A Brit has told of the “fear and anger” at seeing “blood flowing through the streets” of Israel after a surprise attack on the country by terrorist group Hamas.
Israel declared a state of war following a "significant" rocket attack with hundreds dying in the opening hours of the conflict earlier this morning (Saturday, October 7). More than 5,000 missiles were fired into the country from Gaza, hitting a number of settlements with warning sirens sounding across south and central Israel, including in Jerusalem.
The attack by the group designated a terrorist organisation by the UK Government in 2021 was launched on the last day of the Jewish High Holiday of Succot, as well as Shabbat, when the vast majority of the country's population were in synagogues to celebrate the festival. Within minutes, social media was filled with photos and videos of Hamas terrorists taking Israeli residents hostage, brutalising them and murdering them.
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Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star, London-born Stefan Kerner told how he had just 90 seconds to get to a safe room when the rocket fire started at 6.30am– and how he saw “blood running down the streets”.
Stefan, who lives in Ramat HaSharon, just 70 minutes from the border with Gaza, said: “Where I live we have 90 seconds to get to our safe room, but in Sderot and other towns near the Gaza border that time is reduced to about 15 seconds.
"When I came out after the all clear and turned on the TV the reality of the situation was starting to become clear – this was no ‘normal’ rocket attack, this was an invasion. My heart sunk and my stomach turned, right away I knew this was different to anything that had happened before.
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“Hamas doesn't invade and even if they tried, they wouldn't get through the border, but here they are on the streets of our towns and villages in the South. And then I turned to social media and the true horror of what was transpiring became clear, as pictures and videos taken by Hamas terrorists of Israeli civilians dead or being shot, executed in cold blood with blood filling rooms and running down streets.
“I am not ashamed to say I cried for the dead and cried in fear. Then a few hours later I saw the videos of Israelis, men women and children, civilians and soldiers, being kidnapped and paraded through the streets of Gaza as people celebrated their ‘victory’ – My fear turned to anger.”
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According to Israel's Health Ministry, 908 people have been injured in the attacks in Israel, with more than 100 killed. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially declared that Israeli was now “at war”, while the Jewish state has received support from the vast majority of Western nations – Hamas has been backed by Iran, who offered “congratulations” to the group.
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Stefan added: “Every few years these conflicts start up and the Western media and politicians call for restraint on both sides and for a return to peace. I am sorry, but this time it is different – the horror of the images that I saw this morning will haunt me for a very long time, and I suggest that anyone calling for restraint or negotiations hold their tongue and let us do what has needed to be done for a very long time.
“My heart bleeds for those we have lost today and for their families who will suffer so much as a result. Israel will leave no stone unturned in the search for these murders and justice will be served.”
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