The historic conflict between Israel and Palestine has resurfaced after last Saturday the terrorist group Hamas carried out an unprecedented attack on Israeli soil from the Gaza Strip.. His response was forceful and, after declaring a state of war, he began bombing Hamas targets and refugee camps in Gaza.

This Monday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that they had regained control of the towns near the Strip, but also warned of the possible presence of terrorists in nearby areas.. In addition, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a total blockade in Gaza, so the Palestinian territory will be left without food, electricity and fuel.

Late in the afternoon, Israel also announced that it would not provide advance warning of attacks on the Gaza Strip to residents of the area, something they routinely did through phone calls or text messages.. According to a military source cited by The Times of Israel, the warnings will be used “in certain circumstances.”

Hamas reacted to that announcement by stating that it would publicly execute a hostage for every attack on Gaza that is carried out without prior warning to residents. “Any attack on innocent homes in Gaza without prior warning and alert will be met with the public execution of a hostage,” said Abu Obeida, spokesman for the Al Qasam brigades, the armed wing of Hamas.. “The execution will be of civilian hostages, not military, and will be broadcast online,” added Obeida.. These statements clash with those later reported by the Aljazeera network, which, citing a senior Hamas official, reported that the group would be willing to reach a possible truce with Israel having “achieved its objectives.”

Bombed targets

During the night of last Sunday and the early hours of this Monday, the Israeli Army bombed some 500 Hamas targets in Gaza. According to a military spokesman, “seven Hamas command centers and one Jihad command center were destroyed; as well as numerous multi-story buildings, including the residence of Ruhi Mashtaa, secretary of Hamas and part of the organization's decision-making group.” “.

Aljazeera reported that these bombings were also accompanied by attacks on the Jabalia and al-Shati refugee centers, whose victims have been transferred to the Al-Shifa hospital.. The Gaza Health Ministry, controlled by Hamas, also reports that attacks on ambulances have occurred.

The group claimed for its part that it had launched about 120 missiles towards Ashdod and Ashkelon, located in southern Israel.. This attack occurred after terrorists fired rockets towards Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, where air raid sirens were activated again after 48 hours of silence, according to CNN.. Explosions due to interceptions by the Israeli anti-missile system, called Iron Dome, were also heard in the cities.

In Israel, where military service is mandatory for both men and women, it has been decided to arm the civilian population. As reported by the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, an “emergency” order has been activated so that the Firearms Licensing Division allows civilians without criminal or medical records to carry firearms.

The numbers of deaths and injuries are not exact, but so far it is estimated that around 900 people have died and more than 2,500 are injured in Israel.. In Palestine the number of deaths amounts to 550, while the number of injured is approximately 2,900.. It is also worth noting that Israel has attacked several border points in southern Lebanon by air and land, as reported by the Army of that country.. After the cross attacks in said area, six people have been injured.

Two missing Spaniards

Along with the deceased and the injured, the situation of the missing is also worrying.. The Islamic Resistance Movement holds more than one hundred Israelis hostage, as well as citizens of other countries. As confirmed this Monday by the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, two Spaniards are “affected” after the attacks on Israel. Albares refused to give more information in this regard for security reasons, but diplomatic sources later reported that the whereabouts of these two citizens are unknown and that their families have not heard from them.. It is currently unknown whether they were among those killed, injured or kidnapped by Hamas.

Those Spaniards are Maya Villalobo Sinvany, 19, and Iván Illarramendi Saizar, 46.. The woman, of Andalusian origin and with dual nationality, was doing her military service at the Nahal Oz base, near the border with Gaza, when the attack began.. Illarramendi, a native of the Guipuzcoan town of Zarautz, lives with his wife in the Kissufim kibbutz, also located near the Gaza Strip.

The role of Lebanon and Iran

In this context, during the afternoon of this Monday, the Lebanese Government stated that the Hezbollah militia party promised “not to interfere” in the conflict between Israel and the Hamas terrorists, unless Israel decided to “harass” Lebanon.. As indicated in an interview given to the newspaper Asharq al Awsat by the Lebanese Foreign Minister, Abdullah abú Habib, Hezbollah had promised not to take further action after having fired projectiles against Israel.. The country responded to the attacks and as a consequence three members of the Lebanese Islamist group died. Following these deaths, Hezbollah attacked two military targets of the Israeli army.

Iran's role in this escalation of the conflict is yet to be determined, although there is speculation that the country could be linked in some way due to its ties to both Hamas and Hezbollah. On Monday morning, Iran's mission to the UN denied that the country was related to the attack.. “We strongly and without doubt support the cause of Palestine; however, we are not involved in the Palestinian response, which has been taken only by Palestine,” they stated.. The Iranian government later threatened to respond in a “destructive” manner should any “stupid” moves against Tehran be made.

However, Israel is not convinced that Iran was unaware of the attack.. According to the Minister of Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, to the Bloomberg agency, there is “some evidence” that they were aware of this. “Did they know this beforehand? At first we didn't think they knew. Now there is some evidence that they might have known. We are working to verify this evidence,” said the politician.