Israel officially declares war on Hamas with the support of the U.S.

WARNING: some of the video is graphic and some viewers may find it disturbing.

Israel was carrying out a counter-attack against Hamas on Sunday, vowing to retaliate after Saturday’s rocket, ground, and sea attacks by the Palestinian Hamas group.

As Israel hit more than 1,000 targets in Gaza, Palestinian militants continued firing barrages of rockets, setting off air raid sirens in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

As of Monday, around 700 people have been killed in Israel according to media outlets in the country. The Gaza Health Ministry says that 493 people, including 78 children, have been killed. Thousands have been wounded on both sides.

Shari Pilo grew up in Hamilton but now lives in an Israeli town between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and has been sheltering in a safe room at home. She says, “Right now I can hear sonic booms of jets and a lot of jets going across the skies.”

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“Bombs are being dropped, missiles are being shot over the south of Israel as we speak, red alerts on the television all the time, our phones have a system on them where we get red alerts for our area, I pray that it will end, there are still terrorists in southern Israel running from home to home,” Pilo says.

The attacks and counterattacks have left at least 700 dead in Israel. Israeli forces say more than a thousand Hamas fighters invaded Israel on Saturday.

Yoni Asher’s wife and two daughters were taken hostage during a family visit in Israel.

“I want to ask of Hamas, don’t hurt them, don’t hurt little children, don’t hurt women if you want me instead I’m willing to come,” Asher says.

On Sunday, Israel officially declared war on Hamas, with the support of the United States.

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“This is a massive terrorist attack that is gunning down Israeli civilians in their towns.” U.S. Secretary of State said.

While the U.S. and many Western nations are calling this a terrorist attack, a Palestinian leader blames the Israeli occupation.

When we spoke today, I told @Netanyahu that Canada unequivocally condemns Hamas’ barbaric terror attacks – and supports Israel’s right to defend itself. Our thoughts continue to be with the Israeli people and everyone who has been affected.

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 8, 2023

Prime Minister Trudeau reiterated his condemnation of the Hamas assaults on Sunday, calling them “terror attacks.”

A Hamas official said that they’re holding more than 100 hostages following the attacks on Israel. The Israeli army says it has freed some hostages, but this aspect of the war is very unclear at the moment.

Global Affairs Canada has confirmed that at this time one Canadian has been confirmed dead and two have been reported as missing.

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