Israel mobilizes military reservists after Hamas attack on the country. Hamas is calling on the Arab countries to intervene in the conflict, which has already claimed at least 22 lives and injured hundreds during Saturday.
– It is an incredibly rapidly escalating situation right now, says TV4 Nyheternas Middle East correspondent Terese Cristiansson.
There are several things that indicate that it is not a third “Intifada”, as the Palestinian riots against Israel have come to be called.
– We have seen precisely rocket attacks many times before. But this time there are reports that Hamas groups have gotten through fences and taken control of some of the guard posts and settlements, says Cristiansson.
“Seems like it was planned”
The big attack from Gaza against Israel came as a surprise – but it must have been planned for a long time, says TV4 Nyhetern’s foreign commentator Elisabet Frerot.
– This attack did not come as a response to any single event, but it seems that it was planned for a long time. Hamas also calls on all Palestinians, in Gaza and in Israel, to take up arms against the so-called occupier, says Frerot.
A crucial question will be whether Hamas receives outside support.
– Can rockets also come from the north, from Lebanon? This is very, very worrying, says Frerot.
Could be the beginning of bloody war
Terese Cristiansson says that voices are starting to come from Israel that they should put an end to Hamas.
– Those voices will probably increase during the day from Israel, that this is what they want to see. This could be the beginning of a long Intifada, but it could also be the beginning of a bloody war.
As of 1 p.m. on Saturday, 22 Israelis are reported to have been killed and an unknown number of Palestinians. After the massive rocket attack from Gaza this morning, Israel has responded with airstrikes against Hamas targets in Gaza.