Israel Officially Declares War on Hamas as Army Warns of a ‘Long, Long Haul’

Israel officially declared war on Hamas in a tense cabinet meeting, opening the doors to what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called “significant military activities,” according to the Times of Israel.

The move Saturday night came after Netanyahu had already placed the country on a war footing after stunning Hamas attacks on Saturday left as many as 600 Israelis dead and scores feared abducted by the militant Palestinian movement that controls Gaza. 

Israeli air strikes overnight smashed into apartment blocks, smugglers’ tunnels, a mosque and the homes of Hamas, killing more than 300 people, including 20 children, according to Reuters.

Netanyahu vowed "mighty vengeance for this wicked day."

"We're going to be attacking Hamas severely and this is going to be a long, long haul," a military spokesman told reporters.

In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua said the attack on Israeli towns and military bases was "in defense of our people."