Days after a surprise attack by Hamas fighters on Israel, satellite images provided by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have unveiled the widespread destruction in the country on the first day of the assault. The IDF, while sharing the images, emphasized that the lengths to which Hamas is willing to go in committing war crimes are visible even from outer space.
The satellite image illustrates the stark contrast between Israel’s appearance before and after the attacks launched by Hamas on October 7. The imagery captures a significant portion of the area veiled in black and grey smoke, attesting to the immense impact of the strikes.
Hamas’ audacious attack on October 7 resulted in hundreds of Israeli casualties, prompting a swift and robust response from Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to obliterate Hamas strongholds in Gaza, emphasizing that they are in a state of war, resolute to emerge victorious.
On that fateful day, at 6.30 a.m., Hamas launched a massive barrage of rockets into southern Israel, triggering air raid sirens across the country. The Iron Dome air defense system, renowned as one of the world’s most effective, sprang into action. In response, Israel’s military fired 2,500 rockets, countering the 5,000 rockets launched by Hamas. Smoke billowed over residential areas in Israel as people sought shelter behind buildings amid the cacophonous sirens.
Hamas operatives, utilizing various means of transport including vehicles, boats, and motorized paragliders, breached security barriers under the cover of the rocket barrage. They carried out attacks on Israeli towns and military posts, targeting civilians. Disturbing videos on social media depicted Hamas fighters in Israeli border towns firing upon residents and passersby.
This attack coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, during which Egyptian and Syrian forces launched an assault, aiming to reclaim territory taken by Israel in a brief 1967 conflict.
In the midst of this escalating conflict, the United Nations reported that over one million Palestinians have been displaced from their homes in the northern Gaza Strip. The Israeli military has positioned armored vehicles on the outskirts of Gaza in preparation for a ground-based assault. Israel cites self-defense as its rationale for targeting Hamas operatives and operational centers, responding to attacks that resulted in over 1,400 Israeli casualties and numerous abductions.
Sources By Agencies
