Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed “decisive revenge” on Hamas after the Palestinian movement carried out a surprise attack on Saturday, killing at least 200 Israelis and taking dozens captive, Reuters writes.

In a televised address on Saturday night, Netanyahu spoke of Israel’s “strong revenge for this rainy day”:

• “What happened today has never been seen in Israel. We will have a lot of revenge for this rainy day.”

Israel’s prime minister said Israel would “reach every place where Hamas is hiding” and told Gazans to “leave immediately” the area.

He also said that Hamas is responsible for captured Israeli civilians and soldiers.

On Saturday, the Islamist movement Hamas launched its biggest attack on Israel in years in a surprise attack that combined armed fighters who crossed the border fence and a powerful volley of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip. Warning sirens sounded in southern and central Israel, including Jerusalem, and the Israeli army announced it was on alert and mobilizing reservists. Benjamin Netanyahu called an emergency meeting of security chiefs as the Israeli military began striking Hamas targets, and the response to the attack is expected to be devastating.

“We are at war and we will win. Our enemy will pay a price he has never known before,” Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video address to Israelis.

• Events on the surprise war of Hamas against Israel – LIVETEXT on HotNews.ro