Israel formally declared a state of war on Sunday

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War in Middle East

Israeli army describes Hamas attack as ‘worst day’ in history as death toll rises

Thousands wounded in Israel and Gaza after escalation of conflict following surprise attack by militants on Saturday

Evgenia Simanovich runs to the family home’s reinforced concrete shelter, moments after rocket sirens sounded in Ashkelon, Israel on Saturday. Photograph: Tamir Kalifa/The New York Times

Mark Weiss in Jerusalem

Kitty Holland

Conor Gallagher

Mon Oct 9 2023 – 08:02

Israel formally declared a state of war on Sunday as the death toll from Saturday’s Hamas cross-border attack rose to more than 700, with more than 2,000 wounded. Israeli government officials confirmed that more than 100 people, civilians and soldiers, were seized by militants and taken to Gaza, including young children and elderly civilians.

Early on Monday, Lt Col Jonathan Conricus, spokesman for the Israel Defence Forces said: “It is by far the worst day in Israeli history. Never before have so many Israelis been killed by one single thing on one day.”

Drawing an American analogy, he said the weekend’s attack, for Israel, “could be a 9/11 and a Pearl Harbor wrapped into one”.

As the impact of Saturday’s surprise attack was followed by a rising death toll, Israel continued its military build-up. Tens of thousands of reservists have received emergency call-up orders, but it will be days before the army is ready to launch a ground incursion into Gaza.

Israel-Hamas war: Israel imposes ‘complete siege’ of Gaza Strip as overall deaths pass 1,300

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