In Beersheba, a major city in southern Israel, air raid sirens pierced the night, a development confirmed by TASS. Local residents were warned that further attacks from the Gaza Strip could follow, heightening the sense of urgency across communities near the border.
On 7 October, Hamas forces launched an intense volley of thousands of rockets toward Israel, and a new operation named Al-Aqsa Flood was proclaimed. In the ensuing hours, thousands of militants crossed into Israeli territory, seizing multiple military assets and taking more than a hundred hostages. Amid the rapid escalation, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that the nation was beginning a state of war, signaling a broad and sustained military response.
In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched an operation named Iron Swords, with the stated aim of neutralizing Hamas and restoring security to populated areas. The Israeli Air Force intensified strikes targeting Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip, marking a continuous campaign from the air alongside ground activity in affected zones.
Israel’s National Security Council moved to shut down vital supply lines into Gaza, cutting off water, food, goods, electricity, and fuel in an effort to pressure Hamas and constrain militant operations. On 13 October, reports indicated that the United Nations warned of possible large-scale displacement, with estimates suggesting that up to 1.1 million Palestinians might need to relocate to southern Gaza within a 24-hour window ahead of a potential ground assault. The humanitarian dimension of the crisis remained a central concern for international observers and aid organizations.
Tensions also intensified along Israel’s northern border as the IDF confirmed that tank units were engaging in operations near Metula, a town at the Lebanese frontier. This development followed reports of anti-tank missile exchanges that underscored the broader regional risk and the potential for escalation beyond the immediate Gaza-Israel context. The sequence of events reflected a rapid convergence of military actions, border dynamics, and civilian impacts that drew wide international attention.