Swords of Iron Enters Day 3: IDF Gains Control over Gaza Situation, While Central Israel is Barraged by Rockets
So far, Israel has counted at least 700 dead, 2500 wounded, and between 130-200 kidnapped in the 54 hours that have passed since Hamas launched its horrific surprise attack on Israel on Saturday morning
Mandi Kogosowski
| 09/10/2023
A view of a house damaged by rockets fired from Gaza towards Israel, in Sderot, southern Israel, October 9, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
Israel has entered the third day of Iron Swords, with an incomprehensible number of over 700 dead, 2500 wounded, and between 130-200 (according to estimates) who have been abducted by Hamas and taken into the Gaza Strip.
Moments ago, a barrage of rockets was launched at the Jerusalem and Tel Aviv areas. Just prior to that, IDF Spokesperson, Colonel Daniel Hagari, stated during a briefing that at this stage, there is no longer fighting within the communities in the Gaza periphery. According to Hagari, "We have full control over the communities; there may still be terrorists in the area. We have transitioned to an offensive operation."
Hagari added that breaches in the Gaza border will be secured by tanks that have arrived in the area and aerial assets to prevent further infiltration by terrorists. "We are on the verge of evacuating all the communities near the border in the coming days. Sderot will not be evacuated at this stage," he said.
According to the IDF, over 300 thousand reservists have been drafted in the past 48 hours. But troops already on the front line have been reporting a major lack of basic provisions and combat and protection equipment. Numerous civilian initiatives – from collecting money and cooking food to providing clothing and mattresses, purchasing bulletproof vests, and countless others – are constantly sprouting up all over Israel, mainly through local WhatsApp groups.
Israeli citizens are still fumbling in the dark, without any clear communication from the government. There is still no clear understanding as to the multiple failures that have enabled the horrors of Saturday morning. No one has provided any plausible explanation as to how a terror organization was able to dupe one of the best intelligence corps in the world, and why no backup to the besieged communities was provided for hours on end.
Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant announced the intention of imposing a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. “There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel. We are dealing with animals, and we will handle them accordingly,” he said during a security evaluation in Southern Israel.
So far, Israel has counted at least 700 dead, 2500 wounded, and between 130-200 kidnapped in the 54 hours that have passed since Hamas launched its horrific surprise attack on Israel on Saturday morning
A view of a house damaged by rockets fired from Gaza towards Israel, in Sderot, southern Israel, October 9, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
Israel has entered the third day of Iron Swords, with an incomprehensible number of over 700 dead, 2500 wounded, and between 130-200 (according to estimates) who have been abducted by Hamas and taken into the Gaza Strip.
Moments ago, a barrage of rockets was launched at the Jerusalem and Tel Aviv areas. Just prior to that, IDF Spokesperson, Colonel Daniel Hagari, stated during a briefing that at this stage, there is no longer fighting within the communities in the Gaza periphery. According to Hagari, "We have full control over the communities; there may still be terrorists in the area. We have transitioned to an offensive operation."
Hagari added that breaches in the Gaza border will be secured by tanks that have arrived in the area and aerial assets to prevent further infiltration by terrorists. "We are on the verge of evacuating all the communities near the border in the coming days. Sderot will not be evacuated at this stage," he said.
According to the IDF, over 300 thousand reservists have been drafted in the past 48 hours. But troops already on the front line have been reporting a major lack of basic provisions and combat and protection equipment. Numerous civilian initiatives – from collecting money and cooking food to providing clothing and mattresses, purchasing bulletproof vests, and countless others – are constantly sprouting up all over Israel, mainly through local WhatsApp groups.
Israeli citizens are still fumbling in the dark, without any clear communication from the government. There is still no clear understanding as to the multiple failures that have enabled the horrors of Saturday morning. No one has provided any plausible explanation as to how a terror organization was able to dupe one of the best intelligence corps in the world, and why no backup to the besieged communities was provided for hours on end.
Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant announced the intention of imposing a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. “There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel. We are dealing with animals, and we will handle them accordingly,” he said during a security evaluation in Southern Israel.
