It’s official: Hamas’ terrorist attack on the country of Israel has sparked war. Shocking new footage continues to be uploaded and circulated online as the casualty rate increases with each moment.
Videos circulating online show the devastating effects of the violence, with smoking buildings and people cowering from rocket barrages. While Secretary of State Anthony Blinken confirmed several American casualties, both President Joe Biden and Congress have expressed their solidarity with Israel in a bipartisan effort.
CNN's @ClarissaWard taking cover in a ditch amid a "massive barrage of rockets" near the Israel-Gaza border pic.twitter.com/MzHcj4OSP7
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) October 9, 2023
Reports from both sides suggest that hundreds have lost their lives in these attacks so far. CNN’s Clarissa Ward reported from a ditch near the thin border between Israel and Palestine on camera as she spoke to viewers about the massive bombardments happening around her: “We can hear the roar of jets in the sky. We can also hear the Iron Dome intercepting a number of those rockets as they were whizzing overhead and making impact in that direction.”
Nearby Islamic University was one such victim of rocket strikes witnessed by Arabic-speaking residents who filmed videos of smoke rising up into the air due to bombardment.
⚡️Video from the airstrike near the Islamic University in Gaza moments ago pic.twitter.com/wbdTdh2ev9
— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) October 9, 2023
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant made no secret when promising complete siege for Gaza like never before seen: “No electricity, no food, no fuel, no water. Everything is closed.” He also elaborated on their planned retaliation: “We’re fighting human animals and we act accordingly.”
As part of their counterattack plan, Israeli Air Force struck a compound believed to contain intelligence centers belonging to Hamas just recently which resulted in 413 deaths according to Palestinian forces and 600 deaths according to Israeli reports.
Over 2,300 people were reportedly injured while 100 were taken hostage by said forces from Hamas.
Israeli Defense Minister calls for the complete siege of Gaza:
"No food, No electricity, No fuel, No water. We’re fighting human animals and we act accordingly." pic.twitter.com/UZ7J7r69Jl
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) October 9, 2023
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken confirmed several American deaths due to this violence while casualties from Britain, Cambodia, France, Nepal, Thailand and Ukraine have all been reported too.
A short while ago, IAF fighter jets struck a compound belonging to the head of the intelligence department in the Hamas terrorist organization.
The IAF is currently continuing to strike terror targets in the Gaza Strip. pic.twitter.com/uSHsXGFNzz
— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 8, 2023
Dozens of fighter jets struck 150 targets in Shuja'iyya.
Shuja'iyya is used as a "terror nest" for the Hamas terrorist organization. Many attacks against Israel originated in it, including during the recent invasion. pic.twitter.com/VNM5c2THVd
— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 8, 2023
