Photo: RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP / Getty Images
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — "This is a crisis of enormous proportions."
Robert Leikind, Regional Director for American Jewish Committee New England, was heartbroken and horrified over the Palestinian militant organization Hamas' surprise attacks on Israel Saturday.
Hamas fired thousands of rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel Saturday into Sunday, making direct hits on multiple communities like Tel Aviv, while gunmen infiltrated the country by land, sea, and air, shooting civilians, taking hostages, and battling with Israeli forces.
"[Saturday's] attack was a shocking attack on the people of Israel," Leikind told WBZ NewsRadio. "Brutal, uncompromising. People have been ruthlessly murdered, kidnapped, and the lives of communities have been painfully disrupted. The Hamas organization that is responsible for this is a terrorist organization. They will reject Israel’s right to exist under any circumstances."
The Israeli death toll has risen to 600 with a further 1,500 injured, according to Israeli media outlets.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that Israel would "take mighty vengeance" on Hamas for the attacks. That same day, Israel responded with retaliatory air strikes on what it said were Hamas targets in Gaza. Palestinian officials said at least 313 Palestinians have died and nearly 1,990 wounded in the past 24 hours.
Israel formally declared war on Hamas Sunday. Leikind said that for the Jewish community in New England, the entire situation hits close to home.
"Many of us in the Jewish community of Greater Boston have family and friends in Israel," said Leikind. "Their children are now heading to the front to defend their country. It’s an enormous tragedy that is taking place."
WBZ's Mike Macklin reports.
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