A screengrab from a video depicting Al-Qassam Brigades resistance fighters storming the "Erez" Israeli military outpost, October 7, 2023 (Palestinian Resistance Military Media)

Israelis residing in occupation settlements in Gaza's envelope woke up on Saturday morning to an event they couldn't have imagined even in their worst nightmares.

Hundreds of Palestinian Resistance fighters were roaming the settlements' streets after successfully carrying out an infiltration operation through land, air, and sea coming from the Gaza Strip.

14 hours later, Resistance units are still operating inside at least 7 settlements and confronting Israeli occupation forces.

Towns and cities quickly fell into complete control of the Resistance units as Israeli occupation military and police forces collapsed within the first hour of the attack.

Simultaneously, hundreds of rockets started pouring down Israeli settlements near Gaza, and shortly after reached as far as "Tel Aviv" and occupied Al-Quds.

#WATCH | The outcome of a rocket volley incoming from #Gaza hitting Israeli "Tel Aviv" settlement. #Gaza #Palestine
#طوفان_الأقصى pic.twitter.com/DzvJcOYnsN
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 7, 2023

The Chief of Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades Mohammed Al-Deif released a video soon after announcing the launch of the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, vowing that the entity will pay for its crimes against Al-Aqsa Holy Mosque and the Palestinian people, especially West Bank residents who have been subjected to continues Israeli aggression over the past few months, which led to tens of Martyrs and hundreds of injured and imprisoned.

#Watch | Palestinian Resistance launches a new salvo of rockets from the Gaza Strip toward the Israeli occupation settlements in response to the bombing of the residential tower in the #Gaza Strip.#Palestine
#طوفان_الأقصى pic.twitter.com/6fsRfGu2rA
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 7, 2023

Deif addressed the Palestinian Resistance fighters, saying, "This is your day to make the enemy understand that its time has ended," adding that the Resistance had previously warned the Israeli occupation against assaulting women worshippers and desecrating al-Aqsa.

"Our brothers in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Iran, this is the day that fronts and banners shall unite," he called, urging Algerians, Moroccans, Jordanians, Egyptians, and the rest of the Arab and Islamic Worlds to take action in support of the operation.

Footage of Resistance fighters taking the streets of Israeli settlements flooded social media platforms. Shortly after, initial footage revealed that Palestinian fighters were able to eliminate tens of Israeli soldiers and settlers while taking others captive and transferring them back to Gaza.

#Watch | Al-Qassam Brigades publish video footage that shows its fighters targeting a gun turret.#Palestine #Gaza #طوفان_الأقصى #OperationAlAqsaFlood pic.twitter.com/NoYdfZpkVW
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 7, 2023

Al-Qassam Brigades later in the day confirmed that its fighters used motor-powered Paragliders to covertly drop near Israeli military bases and settlements and take them by surprise.

Meanwhile, Resistance forces cut through the Israeli-erected fence on the Gaza borders, before they used a number of vehicles mounted with machine guns and made their way into the settlements.

Elite units from Al-Qassam Brigades took control of a number of settlements, the most significant of which was "Sderot". Videos taken by Israeli settlers of the Palestinian fighters making their way through the cities' streets rapidly surfaced.

Notably, over five hours into the deployment of Resistance forces inside the settlements there was still no sign of Israeli soldiers or police. Settlers were sounding cries for help through media outlets, demanding that their military come to save them.

As the hours went by, the severe extent of the event slowly began to become clearer. Tens of Israeli soldiers and settlers were killed and tens were captured. Israeli intelligence faced its biggest failure since its establishment.

Minute by minute, rockets continued to take off from Gaza. In the course of the first three hours, media reports said that over 2,000 rockets were launched, targeting Israeli settlements. Resistance trikes reached "Tel Aviv" and occupied Al-Quds amid a noticeable decline in Iron Dome performance.

While the Israelis were still paralyzed due to shock, Resistance factions started to release more footage. A Merkava Mk4 tank was targeted by a drone dropping a PG-7VR anti-tank warhead and then all its crew were captured. Israeli military bases and barracks were stormed and controlled by Palestinian fighters, while soldiers inside the sites were either killed or taken as prisoners.

Even normal Palestinian civilians from Gaza joined the march toward the settlements after destroying the fences across several border points. Hundreds of people on foot, bikes, and in cars moved into the settlements now taken by the Resistance.

