Israeli students of law report for JURIST about law-related events in Israel and those that affect it. Mayan Lawent is a JURIST Staff correspondent in Israel and a law student at the Buchmann Faculty of Law, Tel Aviv University. Today, Saturday, the 7th October, was Simchat Torah. It is a Jewish holiday where people celebrate the Torah by dancing, praying, and eating festive meals. Hamas attacked Israel in an unanticipated attack this morning. Air, land and sea attacks, thousands of missiles, hostages taken, rapings, murders. The EU and many other world leaders have condemned these actions. This attack, with its brutality and breadth, will have a lasting impact on Israel. It will be similar to the Yom Kippur War of 50 years ago. According to the reports, there are 200 dead and more than 1000 injured. Israel has declared a state of war, and promised defense and retaliation as part of an operation named Swords of Iron. Social media is being used to post flyers about missing persons. The people are searching for their loved ones, fearing that they may have been murdered or taken as hostages. We will need a nuanced discussion to answer this question. But right now, as casualties rise, both in Israel and Gaza, I can only look on in horror and fear.
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