Updates | Israel says it is at war after surprise Hamas attack

Germany has increased protection for Jewish and Israeli facilities.ISRAELI SECURITY CABINET DECLARES THE COUNTRY IS AT WAR Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office says his Security Cabinet has declared the country at war following a deadly Hamas assault in southern Israel.The decision, announced on Sunday, formally authorises the taking of significant military steps, it said it a statement.The war that was forced on the State of Israel in a murderous terrorist assault from the Gaza Strip began at 0600 yesterday, it said.It gave no further details.

Israel says it is at war as its soldiers battle Hamas fighters in the streets of southern Israel and launch airstrikes on Gaza, the day after an unprecedented surprise attack by Hamas fighters.

In northern Israel a brief exchange of strikes with Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group raised fears of a broader conflict. Prime Minister Benjamin said Sunday that his Security Cabinet has formally declared the country at war.

GERMAN LEADER WARNS OF DANGER OF REGIONAL ESCALATION German Chancellor OIaf Scholz is stressing the need to avoid a wider "conflagration" in the Middle East after Hamas attacked Israel.

Scholz said he spoke Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and assured him that Israel's security is a cornerstone of German policy. He pledged that "we will act accordingly". He said he plans to speak to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and will support Egypt in efforts to mediate and de-escalate.

Scholz said he also will talk by phone with the leader of the US, France and the UK to evaluate the situation.

He added: "It is clear that we condemn the actions of Hamas in the strongest terms, but above all we are doing everything so that this attack doesn't turn into a conflagration with incalculable consequences for the whole region - and we warn everyone in this situation against fuelling terrorism." The Israeli flag was raised Sunday at the chancellery, the German parliament's Reichstag building and the German president's office. Germany has increased protection for Jewish and Israeli facilities.

ISRAELI SECURITY CABINET DECLARES THE COUNTRY IS AT WAR Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office says his Security Cabinet has declared the country at war following a deadly Hamas assault in southern Israel.

The decision, announced on Sunday, formally authorises "the taking of significant military steps," it said it a statement.

"The war that was forced on the State of Israel in a murderous terrorist assault from the Gaza Strip began at 06:00 yesterday," it said.

It gave no further details. But Netanyahu had previous declared the country at war, and the military has promised a harsh response in Gaza.

Israeli media say at least 600 people have been killed in the surprise cross-border incursion by Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip.

IRANIAN OFFICIAL PRAISES HAMAS' ACTIONS Ali Shamkhani, the political adviser to Iran's supreme leader, said in a post on X that the Hamas attack was "a decisive, unique and effective" operation that was a legitimate defense against the Israeli government.

"The Palestinian resistance is a mature and independent movement whose power comes from widespread public support," he added.

JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA CONDEMN HAMAS ATTACK Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Sunday condemned Hamas and other Palestinian militants over their incursion into Israel, urging all parties to use restraint.

"Japan strongly condemns the attacks which severely harmed innocent civilians," Kishida said in his message posted on X, formerly known as Twitte.

Kishida also condemned the militants over the reported abduction of a number of people, urging their immediate release.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry also said it strongly condemns "the indiscriminate attacks on Israel from Gaza." and calls for an immediate halt of these attacks.

The Japanese government said it was working to ensure the safety of its citizens in Israel and Gaza, while the South Korean foreign ministry urged its nationals to leave.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)