Hamas-Israeli War – Day 2

Well, it is kind of a war now, with the Israeli cabinet saying they are in a state of war. They then formally declared war. When was the last time someone actually formally declared war?

Israel has regained most of the areas that Hamas penetrated. Gun battles continued through the night. Israel took back 29 areas from Hamas (up from 22 that they said Hamas took yesterday). Israel retook the Sderot police station, implying that Hamas had taken it the previous day. They are now securing the border fence. There are still some Hamas infiltrators in Israel, with it being reported that 5 had been picked up today, including one in Sderot.

Israel is saying that up to 1,000 Hamas fighters “infiltrated” into Israel. How in the world did that happen? The Israeli army has 126,000 active personnel, while the Gaza Strip has a border with Israel of 32 miles (51 kilometers). They could not protect that border? 

A significant number of Israelis were captured. It appears to be dozens. The Israeli ambassador to the U.S. is saying dozens of Americans are among the hostages. The Israeli Government Press Office is now (evening 8 October) saying that the number of hostages in Gaza is over 100.

Reports are that several Americans (4?) have been killed. As of 8 October, Israel is reporting at least 300 Israelis killed by Hamas. Israeli media outlets are saying at least 700 Israelis killed. The rescue service Zaka said it removed around 260 bodies from a music festival in the desert near Gaza. By the evening of 8 October, the Israeli government confirmed that more than 700 Israelis had been killed.

Among the reported dead is 10 Nepalese citizens, and France, Cambodia, Thailand (2), Ukraine (2) and the UK have confirmed that some of their citizens have been killed. It is also reported that 4 Americans may have been killed along with 2 Argentines, 1 Chilean and 1 German. Thailand says 11 of its citizens have been abducted while Mexico says 2 have been abducted. Israel has reported that 57 soldiers, 34 police officers and 5 ISA (Shin Bet – Israel Security Agency) members have been killed. IDF p[ublished the names of the soldiers.

Israel did strike back, with some 400 targets struck in Gaza during the night of 7/8 October and it is said that more than 800 targets have been hit in Gaza so far. Gaza Strip has an area of 141 sq. miles (365 sq. kilometers) and a population of 2,375,259. Population density is 16,853 per sq. mile (6,507 per sq. kilometer). This is more than the population density of Washington DC (11,281 per sq. mile) and the size of Gaza Strip is twice the size of Washington DC (68.35 sq miles). Going to be pretty hard to strike 400 targets and not injure at least 400 civilians. The Palestinian Health Ministry was reporting yesterday (7 October) that 232 people in Gaza Strip had been killed and at least 1,700 had been wounded. Have no idea how accurate their reporting is. The Hamas-run health ministry is saying today (8 October) that 413 Palestinians have been killed and 2,300 have been wounded. I assume that is cumulative. It is reported that 7 Palestinians were also killed in the West Bank.

Don’t know how many missiles hit Israel, but some done. Israel said more than 3,500 were fired by Hamas yesterday (7 October). Don’t know what percent of those were intercepted by the Iron Dome system. Rockets were still being fired on 8 October.

Israeli artillery did fire into southern Lebanon with artillery today (8 October), probably in response to something. Hezbollah responded with some rocket attacks. So far the fighting has been limited to firing in the area of the Shebaa farms. Several people were reported as wounded. The danger is that Hezbollah could join the war. 

Photographic evidence is showing one Israeli Merkava tank destroyed and at least five captured.

The U.S. carrier Gerald R. Ford is moving to the Eastern Mediterranean.