Hamas claims 100 Israelis held hostage, US moves fleet to region

A relative of an Israeli missing since a surprise attack by Hamas militants near the Gaza border.Credit: AP

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aza City: Israel says it is at war as its soldiers battle Hamas fighters in the streets of southern Israel and launch airstrikes on Gaza, the day after an unprecedented surprise Hamas attack.

At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel, a staggering toll on a scale the country has not experienced in decades, and more than 400 have been killed in Gaza as Israeli airstrikes pound the territory.

A relative of an Israeli missing since a surprise attack by Hamas militants near the Gaza border, is overcome by emotion during a press conference in Ramat Gan.Credit: AP

Senior Hamas politician Mousa Abu Marzouk said more than 100 people were captive in remarks to Arabic language news outlet al-Ghad on Saturday. The figure is in addition to more than 30 people said to be held by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group.

During their rampage through southern Israel, militants dragged back into Gaza dozens of captives, among them women, children and the elderly. Their precise number hadn’t been clear until the two militant groups made their announcements.

The Pentagon has ordered the Ford carrier strike group to be ready to assist Israel, two US officials said. The USS Gerald R. Ford is the United States’ newest and most advanced aircraft carrier.

The UN agency for Palestinians refugees says 74,000 people in Gaza Strip have taken shelter in dozens of its schools following calls from Israel for residents of border areas to evacuate.

The number of displaced increased by nearly 50,000 overnight, when about 20,000 first moved into UN -operated schools.

The USS Gerald R Ford.Credit: AP

The Israeli rescue service Zaka says its paramedics removed about 260 bodies from a music festival attended by thousands that came under attack by Hamas militants.

The total figure is expected to be higher as other paramedic teams were working in the area.

US President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday morning, the White House said, and told the Israeli prime minister that “additional assistance for the Israeli Defence Forces” is now on the way to Israel.

Background

Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Sunday, with barrages of rockets and cross border attacks, killing more than 700 Israelis, prompting a stunned Israel to declare war. Israel in turn has killed at least 400 Palestinians. Lebanon-based Hezbollah has exchanged artillery with Israeli forces to the north. A senior Hamas leader now says 100 Israelis are being held hostage.

How we got here

Tensions have been increasing between Israel and Hamas with rounds of rocket fire followed by Israeli airstrikes, however, there was no sign an attack of this scale and sophistication was pending. The ability of Hamas to circumvent Israel’s intelligence services to stage the attack has raised suspicion it had help from outside.

It also comes as plans for an Israel–Saudi Arabia diplomatic normalisation deal come closer to reality, which displeases Iran.

Meanwhile, hardline Islamists, such as those involved in Hamas, resist the rapprochement between Saudi Arabia, home to Muslim holy sites, with Israel.

Rockets are fired toward Israel from the Gaza Strip.Credit: AP

Why it matters

The political order of the Middle East itself is in flux, unsettled by the rise of China and the transition away from fossil fuels among other things. A war that involves Israel fighting against forces with backing from Iran raises the risk of a larger conflict in the region.

Palestinian medics inspect a damaged Ambulance hit by an Israeli air strike inside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip.Credit: AP

There are large diasporas of pro-Palestinian Arab communities, as well as pro-Israel Jews around the world, including in Australia. So the conflict between Hamas and Israel is shape and affect local politics.

The surprise attack suggests not just a failure of Israel’s intelligence community to prevent it, but raises questions about whether Hamas had outside help in planning and coordination to evade detection. This raises suspicions for Iran, which helps elevate the risks around this war.

Key players

Israel

Formed in 1948 as a homeland for Jews, many fleeing persecution, Israel’s creation has brought repeatedly it into conflict with Palestinians, who claim the same land, as well as its Arab neighbours.

Hamas

Hamas is the Palestinian Islamist militant group which operates from and controls the Gaza Strip, a 40km long parcel of land between Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea, home to more than 2 million. It is backed by Iran.

Hezbollah

The Iran-backed Hezbollah militia fired artillery and rockets into territory Israel controls. Hezbollah was founded by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards to export its Islamic Revolution.

Turkey

The country has historic links through the region and has offered to increase diplomatic effort for peace, at the same time requiring a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.

Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom is reportedly close to a landmark deal to recognise Israel diplomatically. However, the historic shift has been met with alarm by the Middle East regional competitor Iran.

Iran

Tehran has long opposed Israel, threatened and funded terrorism and paramilitaries aimed at Israel. It sees Israel as an outpost of Western imperialism.

with Chris Zappone

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