Palestinian militant group Hamas has launched a blistering surprise attack on Israel, firing thousands of rockets from the Gaza Strip, crossing into Israeli towns, and killing and capturing scores of civilians and soldiers.

Israel’s military responded with air strikes into Gaza, where witnesses reported hearing heavy explosions and multiple dead and wounded being carried into hospitals.

At least 200 Israelis were reported killed and 1100 wounded by gunbattles raging in more than 20 locations inside Israel.

In Gaza, health officials reported more than 230 people killed and 1600 wounded.

The retaliatory strikes hit deep into Gaza City, sending clouds of black smoke spiralling into the sky.

Israel said Hamas had declared war as its army confirmed fighting with militants in several Israeli towns and military bases near Gaza.

“Our enemy will pay a price the type of which it has never known,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

“We are in a war and we will win it”.

A Reuters photographer saw multiple bodies lying in streets of the southern town of Sderot.

The Israeli military said navy forces killed dozens of Palestinian militants trying to infiltrate Israel by sea.

Many hostages taken

Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri told al-Jazeera that the group was holding a big number of Israeli captives, including senior officials.

He said Hamas had enough captives to make Israel free all Palestinians in its jails.

The Israeli army has confirmed Israelis are being held captive in Gaza and troops have been killed.

The militant Islamic Jihad group said it had joined the attacks and was holding several Israeli soldiers captive.

Hamas footage on its Telegram account showed its fighters pulling Israeli soldiers out of a tank.

Israeli media reported gunbattles between bands of Palestinian fighters and security forces in towns in southern Israel.

Israel’s police chief said there were “21 active scenes” in southern Israel.

Terrifying scenes

In Gaza, people rushed to buy supplies in anticipation of days of conflict ahead.

Some fled their homes and headed for shelters, as they braced for Israel’s response.

“We are afraid,” Palestinian woman, Amal Abu Daqqa, told Reuters as she left her house in Khan Younis.

Speaking to Israel N12 News by phone from Nir Oz, a kibbutz near Gaza, a woman identified as Dorin said militants had infiltrated her house and tried to open the bomb shelter where she was hiding.

“They just came in again, please send help,” she said.

“There are a lot of homes harmed… My husband is holding the door closed… They are firing rounds of bullets.”

Israeli reservist call-up

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said “troops are fighting against the enemy at every location” and authorised the call-up of reservists.

Footage circulating on social media appeared to show clashes in city streets as well as gunmen in jeeps roaming the countryside.

“We were told there are terrorists inside the kibbutz, we can hear gunfire,” a young woman named Dvir, from Beeri Kibbutz, told Israeli Army Radio from her bomb shelter.

Hamas media displayed videos of what it said were bodies of Israeli soldiers brought into Gaza by fighters, and Palestinian gunmen inside Israeli homes and touring an Israeli town in jeeps reportedly been driven into Israel by the attackers.

In Gaza, the roar of rocket launches could be heard and residents reported armed clashes along the separation fence with Israel, near the southern town of Khan Younis, and said they had seen significant movement of armed fighters.

Hamas said the attack was driven by what it said were Israel’s escalated attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank, Jerusalem and against Palestinians in Israeli prisons.

“This is the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on earth,” Hamas military commander Mohammad Deif said, announcing the start of the operation in a broadcast on Hamas media and calling on Palestinians everywhere to fight.

World reaction

US President Joe Biden and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have spoken about the situation.

Biden condemned the attacks by Hamas and unequivocally said the United States stands by Israel.

“I made clear to Prime Minister Netanyahu that we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the Government and people of Israel,” he said

United Nations Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland also condemned the attacks on Israel, warning in a statement: “This is a dangerous precipice, and I appeal to all to pull back from the brink.”

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has condemned the militant attacks and says Australia recognises the country’s right to defend itself.

Hamas rules the Gaza Strip and has been classified as a terrorist organisation by Australia since 2001.

“Australia unequivocally condemns the attacks on Israel by Hamas including indiscriminate rocket fire on cities & civilians,” Senator Wong wrote on social media platform X.

“We call for these attacks to stop & recognise Israel’s right to defend itself.”

Senator Wong added that “Australia urges the exercise of restraint & protection of civilian lives”.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the coalition “utterly condemns the unprovoked and abhorrent attack by militant Hamas on Israel.

“It is yet another example of a deliberate act of violence intended to inflict maximum harm on innocent civilians,” he said.

“The attack is a provocation. Israel has every right to defend itself in response and to deter future attacks and other acts of aggression, coercion and interference”.

—TND with AAP and Reuters

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