Israel Decides to Destroy Palestinian Armed Forces... Heading Toward Full-Scale War?

"Official Declaration of War Entry"
Largest Armed Conflict Since 2021
Low Possibility of Involvement from Iran and Others

Israel, which was caught off guard by a surprise attack, officially declared entry into war on the 8th (local time) targeting the Palestinian armed factions Hamas and the armed group Islamic Jihad. This incident is considered the largest-scale armed conflict since the '11-Day War' in May 2021.

According to major foreign media, Hamas launched thousands of rockets at Israel in the early hours of the 7th, the Jewish Sabbath, and infiltrated armed militants. It is reported that about 50 Israeli soldiers were taken prisoner and many civilians were also held hostage. Local media, citing the Israeli Ministry of Health, reported that over 300 residents in Israel have died and at least 1,500 have been injured.

Flames and smoke are rising above buildings in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, due to an airstrike by Israel.
[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

In response, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced in a statement that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened security ministers for a late-night meeting and decided to 'enter into war.'

In the statement, Netanyahu said, "We are entering a long and difficult war," adding, "Due to Hamas's deadly attack, we had no choice but to go to war." He emphasized, "The first phase (of the war) will end within a few hours with the elimination of most enemy forces that infiltrated our territory," and "At the same time, we have launched an offensive that will continue without hesitation or interruption until our objectives are achieved."

The Prime Minister's Office also stated that a series of operational decisions were made to destroy the military and governing capabilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, including cutting off power supply to the Gaza Strip and blocking the delivery of fuel and goods from outside.

The Israeli military authorities also announced plans to establish a military restricted zone within the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army stated via Telegram, "Based on the situation assessment, the entire responsibility area within the Gaza Strip has been declared a military restricted zone," and "The military emphasizes that entry into the military restricted zone is prohibited and urges civilians not to enter the area."

The Gaza Strip health authorities, governed by Hamas, also reported that at least 232 people have died and nearly 1,700 residents have been injured due to Israel's retaliatory airstrikes in Gaza.

There are concerns that the conflict could escalate into a war between Iran, which has supported Hamas, and Israel.

In fact, in Israel, suspicions have arisen that Iran, the Shia-majority country sensitive to the normalization moves between Saudi Arabia, the Sunni Islamic leader, and Israel, may have orchestrated this attack to derail the so-called 'Middle East d?tente.'

However, for the time being, it appears unlikely that the clash between Israel and Palestine will ignite a broader Middle East war, as there is no evidence yet linking Iran to any specific attack.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that among the approximately 570 Korean nationals residing in Israel, none have been reported harmed.