This is cnn Breaking News christiane hello everyone. Thanks for joining us, im Christiane Amanpour in london. Were following imagine Breaking News. Israel declares its at war with hamas, follows an unprecedented attack into israel today, where at least 70 are dead. 985 wounded. The attack caught israel by surprise at sunrise, the Palestinian Group hamas launched their offensive by air, sea and land. Hamas fighters infiltrating israeli towns and launching more than 3,000 rockets into israel. Scenes of urban war fair as gun fights unfolded between israel and hamas. Short time ago, cnn spoke with an Israeli Military spokesman. Target someone on their side, we go for a military target. These terrorists didnt go only for military targets went into communities, abducted grandmas, families, children. A very, very severe morning and well respond. Christiane indeed, earlier, israels president said today we saw the true face of hamas. A Terrorist Army whos only goal is the cold blooded murder of innocent men, with them and children. I call upon the family of nations. This war waged against us mark as line in the sand. And israel is indeed now striking back. It has been doing so. Launching its own air strikes into gaza. Where palestinians say hundreds have been killed. Israel also is mobilizing its troops and reservists calling on Tens Of Thousands to join up. This is a fast moving situation. Lets go straight to jurisdiction for the latest. Hadas. Reporter all day long, sirens blaring across israel incoming rocket fire, and, so to speak, exchanges are still going on the streets of israeli streets in Southern Israel between the Palestinian Militants and Israeli Soldiers of we have confirmation from the Israeli Military that hamas militants taken as Prisoners Of WarIsraeli Soldiers and civilians and there are ongoing Hostage Situations of civilians in towns in Southern Israel specifically towns like barry and o f, a keem. We dont have specific numberss of those Prisoners Of War or hostages being taken. Hamas claimed they have taken what they say are calling a beg number of prisoners. They claim theyve taken senior commanders and saying they are they have started this battle and ready to pay all that is needed. To give you a sense of the scale of what weve been experiencing in the last more than 12 hours now, more than 3,000 rockets have been fired. That number was given to us by the Israeli Military a few hour ago. Its likely higher. Thats just less than 12 hours. In 2021, during the 11day war between hamas militants and israel, 4300 rockets were fired. So already within just a span of hours, weve reached the level of where we were if days in 2021. Also when you look at the casualties. At least 70 have been killed on the israeli side. More than 980 wounded. Palestinians say that at least 198 have been killed. More than 1600 wounded. On the israeli side these numbers are approaching same types of numbers we saw in the 2006 war between hezbollah and israel. You cant ignore what is a clear and obvious security and intelligence failure. Israel was caught completely off guard. Even the Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu calling eight surprise. They were not expecting this coordinated attack. Not only rockets but the infiltration by militants on the ground. Weve seen stunning video of militants on the streets of israeli communities in Pickup Trucks walking along. Shooting at civilians. And were hearing harrowing tales from israeli civilians who are still at this hour held up in their houses in Bomb Shelters reporting theyre continuing to hear gunfire outside of their houses. They cannot get out. Begging for help. Were hearing families missing family members. There was a festival going on in a sort of Desert Community not far from the border with gaza. And there are reports that was attacked by militants as well. This is an ongoing situation. The Israeli Military are calling up Tens Of Thousands of Military Reservists not only the air strikes. We just saw in our producer who is there in gaza that one of the towers in gaza was struck and completely leveled by one of their air strikes. We also expect to see the Israeli Military on the streets of israeli communities. That is because of these militant infiltrations. Israel still does not have control of all of these villages and towns in Southern Israel. Its not just civilian towns. We know of at least two military bases there were fire fights with Palestinian Militants. They was also taking place at the Arrows Crossing where so men journalists, and humanitarians who cross day by day every single day has been severely damaged by whats happened. Hamas calling on all palestinians across the occupied West Bank Crews Jurisdiction and palestinians who are citizens calling them to take up arm. Essentially the ultimate battle. Christiane thank you, according to your reporting and others as yet, that call to arms from hamas has not been met in the territories and areas that youre just saying. Clearly, all eyes are on that. And were also getting video geo located and authenticated by cnn that shows at least one israeli soldier has been taken prisoner by hamas, this video could be talking about disturbing. And we should note it was released and edited by hamas. It shows hamas fighters yanking two soldiers out of a disabled tank. Its