Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing shock over the Hamas
attack on Israel, extended condolence and prayers to victims and their families.
The violence killed as many as 22 people.
“Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our
thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand
in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour,” PM Modi tweeted hours after
rockets fired by the Hamas group.
Israeli Counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in his televised address
declared a mass army mobilisation and the beginning of the war, ‘not an
operation, not a round’ but war.
“The enemy will pay an unprecedented price,” Netanyahu added, pledging
that Israel would “return fire of a magnitude that the enemy has not known.”
In the wake of the war in Israel, the External Affairs Ministry warned
in a statement, “In view of the current situation in Israel, all Indian
nationals in Israel are requested to remain vigilant, observe safety protocols
as advised by local authorities. Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary
movement and stay close to safety shelters. For additional information, please
see the Israeli Home Front Command website or their preparedness brochure.”
Hamas terrorists started an all-out attack on Israel infiltrating
by air, sea and land from the blockaded Gaza strip on Saturday in what is being
seen as an unprecedented escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hamas released a video showing its fighters seized three men
dressed in civilian clothes and described as “enemy soldiers” in the video
caption.
“We decided to put an end to all the crimes of the occupation
(Israel). Their time for rampaging without being held accountable is over,”
said the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the Hamas armed wing.
Agencies
