Israeli Injury Toll Rises to Over 1,400 as Security Cabinet Meets

Jerusalem, 7 October, 2023 (TPS) -- Israel’s Ministry of Health confirmed on Saturday night that 1,452 people have been injured and evacuated to hospitals following a day of rocket barrages and terrorist infiltrations of Israeli communities near the Gaza border.

According to the ministry, 18 people are fighting for their lives, 267 are in critical condition, 636 in mild condition, and 169 are under medical evaluation. Another 16 were treated for anxiety.

Israeli officials have not confirmed the number of dead or the number of hostages being held by Hamas. Unconfirmed Hebrew media reports put the death toll at 150-200.

Hamas launched a massive offensive from the Gaza Strip, including firing more than 3,000 rockets and sending dozens of Palestinian terrorists to infiltrate Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip.

There were exchanges of fire at 22 locations inside Israel 11 hours after the initial infiltration.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened the Security Cabinet at the Israeli Defense Forces headquarters in Tel Aviv.

“Since this morning, the State of Israel has been at war. Our first objective is to clear out the hostile forces that infiltrated our territory and restore the security and quiet to the communities that have been attacked,” said Netanyahu at the start of the meeting.

“The second objective, at the same time, is to exact an immense price from the enemy, within the Gaza Strip as well. The third objective is to reinforce other fronts so that nobody should mistakenly join this war.

“We are at war. In war, one needs to be level-headed. I call on all citizens of Israel to unite in order to achieve our highest goal—victory in the war,” added the premier.

In response, the Israel Air Force launched “Operation Swords of Iron,” initially striking 17 Hamas “military” compounds and four operational headquarters in Gaza.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid on Saturday gave full support to the government to strike hard at Hamas.

“At times like these, there is no opposition or coalition in Israel. We will give full backing to the security forces for a harsh response against terrorism and its proxies,” said Lapid.