According to the energy minister, Israel ordered its state-run electrical utility to cut off supply to the Gaza Strip on Saturday after Palestinian militant group Hamas conducted a surprise attack on Israel.
“I have signed an order instructing (Israel) Electric Company to stop the electricity supply to Gaza,” Energy Minister Israel Katz said in a statement.
Hamas has released photographs of several Israelis kidnapped, and Israel army spokesman Daniel Hagari confirmed that “kidnapped soldiers and civilians exist.” I can’t give you any figures right now.Hamas committed a war crime, and they will pay the price.”
The Islamist organization launched the onslaught around 6:30 a.m. (0330 GMT) with thousands of missiles aimed as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, some of which evaded the Iron Dome defense system and struck structures.
Hamas fighters penetrated Gaza’s border barrier and targeted surrounding Israeli towns and military sites, opening fire on inhabitants and pedestrians in vehicles, boats, and even motorized paragliders.
Israeli army Major General Ghasan Alyan warned Hamas had “opened the gates of hell”.
The army stated its forces were involved in live gun fights in multiple places near the Gaza Strip as part of the “Swords of Iron” operation.
Following Israeli attacks, an AFP journalist in Gaza saw smoke billowing from the ruins of a residential skyscraper, which Gaza’s interior ministry said held 100 units and was entirely destroyed.
Before attacking two multistory buildings used by Hamas, Israel’s military said it had warned inhabitants to flee.
Doctors Without Borders reported that one strike damaged the enclave’s Indonesian hospital and an ambulance outside Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, killing numerous people.