On his part, the military spokesperson for Al-Qassam Brigades Abu Obeida, said the operation "is going according to plan," adding that "Israel" will be "wonder-struck when it wakes up from its state of shock to the proportion of its losses."

The spokesperson announced that the Resistance group has captured over 35 Israelis during the operation and has transferred them to safe locations inside Gaza.

He also urged Palestinians in the West Bank and al-Quds to take action against Israeli settlements and checkpoints, calling on them to make the occupation pay the price for its desecration of al-Aqsa Mosque.

Israeli top officers killed, captured

According to Israeli media, the commander of elite force Nahal Brigades, who was assigned to his role last May, was killed by Gaza Resistance soldiers near the Gaza envelope When assuming his position, Colonel Yehonatan Steinberg said that his motto is: “Wanting, Winning, preparing.”

Furthermore, the Israeli police chief of the "Rahat" occupation settlement, Javier Davidov, was also killed by Gaza Resistance fighters who infiltrated the borders.

In the same context, Resistance fighters captured Brigadier General Nimrod Aloni, a senior military officer. Aloni previously served as the chief of the Gaza Division until August 2022. He currently holds the position of commander for the "Depth Corps," an elite unit designed to operate behind enemy lines.

#Watch | Video footage shows Palestinian resistance fighters seizing the Israeli Nahal Oz military base east of #Gaza as part of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.#Palestine #Gaza #طوفان_الأقصى #فلسطين pic.twitter.com/wFTwduBVXN
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 7, 2023

Brothers in arms

The military spokesperson of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad's Abu Hamza confirmed that Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), is part of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood,

Abu Hamza said the Brigade's fighters stand side by side with their comrades in Hamas and other Resistance factions "until victory is achieved," noting that the group had captured a significant number of Israelis and transferred them to Gaza.

On their part, West Bank-based Lions' Den announced general mobilization in conjunction with Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, while al-Quds Brigades and al-Qassam Brigades in Jenin announced that they have executed a shooting operation on the Salem checkpoint near Jenin this morning.

The Lions' Den also urged its fighters to immediately respond to the calls to join the operation, calling on them to ambush Israeli occupation forces.

Joining the battle calls, Abu Ali Mustapha Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, announced fighting alongside their Resistance comrade in the Al-Aqsa Flood operation and later released footage of their fighters infiltrating Gaza envelope settlements. They also urged members of the Palestinian Security Services to engage in the battle alongside the Palestinian people.

Hezbollah congratulated the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Resistance fighters, especially Al-Qassam Brigades and the Hamas movement on the "large-scale, heroic operation crowned with victory, divine support, and the promise of final, comprehensive victory." The Lebanese Resistance confirmed that it is in direct contact with the Palestinian Resistance leadership and that coordination is around the clock.

Yemen's Sanaa government and Ansar Allah also declared that they stand by the Palestinian nation and its Resistance, confirming that they are ready to join the battle defending Palestine.

A number of Iraqi Resistance groups and the Popular Mobilization Forces PMF expressed their support for the operation, and reiterated their readiness to participate alongside the Palestinian fighters.

Lost leadership

The Israeli security cabinet convened for 7 hours to assess the situation. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced after the meeting objectives of an extremely vague nature. Observers also commented that the premier has lowered the bar for aiming to secure a definite accomplishment.

After announcing that "Israel" is in a state of war, he listed three objectives the Israeli entity wants to achieve:

Taking back envelope settlements, bolstering defenses at the Gaza borders, and ensuring that all parties involved in the Resistance operation "pay the price" - without specifying how or when.

The United States also expressed its deep concerns. Congress officials described the event as a big failure for Israeli intelligence.

President Joe Biden declared that Washington will do everything to support its key ally in the Middle East.

Israelis cry for help

Israeli media described this day as the "worst day in Israel's history".

In the latest tally, the Israeli health ministry announced that 300 settlers and soldiers have been killed in the Resistance operation. Meanwhile over 750 Israelis are reportedly missing, according to Israeli media. The ministry assumes that those missing have been taken as prisoners by the Palestinian Resistance. The official number of captured Israelis was announced to be over 60.

Furthermore, the health ministry said that over 1,400 Israelis have been wounded, 247 of which are in critical condition, yet this number is expected to rise as many residents of envelope settlements remain unreachable due to Resistance fighters still in control.

The greatest fear in "Israel" today is that the Resistance forces remain in control of the envelope settlements for a longer period. This is certainly a Resistance miracle.