Israel and Hamas are at war – Netanyahu’s office

According to the prime minister’s office, the government is permitted to engage in “significant military activities” when Article 40 is invoked.

Following a significant attack by the Palestinian armed group Hamas on the nation, Israel’s security council decided to declare war on the enemy on Saturday night, according to the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

When Article 40 of Israel’s Basic Law is invoked, the government is authorised to conduct “significant military action that may lead, with a level of probability close to certain, to war,” according to a statement from Netanyahu’s office on Sunday.

According to the law, the prime minister will only need the security cabinet’s consent to make some decisions involving the war.

Additionally, according to Netanyahu’s office, the government had requested that the Israeli Knesset activate emergency rules that would permit detainees to be held in jail for a longer amount of time without appearing before a judge.

Few hours after Hamas launched thousands of rockets at Israel and moved fighters into Jewish settlements close to the Gaza border on Saturday morning, Netanyahu said in his first message that Israel was at war.

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“Israeli citizens, we are at war. In his speech, the prime minister predicted victory. He promised, alluding to Hamas, “the enemy will pay a price like they have never known before.”

Over 600 Israelis have died since the start of the surprise onslaught by Hamas, according to ZAKA, a volunteer organisation that handles human remains following terrorist attacks in Israel. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) had earlier acknowledged the fatalities of 44 soldiers, who are included in the number.

Over 400 Hamas fighters have reportedly been killed by Israeli security forces in the last 30 hours, according to the IDF.

Israel’s retaliatory attacks on Gaza have resulted in 313 deaths and nearly 2,000 injuries, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

In a number of Israeli settlements close to the Gaza border, fighting is still taking place between the opposing factions.