Nearly 1600 were wounded after the retaliatory action into the gaza strip. Dozens of Israeli Soldiers and civilians are being held hostage, as part of an unprecedented attack by Palestinian Militants on israeli territory. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country is at war. His government says the Palestinian Militant Group hamas launched more than 2,000 rockets into the country, killing at least 100 people, ani and wounding nearly a thousand. Officials in the gaza strip say at least 198 people have been killed there, in retaliatory israeli strikes. an12 in retaliatory israeli strikes. The barrage of rocket fire from gaza into israeli territory began just after dawn, with explosions heard on the streets of ashkelon. Sderot is one of the towns thought to have been infiltrated by militants. With the latest on this fast escalating conflict, heres our middle east correspondent Yolande Knell and a warning that you may find some of her report upsetting. Israeli partygoers f
With explosions heard on the streets of ashkelon. Sderot, which is near gaza, is thought to have been infiltrated by militants. Fear and confusion continues to grip the region. 0ur middle east correspondent Yolande Knell filed this report, and a warning that you may find some of it upsetting. Rockets at dawn. The opening salvo in a Surprise Attack on israel by the Palestinian Militant Group hamas. Meanwhile, armed men cut through gazas perimeter fence. This was israels nightmare scenario. Hundreds of militants at large in the south of the country. And hamas released footage after it targeted this israeli tank. Militants also ran through israels heavily fortified erez crossing. Proof that this was a highly planned operation. At this overnight rave in the fields near gaza, Israeli Party goers ran for their lives. Gilly s boyfriend went to find her after she had from hamas to find her after she hid from hamas gunmen in an orchard. They were going three by three and shooting. Everywhere. F
Killed in fighting on saturday. Meanwhile, Majorairlines Have cancelled dozens of flights to tel aviv. They include american airlines, air france, lufthansa, emirates, and ryanair, among others. For the latest on the story and to assess what this escalation of tension means for the whole region ive been speaking to our chief international correspondent, lyse doucet. After this extraordinary assault this morning by hamas, which as we have been hearing has taken the israelis by surprise, this is really an unprecedented moment, in of course an area where there has been decades of tension, attacks, all out war. This is a very, very different kind of war for all of the reasons we have just been hearing. The Staggering Number of israeli hostages, both Israeli Military officers and soldiers as well as civilians. The high Israeli Death toll. A far right israeli government. There will certainly be pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu to do what he and other israeli leaders have avoided for decades, a
Throughout the entire day, with much of this beginning in the morning, and American Smith waking up to a drastically different world now. The president , speaking last hour, saying that the u. S. Has israels back, saying that there were just incredibly appalling images, raining down on israeli cities in, and confirming that entire families have been taking hostage, by hamas. I believe we now have former white house spokesperson jen psaki, and host of msnbcs inside with jen psaki. Im going to play a little bit of the president s remarks, and then we will talk on The Other Side, jen. In this moment of tragedy, i want to say to them, and to the world, and to terrorists everywhere, that the United States stands with israel. We will not ever fail to have their back. We will make sure that they have the help that their citizens need, and they can continue to defend themselves. Jen, before we go into really the scope of the attack, and your reaction to that, what is your reaction to the presi