Day of Terror: A Timeline of the Deadliest Terror Attack in Israeli History

Jerusalem, 8 October, 2023 (TPS) -- In the deadliest terror attack in Israeli history, the Hamas terror group managed to infiltrate several Israeli communities and take hostages back into Gaza on Saturday.

Taking Israelis by surprise, an estimated 1,000 terrorists infiltrated Israel on paragliders, by land and by sea. Israelis caught off guard continued battling terrorists into the night in Sderot and Beeri, near Gaza, and even Ofakim, a distance of 25 km from the Strip. The Israel Defense Forces retaliated with airstrikes on Hamas positions in the Strip and called up reservists.

An estimated 3,000 rockets were also fired, triggering alarms in hundreds of Israeli communities, including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and central Israel.

Here is a timeline of the day’s events.

6:30 AM – First reports of rocket attacks on Israel. The IDF estimates that 2,500 rockets were launched during the first few hours of the morning.

7:30 AM – First reports of infiltrations into Israel. IDF orders residents of towns to stay near their homes.

8:00 AM – First reports of casualties from rocket attacks and attacks inside Israeli towns along the Gaza border.

8:15 AM – First sirens warning of rockets in Jerusalem

8:20 AM – Reports of Israeli retaliatory strikes in Gaza. Large rocket barrages continue.

10:20 AM – IDF Launches Operation “Iron Swords” and initiates reserve call-ups.

12:00 PM – Home Front Command places restrictions on gatherings and cancels public activities.

12:20 PM – Israel deploys several battalions to the Gaza border, focused on fighting terrorists who have taken over Israeli border towns. Rocket fire subsides significantly.

5:00 PM – Israel reports death toll of 100 killed 900 injured.

5:30 PM – IDF Spokesman confirms that Hamas has taken civilian and military hostages into Gaza. Israel is fighting terrorists at 22 locations. Four army divisions are deployed to the Gaza border.

6:30 PM – Israel strikes two high-rise towers in Gaza housing Hamas assets.

7:15 PM – Israel announces it has killed hundreds of terrorists in Southern Israel and Gaza.

7:30 PM – Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz announces he has ordered the Israel Electric Company to halt supply of electricity to Gaza.

8:00 PM – Large rocket barrage strikes central Israel. Casualty count rises to 150 killed and 1,100 wounded.

8:45 PM – Israel raises the announced death toll to 200.

9:20 PM – IDF announces a new wave of airstrikes on Gaza.

10:00 PM – Israeli Defense Minister extends the emergency situation to the entire state of Israel. Previously, it was only within 80 KM from Gaza.

10:15 PM – Israel raises the number of those killed to 250.

11:00 PM – Israel begins a large-scale attack from the sea and air on Gaza.

11:45 PM – The municipality of Netiv HaAsara releases the names of 15 of its residents killed.