At least 160 have been killed after Israeli fighter jets bombed Gaza, one of the most densely populated cities in the world, according to medical sources. Hamas fired over 5,000 rockets in an unparalleled Palestinian offensive against Israel. Each Israeli airstrike is deadly because Gaza residents, in stark contrast to Israel, do not have adequate protection from airstrikes.
Israel's far-right prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, declared, "We are at war," saying "the enemy will pay a price they have never known" and calling on the Israeli army to "cleanse the settlements of the terrorists." Gaza residents reportedly flock to supermarkets in anticipation of a prolonged military confrontation.
The Israeli military reports hitting at least 21 targets belonging to the Gaza ruling group Hamas, with the number likely increasing, but also targeted hospitals and residential buildings. Netanyahu also announced multiple goals of the Israeli operation "Iron Sword" in response to the attack, including recapturing settlements and fortifying the border further to Gaza, often described as an "open prison."