Israel ‘at war’ with Hamas after unprecedented attacks

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is trying to establish the exact number of hostages that have been taken into Gaza, with the military’s international spokesperson emphasizing the “complicated” nature of the situation to CNN on Sunday. 

 Speaking to CNN’s Laila Harrak in an interview from Tel Aviv, IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said the IDF understands that “dozens” of hostages have been taken into Gaza.

“Because life here is very sacred, we’re making sure that we come out and understand the numbers exactly,” Hecht added. 

Hecht said the military will be evacuating Israeli communities around Gaza and “do everything we can to minimize collateral damage and evict people that are not involved.”

Hecht told CNN that the IDF’s primary goal is to “stabilize the defense, protect the border” and “take care of the communities.” 

“Our goals will probably be decided today, tomorrow by the government, but doing this in a composed way,” Hecht said.

Israel struck an area in Lebanon on Sunday following what the IDF described in a statement as a “shooting” from the country into Israel. 

Lebanese militant group Hezbollah subsequently issued a statement Sunday claiming responsibility for targeting three Israeli sites in an area known as Shebaa Farms using missiles and artillery.

Lebanon and Israel are considered enemy states, but a truce between the two has largely held since a conflict between them in 2006.

Hecht expressed his hope that Hezbollah does not join Hamas in arms, stressing that to do so would be a “colossal mistake.”

“It’s early days, we’re at the beginning, the beginning of this. It’s hard to say. I mean, we’re ready for the convergence of arenas. That’s something we’re ready for,” Hecht said.