unclear from the video how the tank was disabled. But hamas has been using drones to drop bombs into israeli tanks, one is kick on the ground, second led away. Another on the grounds cnn does not know the current whereabouts or status of three soldiers. And Israel Defense forces have not fully commented on the claims theyve captured them. Lets bring in cnn sam kiley. I really need to focus on this idea of these soldiers that have been, have been being held hostage by the hamas they say say. I think i heard israel is now confirming that. Yes. Christiane, thats exactly right. The idea has confirmed. They havent gone into detail. They have said they believe that there are hostages now being held by hamas and that there are what theyre calling Prisoners Of War. So its unclear whether there are civilians and or military personnel. Clearly from that video you just played, there are military personnel. Weve seen authenticated video well bring to our viewing present of a female civilian or somebody, a woman in civilian clothes being looking rather bloodied, being what appears to be a Captive Israeli Jeep by hamas militants inside the gaza strip. This will clearly be an extremely difficult problem for the Israeli Authority to deal with. If theyve now got a Hostage Crisis on top of a desire to go into gaza and seek revenge and try to break the back of hamas, it will be that much harder. This is how things evolved. Earlier part of the day. Palestinian militants celebrate the destruction of an israeli tank near gaza. Dragging what appears to be the body of a crew man from the vehicle. Dozens of gaza based palestinian fighters have infiltrated israel under the cover of a massive rocket bombardment. In what could be the biggest Israeli Intelligence failure since arab nations attacked israel 50 years ago. Hamas brought war to the streets. Its bullets tearing into a civilian vehicle. Locals film fighters on rooftops and shooting at police. Here, the aftermath of the gun battle israeli civilians lie dead on the street. Close by what are reported to be Palestinian Militants also dead. We are at war. Not an operation or in rounds. But at war. This morning, hamas launched a murderous Surprise Attack against the state of israel and its citizens. Weve been in this since the Early Morning hours. Israel already hit back with air strikes. But the countrys right wing government. Will be under pressure to attack deeper into gaza as reserves are being mobilized countrywide. Its very possible that we will witness a massive Israeli Ground operation in gaza strip that basically will aim to try and change totally from the ground. The conditions that have been prevailed are for the last almost two decades. Israel death toll climbed throughout day of fighting. Militants claimed so far without proof to have taken Israeli Soldiers hostage. And the hamas led operation is the most complex and ambitious in its history. The israelis. Here militants on the west bank foreshadowed what was coming to cnn last october. There are extensive meetings with the resistance factions in gaza in the west bank and with our brothers abroad about starting that fire. Reporter that fight now appears to have begun in gaza with this hamas call to arms. If you have a gun. Get it out. This is the time to use it. Get out with trucks. Cars, axes. Today the most glorious and honorable history begin, its so far not been answered on the west bank or mentioning Israels Palestinian population. Not yet. Christiane, that call may not have been answered yet. But there will be a lot of, the hamas hoping to galvanize support with these very violent videos theyre putting out of their Military Campaign against the israelis. Firstly. Secondly, if the israeli go in hard as is anticipated, that is something that hamas will have planned for and in many ways will be something of an inevitable trap. The more damage they do in gaza, the more inflamed the arab world will become. Christiane. Christiane thank you very much. Now let us go to israel. Im afraid her shot just died. Well get her back as soon as we can. Well go to break and get her back. Lets bring in mccaylee. The leader of the israeli labor party. Thanks for being with us. Obviously youre in the opposition. But i want to hear from you. How all of israels constituencies are reacting to Prime Minister who said were at war today. Presumably you all support that. I dont think we react to the Prime Minister. We react to reality. We woke up everyone with sirens and we have been in a nightmare for over 12 hours now of a ferocious sustained horrible Terror Attack on israel with missiles. With palestinians, Infiltrating Over 15 communities in israel. Killing civilians, children. Kidnapping civilians and soldiers. And just showing everyone that we are in a war. I think its a Good Opportunity to notice many people think that when hamas speaks against seller, they dont really mean it or i dont know what, but i believe this is an opportunity to see that they mean what theyre saying. They want to eliminate the state of israel. And i believe the whole of israel and certainly we all stand with our society and our country in saying obviously we will not let them. Christiane there are lots of questions i need to ask. First and foremost. The fact that some of these towns and villages inside israel along the gaza