory attacks by Israel.
Videos on social media appeared to show armed troops from the Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s militant arm, moving through built-up areas firing weapons as Israeli residents were evacuated from their homes following airstrikes.
Hamas claimed to have fired 5,000 rockets into Israel from the occupied Gaza Strip, setting off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Men believed to be Palestinian militants are seen driving an Israeli military vehicle after allegedly seizing it near the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip
A woman stands in a damaged room in Ashkelon, Israel after rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip by Hamas militants
In a statement posted on Telegram, Hamas called on “the resistance fighters in the West Bank” as well as “our Arab and Islamic nations” to join the fight.
In comments reported by CNN, militant commander Deif said: ‘If you have a gun, take it out. This is the time to use it – get out with trucks, cars, axes. Today begins the best and most honorable history.’
“Today the people are regaining their revolution,” he added, in other statements reported by AP, as he called on Palestinians from east Jerusalem to northern Israel to “drive out the occupiers and demolish the walls.” ‘
In response, Israeli forces promised that Hamas ‘will face the consequences and responsibility for these events’.