Tánaiste condemns Hamas attack on Israel as Netanyahu declares 'war'
By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA
The Tánaiste has condemned attacks from Hamas militants on Israel and called for “all hostilities” to stop.
Micheál Martin was reacting after the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched the biggest attack on Israel in years on Saturday, resulting in at least 22 casualties, according to Israeli authorities.
Mr Martin, who is also the Minister for Foreign Affairs, expressed his sympathies over the lives that had been lost.
I strongly condemn the firing of rockets into Israel by Hamas and attacks against Israel from Gaza. I deeply regret the loss of life and the impact on civilians. I call for an immediate cessation of all hostilities.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) October 7, 2023
“I strongly condemn the firing of rockets into Israel by Hamas and attacks against Israel from Gaza,” Mr Martin said.
“I deeply regret the loss of life and the impact on civilians. I call for an immediate cessation of all hostilities.”
The Tánaiste travelled to the region last month on a three-day diplomatic trip where he met with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and president Isaac Herzog.
He also travelled to the occupied Palestinian territory where he met with president Mahmoud Abbas.
'War'
Earlier on Saturday, Israel said Hamas had declared war as its army confirmed fighting with militants in several Israeli towns and military bases near Gaza and Mr Netanyahu vowed to retaliate.
"Our enemy will pay a price the type of which it has never known," he said. "We are in a war and we will win it."
At least 22 Israelis were killed in the attack so far, Israel's ambulance service said. Around 545 Israelis had been wounded, the health ministry said.
The Israeli military said it had responded with air strikes into Gaza, where witnesses reported hearing heavy explosions and multiple dead being carried into hospitals.
The attack marked an unprecedented infiltration into Israel by an unknown number of Hamas gunmen crossing from the Gaza Strip, and the heaviest blow for Israel in the conflict with Palestinians since the suicide bombings of the Second Intifada some two decades ago.
The militant Islamic Jihad group said it had joined the attacks and was holding several Israeli soldiers captive and Hamas social media accounts showed footage of what were said to be Israeli captives being taken alive into Gaza.
The Israeli military has declined to comment on the reports but has not denied them either, saying it would address the reports later.
Israeli broadcaster Reshet 13 TV News said militants were holding Israelis hostage in the town of Ofakim, and that five Palestinian militants had been killed in the town of Sderot and homes had been set on fire.
Israeli media reported gunbattles between bands of Palestinian fighters and security forces in towns in southern Israel. Israel's police chief said there were "21 active scenes" in southern Israel.
In Gaza, people rushed to buy supplies in anticipation of days of conflict ahead. Some evacuated their homes and headed for shelters.
Hamas military commander Mohammad Deif announced the start of the operation in a broadcast on Hamas media, calling on Palestinians everywhere to fight.
"This is the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on earth," he said, adding that 5,000 rockets had been launched.
In Gaza, the roar of rocket launches could be heard and residents reported armed clashes along the separation fence with Israel, near the southern town of Khan Younis, and said they had seen significant movement of armed fighters.
Palestinians in Gaza were bracing for Israel's response.
"We are afraid," Palestinian woman, Amal Abu Daqqa, told Reuters as she left her house in Khan Younis.
Others in Gaza expressed disbelief at the infiltration into Israel. "It is like a dream. I still can't believe it," said one Gaza shopkeeper.
The attack came a day after Israel marked the 50th anniversary of the 1973 war that brought the country to the verge of catastrophic defeat in a surprise attack by Syria and Egypt. – Additional reporting: Reuters
