The Israeli authorities have approved the declaration of a "state of war," which also signifies the commencement of significant military operations, the Prime Minister’s Office announced.
"Last night [on October 7], the Security Cabinet approved the war situation and, to this end, the taking of significant military steps, as per Article 40 of Basic Law: The Government," read the statement.
The office added that the war "was forced on the State of Israel" in an assault from the Gaza Strip, which started at on October 7.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had already declared that the nation was at war following the infiltration of southern Israel by Hamas militants, resulting in hundreds of fatalities.
The high-level security cabinet decision provides legal standing to the declaration, consistent with Basic Law: The Government. The article 40 of the law specifies that the country cannot engage in warfare without a government decision.
The nation experienced an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on Saturday morning. According to the Israeli army, Hamas fired over 3,000 rockets and dozens of their troops infiltrated the border regions in southern Israel. The Israeli military responded by deploying troops to retake the southern territories from the Palestinian forces and initiating strikes on Hamas' positions in Gaza.
At least 600 Israelis have been killed and over 2,000 injured due to the recent escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Israeli media reported on Sunday, adding that the fate of those captured by Hamas fighters remains unknown.
Meanwhile earlier, the Palestinian Health Ministry said that Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip have resulted in over 256 fatalities and nearly 1,788 injuries.
On Saturday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held an emergency meeting with several officials, during which he emphasized the Palestinian people's right to self-defense against Israeli soldiers and settlers.