IDF Takes Territory Back from Hamas Invaders, but 100+ Israelis Hostage, Long Fight to Come

Chris Mitchell
10-09-2023

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JERUSALEM, Israel – More than 48 hours after Hamas's invasion on October 7th, the IDF spokesman says although Israeli forces have regained control of all Gaza border towns, it’s still possible that some Hamas terrorists are still lurking inside the country.

The IDF deployed four divisions to the south to expel Hamas operatives from Israeli soil. Israeli warplanes are carrying out widespread strikes on Hamas targets and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday ordered a “complete closure” of the Gaza Strip. 

“No electricity, no food, no water, no fuel” will be allowed into the coastal enclave, Gallant said. “We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly.”

Meanwhile, Hamas continues to rain down rockets on communities in south and central Israel.

The numbers reported since the war began are staggering. More than 4,000 rockets fired into Israel, as many as 900 Israelis were murdered, almost 3,000 were injured, many seriously— and about 100 kidnapped and taken into captivity in Gaza.

Initially, the militants announced plans to use the hostages to negotiate for Palestinian prisoners, but on Monday, after non-stop air strikes from the IDF, Hamas said it would kill one hostage any time Israel hit a civilian area without a warning.

In a Monday evening speech, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he's appointed a special minister in charge of securing the release of hostages and called for an immediate emergency unity government.

Netanyahu also warned Hamas that Israel's response to their attacks has only just begun.

“We have only started striking Hamas,” he said. “What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.”

An Israeli military spokesman says the IDF is evacuating civilians from all Southern border towns, and a total siege of Gaza is now in place. 

The horrifying images from Saturday's surprise attack included armed terrorists roaming Israeli communities at will and murdering anyone in sight, elderly women and men dead on the street, whole families slaughtered inside their homes, and more than 200 killed at an outdoor dance festival.

The atrocities are reminiscent of ISIS.

  • Bodies of the dead are being desecrated in the streets of Gaza.
  • A captured 85-year-old grandmother with dementia is mocked in a photo.
  • A 7-year-old boy calls for his mother while being tormented by young boys with a whip.
  • A one-year-old is being teased and harassed by a Hamas terrorist.
  • A woman named Noa was kidnapped at the concert, her fiancé dragged along, and her father in anguish.

Israel is now on a war footing with up to 300,000 reservists called up to action. Many anticipate a ground incursion into Gaza soon with the likely goal of the destruction of the Iranian-backed terror group, and they're evacuating some communities near Gaza.

"Now for us, it's a time to get organized and get prepared for the attack against the militia of Hamas, and I call on the Minister to take a different approach. We have to eradicate Hamas. Period,” Ambassador Danny Danon tells CBN News.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting Iran worked directly with Hamas to plot and plan the invasion. Meanwhile, a Hamas spokesman thanked Iran for its support.

Major questions do remain— how did this colossal intelligence failure happen and will Hezbollah fully enter the war? Hezbollah already fired rocket barrages over the weekend, but they've subsided for now.

Regardless of those answers, Israel now finds itself in a new era.

"This is a paradigm shift for Israel,” says IDF Spokesman Maj. Doron Speilman. “The Prime Minister, the Cabinet, the heads of the military, it's clear to everybody for an attack to be carried out on the Israeli people, we're in a new world, a new region, and our response will be unlimited to what we are going to do to carry out our mission. Whatever that means. All options are on the table."

Listen and subscribe to CBN’s newest podcast, DC Debrief with John Stolnis:

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About The Author

Chris
Mitchell

About The Author

Emily
Jones

Emily Jones is a multi-media journalist for CBN News in Jerusalem. Before she moved to the Middle East in 2019, she spent years regularly traveling to the region to study the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, meet with government officials, and raise awareness about Christian persecution. During her college years, Emily served as president of Regent University's Christians United for Israel chapter and spoke alongside world leaders at numerous conferences and events. She is an active member of the Philos Project, an organization that seeks to promote positive Christian engagement with the Middle
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