Israel war: at least 7 Argentines died in attacks, says government

Seven Argentines were killed during Hamas attacks on Israel over the weekend, and another 15 are still missing, Argentine Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero said on Monday (9).

Around 625 Argentine citizens still in Israel have requested repatriation, Cafiero added.

Hamas has declared that it holds more than 100 Israeli hostages in Gaza, including high-ranking army officers, a group spokesman said on Sunday (8). In addition to Israelis, people of several other nationalities are also believed to have been taken hostage.

Understand the conflict

Israel was the target last Saturday (7) of the largest military action carried out against the country since the Yom Kippur war in the 1970s. The offensive was commanded by the extremist Islamic group Hamas.

After the attack, the Israeli army reacted with a counteroffensive. Combined, the Hamas offensive and the Israeli response have left more than 1,500 people dead so far.

On Saturday, the Hamas military commander, Muhammad Al-Deif released a recorded message announcing the “Al-Aqsa Storm” operation, in which it said the Palestinian militant group “targeted enemy positions, airports and military positions [de Israel]” with thousands of rockets.

Hamas declares war on Israel: “If you have a weapon, it’s time to use it”

• Muhammad Al-Deif called for a general uprising against Israel in a recorded message this Saturday and declared: “If you [Israel] You have a gun, use it. This is the time to use it – go out with trucks, cars, axes. Today begins the best and most honorable story.”
• The head of the Palestinian group said the attack on Israel was a response to attacks on women, the desecration of the al-Aqsa Mosque and the siege of Gaza.
• Al-Deif called on Arab and Islamic people to come to the “liberation of al-Aqsa”, the mosque in Jerusalem
• The IDF claims that Hamas has taken hostages and prisoners of war since it launched its surprise attack this Saturday morning (7). In videos geolocated and authenticated by CNN Hamas appears to have taken Israeli prisoners in and near Gaza, including Israeli soldiers.
• In one of the videos, in Gaza, a barefoot woman is pulled from a jeep by an armed man and then forced to sit in the back seat of the car. “We are at war,” says Israeli prime minister
• His face is bleeding and his wrists appear to be tied behind his back. The jeep also appears to have an IDF license plate, suggesting it may have been stolen and brought to Gaza.
• Another video, which appears to show Hamas militants taking several Israelis prisoner, was geolocated by CNN in Be’eri, in southern Israel, which is a village near Gaza.
• In another set of geolocated and authenticated videos, Hamas appears to be capturing Israeli soldiers.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country is “at war” after Hamas’ surprise attack on Saturday morning.
• “Citizens of Israel, we are at war – not in an operation, not in patrols – at war,” Netanyahu emphasized in a video message.
• Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant supported the prime minister’s position and stated that Israel “will win this war” against Palestinian militants.
• “Hamas made a serious mistake this morning and launched a war against the State of Israel. IDF troops are fighting the enemy in all locations. I appeal to all citizens of Israel to follow safety instructions. The State of Israel will win this war.”

VIDEO – Defense of Israel: We will not give humanitarian aid to the enemy

Defense of Israel: We will not give humanitarian aid to the enemy | CNN PRIME TIME

*Published by Pedro Jordão, from CNN in São Paulo, with information from CNN International