area apparently are still not controlled by israel. Theyre still fighting there. Do you confirm that. Thats what we know from the idf spokesperson. And this is what we have been following and living through this, knees hours, yes. Christiane secondly. By the way, also, what we have been getting informed here is that the number of dead are already over 100 and not as was reported with your very good reporters. And we are speaking already more than 1,000 people injured and wounded. Christiane those numbers are very high. And pretty unprecedented in recent times. I think. I want to ask you another question. It goes to the fundamental heart of this. There appears to be Israeli Soldiers taken hostage. According to hamas and confirmed by your spokes people. Do we know whether theyre hostage inside israel . Do you know whether theyve been taken into gaza . And this is a huge matter for israel. Which always tries to get its hostages back. How will that unfold . First of all, the Hostage Situation is both in israel and in gaza. And its not only soldiers. Its also civilians that have been kidnapped and taken. Were not sure about the numbers yet. And our forces are still combatting those terrorists within the communities in israel and were still doing first and foremost, you know, what needs to be done in order to take back our communities and the control back into our hands. I think its premature to speak about how exactly the Hostages Situation will unfold. But what is clear is this unprecedented attack. And this horrible attack on israel should be should be responded really severely. I think there isnt a person in israel today that does not agree to that. Christiane what do you think these israeli people expect . Do you believe the Prime Minister will order a Ground Incursion into gaza . How do you think, given whats unfolding now, that the Prime Ministers declaration that israel will win this, how will that unfold . First of all, israel must win this. It must protect itself in a way that will return. The understanding of everyone he will that will not get any ideas and that will not become emboldened by this thing that happened this morning. We must win by protecting ourselves and making very sure that it is really very nonworthy trying to deal with israel the way hamas just did this morning. Christiane i dont need to read this to you. Because you know it. But hamas is calling on the wider palestinian population and in the area to also take up arms. One of the deputy chiefs told the Network Hamas is enough to captives to make free or palestinian prisoners in its jails. I dont expect you to answer that. President biden has spoken with your Prime Minister and condemned what he called the appalling assault against israel by Hamas Terrorists from gaza. And many, leaders, all the leaders around world have condemned this. And stand very, very firmly with israel and its right to selfdefense. The only as far as we can gather, country that has come out in support of the attack is iran. Question now is what do you expect to happen from iran, hezbollah, do you think there might be more attacks . Also, what do you expect from all your allies and other nations who have pledged their support . Well, first of all, ive been reaching out myself to all of the leaders from our Sister PartiesAround The World. Our social democratic parties, and have been receiving and really unreserved support in every possible way. Ive also heard President Biden saying that the u. S. Will stand with israel. Giving it whatever it needs in order to protect itself. Which is a very, very important commitment to us. And i hope iran and hezbollah and everyone else heard it loud and clear. It should mean a lot to them as well. As i said to you before i hope it gave no one an idea and gave no one some unnecessary socalled courage to try us again. Because it will not end well for them. This is clear. Israel with all the hardships were going through, we are a very Strong Society and a very, very strong country. Well prevail. I think its better for the palestinian interest and neighborss interest not to try us and not to try and receive or accept hamass invitation to join the horrors that they are inflicting the last 12 hours christiane youre a politician. Youre the Leader Of The Opposition labor party. We have heard from our reporters theres a lot of anger, shock and dismay that this was able to happen. That there was apparently seems an intelligence failure. What is your comment on that . Listen. Christiane, it is no secret that i have always been an opposition to netanyahu always. I personal will hold him accountable for his policies. But today still not the day for this. Today we first and foremost have to back our security forces, our military and, of course, our people to stand with my fellow israelis and to encourage one another and to make sure that we come out of this stronger than we came into this. And then we can talk about all the rest and there is plenty to talk about. Christiane merav, Michaeli Leader of labor party. Thank you for joining us. Well have much more on this breaking News Coverage right after the break. Christiane moments ago, a group of highrises in gaza was hit by an explosion causing these two towers to collapse. This is the palestinian to our which holds Media Offices and residential apartment