The return of Benjamin Netanyahu didn’t sit well with the Palestinians + BRICS show teeth in both Africa and Middle East
In December 2022, Benjamin Netanyahu was reinstated as Prime Minister of Israel, replacing an unstable government under Naftali Bennett, who was quite friendly to Israeli Muslims.
On Saturday, October 7th, Israel faced a surprise attack by Hamas, marking one of the most severe escalations between the two parties in years. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the nation to be “at war” in response. Israel retaliated with airstrikes against Gaza.
Action and casualties so far
Hamas launched a massive assault combining rocket barrages from Gaza with heavily armed gunmen attacking Israel’s south. Media reports state that at least 40 Israelis were killed and over 700 wounded, with the death toll expected to rise. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initiated a large-scale operation to protect civilians from this attack. In Gaza, Palestinian authorities reported more than 160 casualties. The IDF stated that over 2,200 rockets were fired into Israel, and Hamas militants infiltrated from land, sea, and air.
What’s next for Israelis and Palestinians
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned that Hamas had made a grave mistake. IDF reserves were called up, depending on how the situation developed. Hamas leader Mohammed Deif declared the start of “Operation Al-Aqsa Storm” in a recorded message. International reactions included Saudi Arabia’s call for an immediate halt to the conflict escalation and the EU’s condemnation of the attacks while emphasizing Israel’s right to defend itself.
