Thread by @Suriyakmaps

Taking advantage of the Jewish holy Sabbath, HAMAS launched a large-scale military operation that surprised Israeli forces. After an intense bombardment with missiles towards multiple positions the Gaza militants have launched a ground offensive in which they have taken several positions around the border and have reached several towns where multiple battles are taking place.
In response, #Israel has declared a state of war and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has reached a significant escalation that has not occurred for years.🇮🇱🇵🇸
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Situation at Gaza strip [7/10/2023] (18:00):
Palestinian Armed Groups managed to control more territories following the withdrawal of IDF, which were not unable to hold these positions. Clashes are taking place now in three important cities: Sederot, Askelon & Ofakim. Meanwhile IDF began to accumulate reinforcements in the southern district.
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The first hours of the Palestinian groups' offensive have proven to be a success, as they have captured a huge amount of military equipment and seized several military bases from the Israeli Army. This shows on the one hand how well prepared the Palestinian troops were, who had been preparing this attack for months; and on the other hand the overestimation of the Israeli intelligence services who were not able to detect this offensive. These events are a serious blow to Israel, which is considered a regional power in the Levant and boasts one of the best defense systems in the world, which has been circumvented by an unconventional army (militias).🇮🇱🇵🇸

However, despite the initial success of the Palestinian groups, the IDF began to send reinforcements to the region in order to stop the Palestinian offensive. The mobilization of reservists is observed, which seems to indicate that once the attack is under control, a counter-offensive will be launched with the aim of recovering all the lost positions and very possibly an invasion of the Gaza Strip in order to dismantle the armed groups there. For the moment, Israeli forces are trying to hold back Palestinian militias in the towns of Sederot (around the police academy: 31.522479, 34.59202022) and Askelon (beyond the seaport: 31.685060, 34.561437).
t is also important to highlight the movements that are taking place in northern Palestine, where the Israeli army is building up its forces for fear of the opening of a second front by the Lebanese militia Hezbollah. If so, this would be problematic for the IDF given the enormous experience of that group in battles against Israel previously, and even more so given that Iran, Israel's main enemy in the region, intends to increase its influence in both southern Syria and Lebanon.🇮🇱🇵🇸🇱🇧

Situation at Gaza strip [7/10/2023] (21:00):
Following the arrival of reinforcements IDF began a series of counterattacks in which troops managed to recapture Re'im Army Camp and parts of Kfar Aza. Meanwhile clashes with Palestinian Armed groups still in the towns of Mishmar HaNegev, Ofakim, Netivot & Sederot.
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Regarding Askelon the situation is more confusing, based of the morning reports Palestinian forces entered in the town and moved freely within the city, nevertheless, the number of troops were not enough to control it, this is why many of the soldiers fled to Gaza again. A counteroperation by IDF is taking place in order to supress the last focus of resistance there.🇮🇱🇵🇸

During the day Israel has heavily shelled the Gaza Strip. In the evening it is the turn of the Palestinian militias, who have launched a series of missiles on the main Israeli cities. As the fighting continues, the number of casualties continues to rise: 500 people have been killed and more than 3,000 wounded in the first day of fighting. Unfortunately, this figure will increase significantly over the next few days.🇮🇱🇵🇸